PHYLLOSILICATES CHEMICAL GROUP

(http://www.minerals.net/minerals-Phyllosilicates-chemical_group.aspx)

Kaolinite
Chemical Formula: Al2Si2O5(OH)4
Composition: Basic aluminum silicate
Crystal System: Triclinic
Environment: As a secondary altering mineral, usually from weathering,
in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary environments. Kaolinite is most often found
near the oxidized surface where it has altered from aluminum silicates such as feldspar
Rock Type: Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic
POLYMORPHS: Dickite, Nacrite, Halloysite
COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Feldspar, Quartz, Calcite, Dolomite,
Barite
X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 7.17(1), 1.49(0.9), 3.58(0.8)

Serpentine
Chemical Formula: The Serpentine group is composed of several related minerals. A
generic formula that includes all members is: X2-3Si2O5(OH)4, where X = Mg, Fe2+,
Fe3+, Ni , Al, Zn, or Mn (one of the two Si atoms may also be replaced by an Al or Fe
atom in a few rare members).
This leads to a complete formula of (Mg,Fe,Ni,Al,Zn,Mn)2-3(Si,Al,Fe)2O5(OH)4
The subscripted 2-3 after the first set of elements denotes that there are two or three of
the selected elements, depending on the charge of the element. Some very rare forms
of Serpentine contain water [H2O] in place of the hydroxyl [OH]. Since the charge of
water is different from hydroxyl, the formula of these rare forms is slightly altered.
The two most common members of the Serpentine Group are:
Antigorite - (Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4
Chrysotile - Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Chrysotile is not a single mineral, but a group of polymorphous minerals with the
same chemical composition but different crystal lattice. Chrysotile polytypes are:
Clinochrysotile (monoclinic)
Orthochrysotile (orthorhombic)
Parachrysotile (orthorhombic)
Lizardite (hexagonal)
Other members of the Serpentine group are:
Amesite - Mg2Al(SiAl)O5(OH)4
Cronstedtite - Fe2+2Fe3+(SiFe3+)O5(OH)4
Fraipontite - (Zn,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4

Nepouite - Ni3Si2O5(OH)4
Composition: Basic silicate of magnesium, iron, aluminum, nickel, zinc, and
manganese. (Some rare varieties contain water in place of the hydroxyl, and substitute
a different metal in exchange of the charge difference).
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: Serpentine is fairly common in many environments, and is an important
rock forming mineral in many metamorphic environments.
Rock Type: Metamorphic
COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Talc, Magnesite, Dolomite, Brucite,
Olivine, Calcite, Magnetite. Amesite occurs with Diaspore.

Pyrophyllite
Chemical Formula: Al2Si4O10(OH)2
Composition: Basic aluminum silicate
Crystal System: Triclinic
Environment: In metamorphic schists and hydrothermal replacement deposits.
Rock Type: Metamorphic
COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Quartz, Chlorite, Hematite, Muscovite,
Albite, Rutile, Kyanite, Andalusite, Lazulite.
X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 4.42(1), 9.2(0.9), 3.07(0.85)

Talc
Chemical Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Composition: Basic magnesium silicate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: In metamorphic rocks, especially Serpentine deposits.
Rock Type: Metamorphic
COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Serpentine, Dolomite, Magnesite,
Actinolite, Olivine, Calcite, Magnetite, Brucite.
X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 9.35(1), 1.53(0.55), 4.59(0.45)

Muscovite
Chemical Formula: KAl3Si3O10(OH)2
Variable Formula: K(Al,Cr,Mn)3Si3O10(OH)2
Composition: Basic potassium aluminum silicate, sometimes
replacing the aluminum.

Crystal System: Monoclinic

with some chromium or manganese

Environment: Muscovite is a very common rock-forming mineral and is an important constituent in

many environments. Its presence is noted especially in granite pegmatites, in contact metamorphic rocks,
in metamorphic schists, and in hydrothermal veins. Important Muscovite deposits where large significant
crystals occur are almost exclusively from granite pegmatites.

Rock Type: Igneous, Metamorphic

COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Albite,

Quartz,

Microcline,

Almandine,

Spodumene.

X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 3.32(1), 9.95(0.95), 2.57(0.55)

Phlogopite
Chemical Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2
Variable Formula: K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2
Composition: Basic potassium magnesium aluminum silicate, sometimes with some
iron and fluorine.
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: In marble formed from metamorphosed limestone and dolomite.
Rock Type: Metamorphic
COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS:
Calcite, Diopside Chondrodite, Apatite, Graphite, Rutile.
X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 9.998(1), 2.613(0.53), 3.382(0.33)

Biotite
Chemical Formula:
The classic formula for Biotite is: K(Mg,Fe2+3)(Al,Fe3+)Si3O10(OH,F)2
The
group
formula
including
all
member
minerals:

K(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)[(Al,Si)3O10](OH,F)2
Individual members are:
Phlogopite: KMg3AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2
9.998(1), 2.613(0.53), 3.382(0.33)
2+
Siderophyllite: KFe 2Al(AlSi2O10)(OH)2
3.367(1), 10.2(1), 2.644(0.8)
Eastonite: KMg2Al(AlSi2O10)(OH)2
Annite: KFe2+3AlSi3O10(OH)2
Fluorannite: KFe2+3AlSi3O10)F2
Tetraferriannite: K(Fe2+3Mg)(Fe3+,Al)Si3O10)(OH)2
Composition: Basic fluoro potassium, magnesium, iron aluminum silicate.
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: Biotite is a common rock-forming mineral, and is especially noted in
metamorphic rocks such as schist and gneiss. It is also found in igneous rock such as
granites and rhyolites. Biotite is also the primary mica in rare earth pegmatites.
Rock Type: Igneous, Metamorphic

COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Orthoclase, Hornblende, Quartz, Albite,

Calcite, Magnetite, Apatite, Diopside, Almandine.
X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 3.37(1), 10.1(1), 2.66(0.8)

Lepidolite
Chemical Formula: K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2
Composition: Basic potassium lithium aluminum fluoro-silicate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: Lepidolite is restricted to high-lithium granite pegmatites.
Rock Type: Igneous
COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Quartz, Microcline, Tourmaline,
Spodumene, Amblygonite.
X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 3.34(1), 4.99(0.75), 10(0.75)

Chlorite
Chemical Formula: Below is a simple formula encompassing the common members
of the Chlorite Group: (Mg,Fe,Li)6AlSi3O10(OH)8
The formula for the three most common individual group members are:
Cookeite: LiAl5Si3O10(OH)8
Clinochlore: (Mg,Fe2+)5Al2Si3O10(OH)8
Chamosite: (Fe2+,Mg)5Al2Si3O10(OH)8
Composition: Basic iron magnesium aluminum silicate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: Most often in metamorphic environments, especially in Serpentine deposits; also as a
secondary mineral in volcanic basalt and in hydrothermal replacement deposits.

Rock Type: Igneous, Metamorphic

COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Calcite, Albite, Orthoclase, Actinolite, Serpentine,
Talc, Quartz, Magnetite, Almandine.

Clinochlore
Chemical Formula:

(Mg,Fe2+)5Al2Si3O10(OH)8

Composition: Basic iron magnesium aluminum silicate. May also contain small amounts of chromium
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: Always an alteration mineral. Commonly in metamorphic environments, especially
in Serpentine deposits; also as a secondary mineral in hydrothermal replacement deposits.

Rock Type:

Metamorphic

POLYMORPHS:

COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Calcite, Albite, Orthoclase, Grossular, Diopside,

Serpentine, Talc, Quartz, Magnetite, Almandine.

X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 7.16(1), 4.77(0.7), 3.58(0.6)

Chamosite
Chemical Formula: (Fe2+,Mg)5Al2Si3O10(OH)8
Composition: Basic magnesium iron aluminum silicate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Environment: As an alteration mineral of metamorphic iron deposits, but also as a
secondary mineral in igneous traprock environments and granite pegmatites.
Rock Type: Igneous, Metamorphic
POLYMORPHS: Orthochamosite (Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH,O)8
(Orthorhombic) 3.513(1), 7.04(1), 2.514(0.9), 1.552(0.7), 2.137(0.6), 1.765(0.4),
2.673(0.4)
COMMON MINERAL ASSOCIATIONS: Calcite, Albite, Orthoclase, Quartz, Magnetite,
Almandine.

X-RAY DIFFRACTION [By Intensity (I/Io)]: 3.52(1), 7.05(1), 2.52(0.9)