Knowledge of basic clay microstructure is fundamental to an understanding of the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of fine-grained sediments and rocks. This compilation of fifty-nine peer-reviewed papers examines clay microstructure in detail with comprehensive sections focusing on microstructure signatures, environmental processes, modeling, measurement techniques, and future research recommendations. Many of these topics are discussed in light of geological and engineering applications, such as hazardous waste disposal, construction techniques, and drilling programs. The field of clay microstructure is developing rapidly. The concepts, observations, and principles presented in this book will help stimulate new thought and be a "spring board" for exciting new research.

Knowledge of basic clay microstructure is fundamental to an understanding of the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of fine-grained sediments and rocks. This compilation of fifty-nine peer-reviewed papers examines clay microstructure in detail with comprehensive sections focusing on microstructure signatures, environmental processes, modeling, measurement techniques, and future research recommendations. Many of these topics are discussed in light of geological and engineering applications, such as hazardous waste disposal, construction techniques, and drilling programs. The field of clay microstructure is developing rapidly. The concepts, observations, and principles presented in this book will help stimulate new thought and be a "spring board" for exciting new research.

Knowledge of basic clay microstructure is fundamental to an understanding of the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of fine-grained sediments and rocks. This compilation of fifty-nine peer-reviewed papers examines clay microstructure in detail with comprehensive sections focusing on microstructure signatures, environmental processes, modeling, measurement techniques, and future research recommendations. Many of these topics are discussed in light of geological and engineering applications, such as hazardous waste disposal, construction techniques, and drilling programs. The field of clay microstructure is developing rapidly. The concepts, observations, and principles presented in this book will help stimulate new thought and be a "spring board" for exciting new research.

This book is a comprehensive cross section of recent research and present concepts of basic and applied studies on the clay microstructure of fine grained sediments and argillaceous rocks. The book is a compilation of peer- reviewed technical papers, most of which were presented at an international symposium-workshop entitled 'The Clay Microstructure of Fine-Grained Terrigenous Marine Sediments: From Muds to Shale, ' convened at NORDA in 1988. The theme of the symposium focused on: (1) the fundamental role of microstructure (microfabric and physiochemistry) as a determinant of fine-grained sediment properties; (2) the significance of microstructure to diagenetic, mass physical and mechanical, static, dynamic, and geoacoustic properties, and to microscale sedimentary features; and (3) the relationship and importance of these factors to basic research and applied problems. The book is organized into three major sections basic clay microstructure, applied clay microstructure, and future research directions and recommendations. The contents of these major comprehensive sections focus on the following topics: microstructure signatures, environmental processes, modeling measurements and techniques, and applications. Applications not only includes geology, sedimentology, and the oil and gas industry, but also waste disposal, groundwater contamination, preservation, biology, chemistry, ceramics, agriculture, and at least another dozen other fields.

Plan of Review This review of clay microstructure is aimed at the diverse group of professionals who share an interest in the properties of fine-grained minerals in sediments. During the last several decades, members of this group have included geologists, soil scientists, soil engineers, engineering geologists, and ceramics scientists. More recently, it has included significant numbers of marine geologists and other engineers. Each of the disciplines has developed special techniques for investigating properties of clay sediments that have proven to be fruitful in answering questions of central interest. Knowledge of clay microstructure-the fabric of a sediment and the physico chemical interactions between its components-is fundamental to all these disciplines (Mitchell 1956; Lambe 1958a; Foster and De 1971). Clay fabric refers to the spatial distribution, orientations, and particle-to-particle relations of the solid particles (generally those less than 3. 9 /Lm in size) of sediment. Physico-chemical interac tions are expressions of the forces between the particles. In this review, we trace the historical development of under standing clay microstructure by discussing key scientific papers published before 1986 on physico-chemical interactions in fine grained sediments and on clay fabric. Since the development follows an intricate path, the current view of clay microstructure is summarized. This summary includes a discussion of the present state of knowledge, the observations made so far, and the facts that are now established.

Rock microstructures provide clues for the interpretation of rock history. A good understanding of the physical or structural relationships of minerals and rocks is essential for making the most of more detailed chemical and isotopic analyses of minerals. Ron Vernon discusses the basic processes responsible for the wide variety of microstructures in igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic and deformed rocks, using high-quality colour illustrations. He discusses potential complications of interpretation, emphasizing pitfalls, and focussing on the latest techniques and approaches. Opaque minerals (sulphides and oxides) are referred to where appropriate. The comprehensive list of relevant references will be useful for advanced students wishing to delve more deeply into problems of rock microstructure. Senior undergraduate and graduate students of mineralogy, petrology and structural geology will find this book essential reading, and it will also be of interest to students of materials science.

Collapsing engineering soils are a formidable hazard around the world. These difficult materials also include some of the world's most fertile agricultural soils, fostering dense human populations which are therefore increasingly at risk. Despite an impressive literature on the engineering aspects of collapsing soils, these materials are coming under increasing scrutiny by scientists in other fields. This is most evidently the case with soil scientists, stratigraphers and sedimentologists. Past earth surface conditions have a direct influence on the detailed behaviour of collapsible soils: as a complement, these materials also provide detailed data on changing global climates. The selected papers presented here highlight the common ground between three scientific groups with a vested interest in a better understanding of collapsible soils.