DYNAMICS and ACTIVE PROCESSES - International Lithosphere ...

The primary purpose of this study is to
determine the textural and mineralogical
characteristics of this Neogene unit in respect
to their genetic relationship. The second is to
determine the principal minerals in the study
area. The third and the most important is to
identify the clay minerals, and to give a full
description of them. Realizing all of this
objectives, can give to us a useful and an
exact information of the forming history of
the sediments this area.
2- METHODS of STUDY.
Fig.1 Geological Map of Tirana Depression (According to the Geological
Map of Albania. 1:200 000).
In this study 11 clay samples were collected
from the bottom to the top of the section. The
mineralogical characteristics of the samples
were determined through several techniques,
including XRD and SEM-EDS methods. For
petrographic studies and electron microscopy
9 normal thin sections were prepared from the
most characteristic samples. The mineralogical
composition of the samples was
examined using X-Ray Diffraction under
CoK� radiation, with a step scanning 3 to
60º2� in steps of 0.01º2� with a counting time
of 1.00 s per step. First X-ray Diffraction
Analyses were done from the samples in natural
conditions and after this were selected the 2 most
representative samples. The analyses aimed at
documenting the gross mineralogy, and specially
clay mineralogy of Brari Section. A clay fraction
(< 2 µm) was separated out from the samples by
disaggregating with different acids according to
Jackson Method and dispersing the sample in
distilled water and immediately washed by
centrifugation. The fraction of < 2 µm was
isolated by centrifugation and suspension were
dried on glass slides. The clay samples in oriented
mounts were run under three separate conditions:
1) air dry state.
2) after heating to 550º C for 2 hours and
3) after ethylene glycol treatment
3- RESULTS and DISCUSSION. X-ray diffraction
146
Brari
The digital data were interpreted using X-Pert
Highscore Plus software, which comprises a
search-match routine based on a Powder
Diffraction File.