In the 12 km(2) catchment area of Syv creek, Denmark, moderate to high
concentrations of nitrate (NO3-) occurred in the upper part of the ox
idized zone (oxic-I), but dropped within the lower suboxic part (oxic-
II), to below the detection limit in the unoxidized zone. Structural F
e2+ in the clay minerals made up 10 to 12% of the Fe in the oxidized z
one and increased to approximately 50% in the unoxidized zone. Concurr
ent with changes in the distribution of structural Fe2+ the clay miner
al constituents changed. Vermiculite was typically found in the oxidiz
ed zone whereas chlorite was found in the unoxidized zone only. A conv
ersion of illite and chlorite into vermiculite seems to take place. A
significant correlation between NO3- and the amount of reduced Fe2+ in
the suboxic (oxic-II) zone, indicates that primary structural Fe2+ in
the clay minerals is the reductant in a NO3- reduction process.