noun
- a group of clay minerals that can absorb large amounts of water and swell considerably
Usage: geology; mineralogy
Examples
- Smectites are commonly found in volcanic ash deposits.
- The soil’s high smectite content caused foundation problems due to expansion and contraction.
- Bentonite is one of the most well-known types of smectites.
- Engineers must account for smectites when designing structures on clay-rich soils.
- The presence of smectites in the sediment indicated a marine depositional environment.
- Smectites have important industrial applications in drilling muds and cosmetics.