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1)
A clay mineral having a 2:1 expanding crystal
lattice.
Isomorphous substitution gives the various types and causes a net permanent
charge balanced by cations
in such a manner that water may move between the sheets, giving reversible cation
exchange and very plastic properties. 2) Smectite refers to a family of
non-metallic clays primarily composed of hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicate. Common names for smectite
include montmorillonite or sodium montmorillonite ("sodium
bentonite" or "Wyoming bentonite") and swelling bentonite
("Western bentonite").
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