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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 886Cite as

Kaolinite

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Synonyms

Kaolin

Definition

Kaolinite is an extremely common layered silicate clay mineral with the chemical composition Al2Si2O5(OH)4. It consists of one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra. The name is derived from Chinese Gaoling meaning “High Hill,” located in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China. Kaolinite has a low cation exchange capacity. It is a soft, usually white mineral produced by the chemical weathering of aluminum silicate minerals such as feldspar. It is often colored reddish-orange by the presence of traces of iron oxides, but may range from white, yellow, or light orange colors when lesser amounts of iron are present. Kaolinite occurs abundantly in soils formed from chemical weathering of rocks in hot, humid climates.

See also

Clay

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC, 20015, USA

    Dr. Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II

Authors
  1. Dr. Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II
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Correspondence to Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Astrophysicist, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux, BP 89, 33270, Floirac, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Departamento de Planetología y Habitabilidad Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Campus Cantoblanco, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  3. Department of Astrophysics, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC) Ctra de Ajalvir km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC, 20015, USA

    Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II

  5. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts Lederle Graduate Research, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-9305, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. GEOTOP & Départment des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, CP 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Daniele L. Pinti

  7. Astrobiology, CNES/DSP/EU, 2 place Maurice-Quentin, 75039, Paris, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Cleaves, H.J. (2011). Kaolinite. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_845

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