Distribution of Clay Mineral Assemblages in Lower Pliocene Sediments, Western Flank of the South Caspian Sea

X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) is used for identification of clay minerals in sediments of the Productive Series (Lower Pliocene) from the western flank of the South Caspian Sea. We investigate fine-grained sediments of the lower and upper divisions of the Productive Series cropping out in Kirmaky Valley, which is located onshore on the Apsheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan. The clay mineral assemblages of the investigated sediments consist of 44-64% illite, 5-33% smectite, 14-29% chlorite and 5-9% kaolinite. The dominance of illite and chlorite indicates physical weathering of the hinterland, possibly under arid conditions.