This monograph examines the mineralogy of illite, the most common clay mineral, as a unifying theme for understanding problems of the surface environment and environmental change. The volume begins with a careful analysis of the structure and transformation of illite. Using illite as the frame, the authors describe problems in soil chemistry, clay stability and clay kinetics in sedimentary rocks.

1 The Mineralogy of Illite - What is Illite?.- 2 The Geology of Illite.- 3 Dynamics of the Smectite-to-Illite Transformation.- 4 Applications.- References.