The transformation of kaolinite to halloysite-7 Å was identified in the kaolin deposit of São Vicente de Pereira (SVP), using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both the 02, 1̄ and 13̄, 13 reflections show changes in the XRD patterns along the kaolinite to halloysite-7 Å transition, and the FTIR spectra show changes corresponding to both OH⁻ and Si-O-stretching bands and Al-O-Si-bending vibrations. The interlayer water content in the kaolinite structure increases during transition. The two-layer periodicity of well-ordered kaolinite and rolling up of kaolinite plates are observed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Long and short tubes exhibit halloysite-7 Å. No structural Fe was found in the kaolinite samples. Analytical electron microscopy (AEM) indicates no substitution of Al³⁺ for Si⁴⁺. The Si/Al ratio shows values of ∼1 for the kaolinite and rolled kaolinite plates. The ²⁷Al magic angle spinning neutron magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectra display a resonance centered at ∼1 ppm, assigned to six-coordinated aluminum. The transformation of kaolinite to halloysite-7 Å is controlled by surface reaction.

The alteration of spodumene to cookeite has been identified in a Li-bearing aplite-pegmatite from northern Portugal. Optical microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) were used to characterize the alteration products in both cookeite + quartz and cookeite + kaolinite ± mica assemblages. Mutual relationships between the minerals were assessed using back-scattered electron imaging. The first assemblage occurs along the cleavage planes of spodumene, whereas the second forms as the result of spodumene breakdown. Fine mica grains surrounded the cookeite aggregates in the second assemblage only. Precipitations of cookeite and quartz in open pore spaces and parallel packets of cookeite and kaolinite were identified by TEM. Selected area electron diffraction carried out on cookeite identified a layer-stacking sequence from highly disordered to one-layer order-disorder with a lesser participation of two-layer polytypes. The thickness of one-layer cookeite packets averaged ∼85 −100 nm. Disordered cookeite has a mean thickness of 450 nm. The chemistry of cookeite was analyzed by both electron and ionmicroprobe techniques. The structural formula of cookeite from the first assemblage corresponds to: Al_2.0(Si_3.23Al_0.766)O₁₀(OH)₂(Al_1.80Li_1.166Mg_0.004Fe_0.09)(OH)₆. Two distinct compositional varieties were found: one corresponding to ideal cookeite, whereas the second belongs to the cookeite-donbassite join.The thermodynamic stability field for the observed minerals was calculated using the SUPCRT® programme. Two distinct stages of cookeite crystallization are discussed. The lower pressure and temperature stability of the reaction of spodumene to cookeite + quartz were estimated at ∼2.4 kbar and 240°C. The cookeite + kaolinite ± mica assemblage is still in equilibrium with quartz at ∼2.2 kbar and 220°C. The lower limit for the stability of cookeite was found at 205°C and 2 kbar.