CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CHAMPLAIN SEA SEDIMENTS
Measurements of soluble components, and characterization of the charge on the mineral surfaces, are reported for five samples of the Champlain Sea sediments. Large amounts of magnesium, beyond the amount of dolomite present, were slowly released in solution from the broken surfaces of the minerals. Amorphous aluminosilicates made up less than 6% of the sample weight, and their removal did not improve the X-ray diffraction patterns or alter significantly the chemical properties of the sediments. Of the cation exchange capacity of 20 to 30 meq/100 g at pH 7, from 50 to 75% was found to be due to pH-dependent charge, which leads to preferential adsorption of monovalent ions. In equilibrium with artificial seawater, the samples had from 50 to 25% exchangeable sodium.