Chlorite group

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For the chemistry term, see chlorite.
Chlorite group
ChloriteUSGOV.jpg
General
CategoryPhyllosilicates
Formula
(repeating unit)		(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6
IMA symbolChl[1]
Crystal systemMonoclinic 2/m; with some triclinic polymorphs.
Identification
ColorVarious shades of green; rarely yellow, red, or white.
Crystal habitFoliated masses, scaley aggregates, disseminated flakes.
CleavagePerfect 001
FractureLamellar
Mohs scale hardness2–2.5
LusterVitreous, pearly, dull
StreakPale green to grey
Specific gravity2.6–3.3
Refractive index1.57–1.67
Other characteristicsFolia flexible – not elastic

The chlorites are a group of phyllosilicate minerals. Chlorites can be described by the following four endmembers based on their chemistry via substitution of the following four elements in the silicate lattice; Mg, Fe, Ni, and Mn.

In addition, zinc, lithium, and calcium species are known. The great range in composition results in considerable variation in physical, optical, and 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. They do not contain the element chlorine, also named from the same Greek root.

Chlorite structure[]

The typical general formula is: (Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6. This formula emphasizes the structure of the group.

Chlorites have a 2:1 sandwich structure (2:1 sandwich layer = tetrahedral-octahedral-tetrahedral = t-o-t...), this is often referred to as a talc layer. Unlike other 2:1 clay minerals, a chlorite's interlayer space (the space between each 2:1 sandwich filled by a cation) is composed of (Mg2+, Fe3+)(OH)6. This (Mg2+, Fe3+)(OH)6 unit is more commonly referred to as the brucite-like layer, due to its closer resemblance to the mineral brucite (Mg(OH)2). Therefore, chlorite's structure appears as follows:

-t-o-t-brucite-t-o-t-brucite ...

That's why they are also called 2:1:1 minerals.

An older classification divided the chlorites into two subgroups: the orthochlorites and leptochlorites. The terms are seldom used and the ortho prefix is somewhat misleading as the chlorite crystal system is monoclinic and not orthorhombic.

Occurrence[]

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

Chlorite is commonly found in igneous rocks as an alteration product of mafic minerals such as pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite. In this environment chlorite may be a retrograde metamorphic alteration mineral of existing ferromagnesian minerals, or it may be present as a metasomatism product via addition of Fe, Mg, or other compounds into the rock mass. Chlorite is a common mineral associated with hydrothermal ore deposits and commonly occurs with epidote, sericite, adularia and sulfide minerals. Chlorite is also a common metamorphic mineral, usually indicative of low-grade metamorphism. It is the diagnostic species of the zeolite facies and of lower greenschist facies. It occurs in the quartz, albite, sericite, chlorite, garnet assemblage of pelitic schist. Within ultramafic rocks, metamorphism can also produce predominantly clinochlore chlorite in association with talc.

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.

Chlorite occurs naturally in a variety of locations and forms. For example, chlorite is found naturally in certain parts of Wales in mineral schists.[2] Chlorite is found in large boulders scattered on the ground surface on Ring Mountain in Marin County, California.[3]

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.[4]

Distinguishing from other minerals[]

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 fingers.[5][6]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Greenly E (1902). "The Origin and Associations of the Jaspers of South-eastern Anglesey". Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society. 58 (1–4): 425–440. doi:10.1144/GSL.JGS.1902.058.01-04.29. S2CID 129258262.
  3. ^ Hogan MC (2008). Burnham A (ed.). "Ring Mountain Carving". The Megalithic Portal.
  4. ^ "Seraphinite: Mineral information, data and localities". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 22 Mar 2019.
  5. ^ Sinkankas, John (1964). Mineralogy for amateurs. Princeton, N.J.: Van Nostrand. p. 486. ISBN 0442276249.
  6. ^ Klein, Cornelis; Hurlbut, Cornelius S., Jr. (1993). Manual of mineralogy : (after James D. Dana) (21st ed.). New York: Wiley. p. 514. ISBN 047157452X.

External links[]

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