Characterization of A Hard Opaline Clayey Bed Overlying Phosphates from Esh-Shidiya Area, SE of Jordan.

The top two meters of a yellowish clayey bed in Esh-Shidiya area are characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Scanning electron microscope techniques. The clay rich bed is composed of dioctahedral smectite (100% expandability), quartz, and goethite. The SEM photos have indicated that there is a close relationship between the dioctahedral smectite and silica phases (quartz and amorphous silica). The porous nature of the silica rich bed that overlies a porcelanite (tripoli) layer and the nature of the continuous growth of smectite plates suggest a diatomite rich precursor.