Possible structure of halloysite disks and cylinders observed in some New Zealand rhyolitic tephras

Abstract

AbstractThe < 1·0 µm fractions of three rhyolitic tephras are shown to contain multifaceted squat cylinders of halloysite at various stages of development. The < 1·0 µm fraction of one of the tephras, the Pahoia Tuff, is composed mainly of large well-ordered squat cylinders, together with amorphous silica flakes, and novel disk-shaped particles of halloysite. The disks always occur sandwiched between silica flakes. A spiral structure is proposed for the disks. The squat cylinders are interpreted as having formed by a similar spiral mechanism to that of the disks, but without the constraining influence of silica flakes.