High surface areas caused by smectitic interstratification of kaolinite and illite in Athabasca oil sands

The mineralogy of inorganic solids associated with Athabasca oil sands has been studied to elucidate the nature of the clay minerals present in the various bitumen extraction process streams. The primary clay minerals observed were kaolinite and illite, both with significant amounts of smectite interstratification. gree of interstratification in kaolinite and illite was determined from X-ray diffraction patterns of oriented glycolated samples. The Williamson–Hall technique was used to determine the mean crystallite size and surface areas calculated from the crystallite sizes were comparable to the total surface area determined from methylene blue adsorption tests. eviously reported high surface area of Athabasca oil sands fine tailings was found to be a consequence of smectitic mixed layering in kaolinite and illite. In some ores, amorphous oxides contribute significantly to the overall surface area of the clay fraction.