Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) within a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) offers a potential alternative method for measuring Al co-ordination, and has not been used to study kaolinite calcination so far. The shape or near-edge profile of the Al K-edge acquired by TEM-EELS (or in this case Scanning (S) TEM-EELS) can be used to identify Al coordination states for different aluminosilicate minerals and glasses . X-ray near-edge absorption spectra (XANES) show differences in the Al K-edge profile for different Al coordination states . XANES studies have investigated the coordination state of kaolinite , and meta-kaolinite . However, XANES has the practical disadvantage of largely being restricted to synchrotrons. In contrast, TEM-EELS is a laboratory-based microscopy technique, and can provide spectral information at the individual particle level . In addition EELS does not suffer the limitations arising from high Fe concentrations that MAS NMR does. Therefore, the use of EELS for investigating the structural changes induced by calcination in Fe-rich clays offers added value beyond what XANES and 27 Al MAS NMR can provide. A challenge of using EELS is the beam-sensitivity of kaolinite samples; high energy electrons can cause radiolytic damage leading to the loss of structural hydroxyl groups and even oxygen, giving rise to a change in corresponding metal co-ordination . There is therefore a need to use EELS measurement conditions at sufficiently low electron fluence to avoid radiolysis-induced sample damage, whilst still achieving the desired spectral resolution and signal to noise to measure metal co-ordination .