It commonly accompanies metasomatism and is often a feature of wall rock alteration around ore bodies.
Hydration of minerals occurs generally in concert with hydrothermal circulation which may be driven by tectonic or igneous activity.
[citation needed] Some mineral structures, for example, montmorillonite, are capable of including a variable amount of water without significant change to the mineral structure.
[citation needed] Hydration is the mechanism by which hydraulic binders such as Portland cement develop strength.
A hydraulic binder is a material that can set and harden submerged in water by forming insoluble products in a hydration reaction.