The group name for the 2:1 phyllosilicate minerals with a net negative layer charge between approximately -0.2 and -0.6 per formula unit on the layer. A generalized formula is X0.3Y2-3Z4O10(OH)2 . nH2O, where X is the exchangeable cation (e.g., Ca/2, Na, K, Mg/2), Y is a small to medium size cation (e.g., Al, Cr3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Li, Mg, Ni, Zn), Z = Si, Al, and n is a rational number, not necessarily an integer). Smectite is often characterized by solvating polar organic molecules into the interlayer causing pronounced swelling between the layers [perpendicular to the (001) plane]. Smectite is commonly referred to as a “swelling clay”, as is vermiculite. The rock term, bentonite, refers to a smectite-rich material. See further discussion under Part 1, smectite and obsolete terms: Wyoming-type, Otay-type, Chambers-type, Tatatila-type, beidellite-type (ideal and non-ideal), and non-ideal montmorillonite.
Cf., bentonite, swelling clay, beidellite, hectorite, montmorillonite, nontronite, saponite, sauconite, stevensite, swinefordite, volkonskoite, yakhontovite