Chemistry of clays and clay minerals / Геохимия глин и глинистых минералов

The monograph series published by the Mineralogical Society has until now been concerned mainly with the application of techniques like X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy and electron optical methods to the identification and study of clay minerals. Inevitably much information about the chemical constitution was contained within these volumes and was essential to them. However, it seemed that there was also a need for a monograph that contained all this information in one volume and also covered some wider aspects of clay chemistry such as their colloid behaviour and surface chemistry, their reactions with organic substances and to heating, and the chemical conditions necessary for their formation.
These were the views of the Committee of the Clay Minerals Group of the Mineralogical Society that initiated over fifteen years ago the production of a monograph on the chemistry of clays. It is perhaps unfortunate that owing to a succession of unforeseen circumstances, its publication has been delayed until now. Sadly two of the original contributors have died in the intervening period: W.T. Granquist in 1974, and the death of G. W. Brindley, for long associated with clay minerals and with the monograph series, in 1983, is still fresh in our memories. Despite these regrets about the long gestation of this monograph, a bonus is that many advances in knowledge from recent studies have been included now that were missing from earlier drafts, and it is hoped that in its present form, the monograph will be a valid source of information about clays for many years to come.