Chlorite group

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the chemistry term, see chlorite.
Chlorite group
Specific gravity
2.6–3.3
Refractive index1.57–1.67
Other characteristicsFolia flexible – not elastic
References[2][3]

The chlorites are the group of

igneous rocks. Greenschist, formed by metamorphism of basalt
or other low-silica volcanic rock, typically contains significant amounts of chlorite.

Chlorite minerals show a wide variety of compositions, in which magnesium, iron, aluminium, and silicon substitute for each other in the crystal structure. A complete

X-ray properties. Similarly, the range of chemical composition allows chlorite group minerals to exist over a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions. For this reason chlorite minerals are ubiquitous minerals within low and medium temperature metamorphic rocks, some igneous rocks, hydrothermal
rocks and deeply buried sediments.

The name chlorite is from the Greek chloros (χλωρός), meaning "green", in reference to its color. Chlorite minerals do not contain the element chlorine, also named from the same Greek root.

Properties

Chlorite forms blue-green crystals resembling mica. However, while the plates are flexible, they are not elastic like mica, and are less easily pulled apart. Talc is much softer and feels soapy between the fingers.[4][5]

The typical general formula for chlorite is (Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6. This formula emphasizes the structure of the group, which is described as TOT-O and consists of alternating TOT layers and O layers.[3] The TOT layer (Tetrahedral-Octahedral-Tetrahedral = T-O-T) is often referred to as a talc layer, since talc is composed entirely of stacked TOT layers. The TOT layers of talc are electrically neutral and are bound only by relatively weak van der Waals forces. By contrast, the TOT layers of chlorite contain some aluminium in place of silicon, which gives the layers an overall negative charge. These TOT layers are bound together by positively charged O layers, sometimes called brucite layers. Mica is also composed of aluminium-rich, negatively charged TOT layers, but these are bonded together by individual cations (such as potassium, sodium, or calcium ions) rather than a positively charged brucite layer.[6]

  • Crystal structure of chlorite viewed along [100] (looking along the layers)
    Crystal structure of chlorite viewed along [100] (looking along the layers)
  • Chlorite structure viewed along [001] showing pseudohexagonal structure
    Chlorite structure viewed along [001] showing pseudohexagonal structure

Chlorite is considered a

cation exchange capacity.[8]

Occurrence

Quartz crystal with chlorite inclusions from Minas Gerais, Brazil (size: 4.2 × 3.9 × 3.3 cm)

Chlorite is a common mineral, found in metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks. It is an important rock-forming mineral in low- to medium-grade metamorphic rock formed by metamorphism of

pelites along with quartz, albite, sericite, and garnet, and is also found in associate with actinolite and epidote.[10]

In his pioneering work on metamorphic facies in the Scottish Highlands, G.M. Barrow identified the chlorite zone as the zone of mildest metamorphism.[12] In modern petrology, chlorite is the diagnostic mineral of the greenschist facies.[10] This facies is characterized by temperatures near 450 °C (840 °F) and pressures near 5 kbar.[13] At higher temperatures, much of the chlorite is destroyed by reactions with either potassium feldspar or phengite mica which produce biotite, muscovite, and quartz. At still higher temperatures, other reactions destroy the remaining chlorite, often with release of water vapor.[14]

Chlorite is one of the most common minerals produced by propylitic alteration by hydrothermal systems, where it occurs in the "green rock" environment with epidote, actinolite, albite, hematite, and calcite.[15]

Chlorite pseudomorph after garnet from Michigan (size: 3.5 × 3.1 × 2.7 cm)

Experiments indicate that chlorite can be stable in peridotite of the Earth's mantle above the ocean lithosphere carried down by subduction, and chlorite may even be present in the mantle volume from which island arc magmas are generated.[16][17]

Members of the chlorite group

Chlorite schist
Baileychlore IMA1986-056 (Zn,Fe2+,Al,Mg)6(Al,Si)4O10(O,OH)8
Borocookeite IMA2000-013 LiAl4(Si3B)O10(OH)8
Chamosite year: 1820 (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
Clinochlore year: 1851 (Mg,Fe2+)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
Cookeite year: 1866 LiAl4(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
Donbassite year: 1940 Al2[Al2.33][Si3AlO10](OH)8
Gonyerite year: 1955 (Mn,Mg)5(Fe3+)2Si3O10(OH)8
Nimite year: 1968 (Ni,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Pennantite year: 1946 (Mn5Al)(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
Ripidolite chlinochlore var. (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Al,Si)4O10(OH)8
Sudoite IMA1966-027 Mg2(Al,Fe)3Si3AlO10(OH)8

Clinochlore, pennantite, and chamosite are the most common varieties. Several other sub-varieties have been described. A massive compact variety of clinochlore used as a decorative carving stone is referred to by the trade name seraphinite. It occurs in the Korshunovskoye iron skarn deposit in the Irkutsk Oblast of Eastern Siberia.[18]

Uses

Chlorite does not have any specific industrial uses of any importance. Some rock types containing chlorite, such as chlorite schist, have minor decorative uses or as construction stone. However, chlorite is a common mineral in clay, which has a vast number of uses.[9]

Chlorite schist has been used as roofing granules, the mineral granules adhered to asphalt composition shingles due to the green color. It was quarried near Ely, Minnesota, US, until superseded by synthetic materials.

See also

References

  1. S2CID 235729616
    .
  2. ^ Chlorite Group: Mineral information, data and localities, Mindat.org
  3. ^
    ISBN 9780195106916
    .
  4. ISBN 0442276249
    .
  5. ISBN 047157452X
    .
  6. ^ Klein & Hurlbut 1993, pp. 500–501.
  7. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b00269
    .
  8. PMID 31548509
    .
  9. ^ a b c Nesse 2000, p. 252.
  10. ^ a b c d Klein & Hurlbut 1993, p. 522.
  11. ISBN 0582300967
    .
  12. ^ Yardley 1989, p. 8.
  13. ^ Yardley 1989, p. 50.
  14. ^ Yardley 1989, pp. 64–68.
  15. hdl:10044/1/19967
    .
  16. PMID 27386526
    .
  17. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.06.043
    .
  18. ^ "Seraphinite: Mineral information, data and localities". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 22 Mar 2019.

Further reading

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