ABSTRACT
Why are natural smectite clays of interest with respect to its role and utility as a significant component in engineered barrier systems (EBS) – in the field of geoenvironmental engineering, and particularly in environmental geotechnics? There are at least three reasons:
1 They can be used directly as buffer and liner systems, or in their natural form to effectively seal off repositories for hazardous wastes located in or below such clay layers.
