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The Stability of Gibbsite and Boehmite at the Surface of the Earth

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Clays and Clay Minerals

Abstract

Two mutually exclusive views exist concerning the relative stabilities of gibbsite and boehmite in soils. These are examined in terms of experimental and thermodynamic evidence and it is shown that all three possible divariant assemblages of two phases that can exist between gibbsite, beohmite and H2O, may do so at 25°C and 1 atmosphere total pressure depending on the status of H2O. It is further shown that the conditions of H2O chemical potential needed to stabilize boehmite + H2O relative to gibbsite + H2O or gibbsite + boehmite, are unlikely to occur in natural waters in the zone of weathering.

Résumé

Deux conceptions s’excluant mutuellement existent à propos de la stabilité relative de la gibbsite et de la boehmite dans les sols. Elles sont examinées sur la base de données expérimentales et thermodynamiques et l’on montre que chacune des trois combinaisons divariantes possibles entre deux phases, susceptibles d’exister entre la gibbsite, la hoehmite et l’eau, peuvent effectivement se rencontrer à 25°C et 1 atmosphère de pression totale, selon l’état de H2O. On montre en outre que les conditions de potentiel chimique de H2O nécessaires pour stabiliser boehmite + H2O par rapport à gibbsite + H2O ou gibbsite + boehmite ont peu de chance d’être satisfaites dans les eaux naturelles de la zone d’altération.

Kurzreferat

Es bestehen zwei sich gegenseitig ausschliessende Ansichten über die relativen Beständigkeiten von Gibbsit und Boehmit in Böden. Diese werden auf Grund von experimentellem und thermodynamischem Beweismaterial untersucht und es wird dargelegt, dass alle drei möglichen, divarianten Zusammenstellungen von zwei Phasen die zwischen Gibbsit, Boehmit und Wasser bestehen können, bei 25°C und 1 Atmosphäre Gesamtdruck vorhanden sein können und zwar je nach dem Status des H2O. Es wird ferner gezeigt, dass die für die Stabilisierung von Boehmit + H2O im Verhältnis zu Gibbsit + H2O oder Gibbsit + Boehmit erforderlichen Bedingungen des chemischem Potentials von H2O kaum in natürlichen Wässern in der Verwitterungszone vorhanden sein werden.

Резюме

Существуют два взаимоисключающих взгляда об относительной устойчивости гиббсита и бемита в почве. Этот вопрос рассматривался в свете экспериментальных и термодинамических показаний и стало видно, что все три возможные диварианты группы двух фаз, которые могут существовать между гиббситом, бемитом и Н2O могут быть устойчивыми при 25°С и общем атмосферном давлении 1 в зависимости от состояния Н2O. Добавочно заметили, что состояние химического потенциала Н2O требующегося для стабилизации бемита + Н2O относительно гиббсита + Н2O или гиббсита + бемита навряд ли встречается в естественных водах зон выветривания.

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Author notes

  1. Ward Chesworth

    Present address: Present address: Départment de Géologie et Minéralogie, Université de Clermont, Clermont-Ferrand, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Land Resource Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    Ward Chesworth

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  1. Ward Chesworth
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Chesworth, W. The Stability of Gibbsite and Boehmite at the Surface of the Earth. Clays Clay Miner. 20, 369–374 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.1972.0200604

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.1972.0200604

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