Mineral hydration

Processes: Minerals hydrate through conversion of oxides to double hydroxides. Water molecules can be directly incorporated into the crystalline structure of a new mineral. Examples include hydration of feldspars to clay minerals, garnet to chlorite, or kyanite to muscovite. Mineral hydration in regolith converts silicate minerals into clay minerals. Some mineral structures like montmorillonite can hold varying amounts of water without altering their structure. Hydraulic Binders: Hydration is crucial for hydraulic binders like Portland cement to develop strength. Hydraulic binders can set and harden submerged in water by forming insoluble products. The term hydraulicity indicates the chemical affinity of the hydration reaction. Examples of hydraulic binders include hydromagnesite, ikaite, and talc. Hydroxysulfides like tochilinite, a mineral of iron(II) and magnesium, are also formed through hydration. Hydrated Minerals: Hydrated minerals encompass both silicates and nonsilicates. Phyllosilicates (clay minerals) are common weathering products of rocks. Nonsilicate hydrated minerals include oxides like brucite and goethite. Formation of hydrated minerals, especially clay minerals, is rapid in environments with rock and water. Meteorites contain hydrated minerals like hydromagnesite and tochilinite. Research and Citations: Studies on hydrated minerals are crucial in various fields like petrology and geochemistry. Hydrated minerals like clay minerals form easily in the presence of anhydrous rock and water. Citations and references from scientific literature provide valuable insights into mineral hydration. Research on hydrated minerals also extends to meteorites and their mineral compositions. Understanding the petrogenesis and classification of hydrated minerals is essential for geological studies.