Chemical Characteristics and Origin of Ordovician K-Bentonites along the Cincinnati Arch: A Reply

Schultz (1982) raised six points concerning some of the conclusions and methods used to arrive at them in a recent paper by Huff and Tuerkmenoglu (1981). Na and Ca are not insignificant in the calculation of structural formulae and should be included. If some or all of the Ca is due to carbonate contamination, some or all of the Mg may also be due to carbonate contamination. A balanced structural formula without Na and Ca is inaccurate. Further, the octahedral charges do not sum to the values given. If corrections for probable quartz and feldspar impurities are made, the tetrahedral charge is actually greater than the octahedral charge. Greater emphasis should be placed on time as well as temperature in the conversion of smectite to illite. The terms "rectorite-like" and "allevardite-like" should not be used for the type of mixed-layering described. These comments are discussed in the order listed.