Clay mineralogy and plasticity of the Fuller's Earth formation, Bath, UK

Clay from the Fuller's Earth formation is shown to contain mainly illite, kaolinite and calcite, in contrast to the Fuller's Earth bed in which montmorillonite is the main clay mineral. A negative correlation exists between the calcite content and the plasticity as measured by the Atterberg limits. Fresh samples from the Fuller's Earth bed have a higher plasticity than those of the fuller's earth clay with similar calcite percentages, due to the relative increases in the expanding-lattice clay mineral. Weathering of the fuller's earth clay typically reduces the calcite content and increases the percentage of montmorillonite, resulting in a higher plasticity.-D.J.M.