Identification of a lithium-bearing smectite from Spor Mountain, Utah

Chemical analyses, X-ray diffraction data, and cation exchange determinations are given for a lithium-bearing smectite. The X-ray data and Greene-Kelly's lithium test indicate the presence of both dioctahedral and trioctahedral phases. The exchange determinations indicate that the lithium is in the structure of the clay, and the chemical data are intermediate between those for hectorite and montmorillonite. All data indicate that the clay is a mixture of hectorite and montmorillonite.