Investigation of Central Anatolian Clays by FTIR Spectrocopy (ArapliYesilhisar-Kayseri, Turkey)

Abstract

The clay samples are taken from Arapli-Yesilhisar area, located in the southwest part of Kayseri province (Central
Anatolia) have been investigated by the FTIR spectroscopy. The FTIR spectra of clays considered as standard natural
clays including illite, illite-smectite mixed layer, beidellite, kaolinite, chlorite (ripidolite), nontronite, montmorillonite
have been acquired first, and then the spectra of illite+quartz+feldspar, quartz+feldspar have been taken together with the
standard natural clays. Minerals contained by the clay samples have been determined by comparing the both spectra. It is
determined that the O-H, Si-O, Si-O-Al and Si-O-Fe groups prevail in the FTIR spectral measurements of the samples
representing the lower, middle and upper levels of the Arapli-Yesilhisar profiles. In addition, chemical analyses of these
clay samples indicated major presence of SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, Cr2O3 and P2O5. It is
found that the Arapli-Yesilhisar clay samples are mainly illite, kaolinite, feldspar and quartz, and they have T-O
(tetrahedral-octahedral) or O-T (octahedral-tetrahedral) structure.