EXPERT-SYSTEM FOR STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYLLOSILICATES .1. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPERT-SYSTEM

An expert system has been designed for the structural characterization of disordered phyllosilicates as well as the mixed-layer minerals and the minerals containing stacking faults or isomorphic substitutions. X-ray diffraction being the simplest tool for structural characterizat ion, the expert system uses such data but can account for data provide d by any characterization technique (infrared spectroscopy, EXAFS, etc .). The expert system aims to summarize in a unique set the different approaches of the structural characterization using diagrams or tables which have been proposed, avoiding the requirement of the knowledge o f their application field and excluding calculations. It runs in an in teractive way, to mimic the way a human expert would draw its conclusi ons.