Clay minerals in the surface sediments of the central and southern South China Sea are illite, smectite, kaolinite and chlorite and their average percent contents are in tune 47%, 19%, 17% and 16%.

• 高岭石含量分布具有北部低、南部高的特点，与之对应的是蒙脱石矿物含量呈现北部高、南部低的趋势。