The role of the leading formations of crystalline basement in the generation of clay minerals of weathering crust (East of the Russian plate)

Abstract

© 2020 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. The studied weathering crust on the basement rocks of the central part of the Volga-Ural anteclise lies at great depths under thick sediments of sedimentary cover. A diversity of initial basement rocks, features of formation and secondary changing processes of weathering crust determine interest for this geological formation and its uniqueness. Clay minerals play a major role in the composition of the weathering crust and determine its features. A change in the associations of clay minerals by the weathering profile allows distinguishing different zones, which confirm the zonal structure of this formation.