Clay mineral group Common Members and polymorphs Chemical formula The Kaolinite Group Kaolinite, dickite and serpentine, Al 2 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4 silicate sheets (Si 2 O 5 ) aluminum oxide/hydroxide layers (Al 2 (OH) 4 ) The Montmorillonite Pyrophyllite , talc , vermiculite , sauconite, saponite, nontronite and montmorillonite . (Ca, Na, H)(Al, Mg, Fe, Zn) 2 (Si, Al) 4 O 10 (OH) 2 . xH 2 O, The Illite (or The Clay-mica) Group Hydrated microscopic muscovite and mineral illite (K, H)Al 2 (Si, Al) 4 O 10 (OH) 2 . xH 2 O The Chlorite Group Chlorite X 4-6 Y 4 O 10 (OH, O) 8 . The X represents one or more of Al, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn or rarely Cr. The Y represents Al, Si, B or Fe but mostly Al and Si. Composition of clay minerals 5/1/2018 9 These minerals are essentially hydrous aluminum silicates. Many clay materials may contain organic material and water-soluble salts .