Stage II Mineralogy

DM Sherman, University of Bristol

2001/2002

Sheet Silicates:
Clay Minerals and Others..
Mineralogy Stage II
University of Bristol

Phyllosilicate Building Blocks

Tetrahedral Layer (Si6+x Al2-xO20)10-

Copyright 2001 DMSherman All rights reserved.

Page 1

Stage II Mineralogy
DM Sherman, University of Bristol

2001/2002

Phyllosilicate Building Blocks..

Octahedral Layer

Overview of Phyllosilicate Structures

Copyright 2001 DMSherman All rights reserved.

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Stage II Mineralogy
DM Sherman, University of Bristol

2001/2002

Kaolinite Al2Si2O5(OH)4
1:1 Phyllosilicate with
layers held together by
hydrogen bonds.
Major alteration
product of feldspars.
Mineral of China Clay
in Cornwall.

Antigorite Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Mg analogue of kaolinite.
One of three phases of
serpentine.
Alteration product of
olivine and other mafic
minerals.
Fe2+ end-member is
greenalite found in BIFs.

Copyright 2001 DMSherman All rights reserved.

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Stage II Mineralogy
DM Sherman, University of Bristol

2001/2002

The Serpentine Phases

Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Antigorite, Lizardite and Chrysotile.
Alteration product of olivine
2Mg2SiO4 + 3H2O -> Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 + Mg(OH)2
Crysotile (Asbestiform)

Antigorite

Talc Mg6Si8O20(OH)4
2:1 Phyllosilicate with
layers held together by
van der Waals bonds.
Major alteration
product of mafic
minerals at higher T.
Fe2+ end-member is
minnesotaite found in
BIFs.

Copyright 2001 DMSherman All rights reserved.

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Stage II Mineralogy
DM Sherman, University of Bristol

2001/2002

Pyrophyllite Al4Si8O20(OH)4
Al analogue of talc.
2:1 Phyllosilicate with
layers held together by
van der Waals bonds.
Alteration product of
micas and feldspars.
Not very common...

Nature of Clay Minerals

Based on sheet silicate structure

Small particle (crystallite) size ( < 0.5 micron).
Alteration product of high-T minerals.
Major component of soils and sediments.

Copyright 2001 DMSherman All rights reserved.

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Stage II Mineralogy
DM Sherman, University of Bristol

2001/2002

2:1 Phyllosilicate Clay Minerals

1:1 Phyllosilicate Clay Minerals

Copyright 2001 DMSherman All rights reserved.

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Stage II Mineralogy
DM Sherman, University of Bristol

2001/2002

Clay Compositions per O20(OH)4

Dioctahedral Structures
Mineral

Interlayer
Octahedral Tetrahedral Layer CEC
Cations
Cations
Cations
Charge mol/kg
K2
Al4
Al2 Si 6
-2
0
K2-x (x ~.5)
Al4
Al2-x Si 6+x
x-2
0.1-0.4
(Mg,Ca)0.6-0.9
(Fe,Al)4
Al1.5Si 6.5
1.2-1.8
1-1.5

muscovite
illite
vermiculite
montmorillonite
(general)
montmorillonite
(Wyoming)

Mn+(x+y)/n

montmorillonite
(Cheto)
beidellite
nontronite

smectites
MgyAl4-y

AlxSi 8-x

-(x+y)

Al0.5 Si 7.5

-1.0

Ca0.5

Mg0.5
Fe3+0.5Al3
MgAl3

Si 8

-1.0

(Na2 ,Ca)0.35
(Na2 ,Ca)0.35

Al4
Fe4

Al0.7 Si 7.3
Al0.7 Si 7.3

-0.7
-0.7

Ca0.5

0.8-1.2

Clay Compositions per O20(OH)4

Trioctahedral Structures
Mineral
phlogopitebiotite
vermiculite
smectites:
saponite

Interlayer
Cations
K2

Octahedral
Cations
(Fe,Mg)6

Tetrahedral
Cations
Al2Si6

(Mg,Ca)0.6-0.9

(Fe2+,Mg)6

Al2-xSi6+x

1.2-1.8

(Na2,Ca)0.35

Mg6

Al0.8Si7.2

-0.7

Copyright 2001 DMSherman All rights reserved.

Layer CEC
Charge
-2
0
1-1.5

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