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Samples were collected from the argillic alteration zones in Sappes area, Thrace, Northern Greece and were examined for their mineralogical composition. Results showed that the sericite zone is the most widespread type of alteration in the studied area, followed by the transitional sericite–kaolinite zone and finally the pyrophyllite-rich zone. After determination of the spatial distribution of the different argillic alteration zones, selected samples were examined for their technological ceramic properties in order to evaluate their use in ceramic production. Preliminary results showed that after beneficiation processes, the clayey raw material from the alteration zones could be used in the ceramic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of samples with different textures from the sedimentary Fe–Ni deposits of Central Euboea, Greece, were studied with XRD and SEM-EDS to investigate the relationships between phyllosilicates present. The deposits are characterized by the coexistence of smectite, corrensite, R0 mixed-layer chlorite-smectite and discrete chlorite, which indicates disequilibrium conditions. It is suggested that chlorite, the main Ni-host in the deposits, formed by conversion of smectite (nontronite and possibly stevensite), via corrensite and R0 Chl-Sme during diagenesis. This is the first report for chloritization of Fe-rich dioctahedral smectite during diagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]