Non‐Exchangeable Ammonium Ions in Some Clays and Shales of Israel

Abstract Inorganic lattice‐bound ammonium was determined in a representative assemblage of Israeli shales and clayey rocks. Clays in which illite was the dominant mineral contained over 300 ppmN or >2 meq NH4/100g clay. This represents some 75% of the total nitrogen of the samples. Montmorillonite rich clays in marine sediments with small amounts of illite contained 0.5–1.5 meq NH4/100g clay or about 60% of the total N in the inorganic form. Montmorillonitic red beds held only small amounts of inorganically bound ammonium and kaolinitic clays, both of residual weathering and of hydrothermal origin, contained practically none.