Clays

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This book represents the most comprehensive work on clay minerals to date, covering fundamental concepts and general principles applicable to real geological contexts. It aims to provide answers to a wide range of questions for students, advanced learners, and casual researchers alike. The extensive knowledge presented is particularly crucial now, as the study of clays—one of the most abundant minerals at the Earth's surface—faces declining interest among students and universities. The need for such an encyclopedic resource is more pressing than ever, especially as Earth sciences experience a downturn in popularity. The relevance of environmental studies, focusing on materials involved in biological activity, has surged. Human progress, from the scientific age to the current post-industrial era, has increasingly relied on Earth's surface resources. The rising global population has led to a non-linear demand for these resources. In the pre-industrial era, agriculture and industry were primarily about basic subsistence, fluctuating between years of abundance and scarcity. This context underscores the importance of understanding clay minerals and their role in our environment and resource management today.