argillization
Argillization is a geological process where rocks, particularly feldspar-rich igneous and metamorphic rocks, are altered into clay minerals. This transformation is primarily driven by the chemical weathering of existing minerals in the presence of water. The key minerals involved are typically feldspars, which are abundant in many common rocks. Water, especially when it contains dissolved acids, acts as a solvent and reactant. Over geological timescales, these reactive fluids penetrate the rock and slowly break down the feldspar structure.
The process involves the hydrolysis of feldspar, where water molecules react with the mineral lattice, leading