Chlorite group

The chlorites are a group of phyllosilicate

minerals. Chlorites can be described by the
Chlorite group
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 General
within low and medium temperature Category Phyllosilicates
metamorphic rocks, some igneous rocks,
hydrothermal rocks and deeply buried Formula (Mg,Fe)3 (Si,Al)4 O10 (OH)2 ·(Mg,Fe)3 (OH)6
sediments. (repeating unit)
Crystal system Monoclinic 2/m; with some triclinic
The name chlorite is from the Greek chloros polymorphs.
(χλωρός), meaning "green", in reference to its
color. They do not contain the element Identification
chlorine, also named from the same Greek root. Color Various shades of green; rarely yellow,
red, or white.
Crystal habit Foliated masses, scaley aggregates,
Contents disseminated flakes.

Chlorite structure Cleavage Perfect 001

Occurrence Fracture Lamellar

Members of the chlorite group Mohs scale 2–2.5

hardness
Distinguishing from other minerals
Luster Vitreous, pearly, dull
Uses
Streak Pale green to grey
See also
Specific 2.6–3.3
References
gravity
External links
Refractive 1.57–1.67
index

Chlorite structure Other Folia flexible – not elastic

characteristics
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
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,
Quartz crystal with
metamorphism can also produce predominantly clinochlore chlorite in association chlorite inclusions from
with talc. Minas Gerais, Brazil
(size: 4.2 × 3.9 × 3.3
Experiments indicate that chlorite can be stable in peridotite of the Earth's mantle cm)
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.[1] Chlorite
is found in large boulders scattered on the ground surface on Ring Mountain in
Marin County, California.[2]

Members of the chlorite group

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

Chlorite schist
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

Clinoclore, 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.[3]

Distinguishing from other minerals

Chlorite is so soft that it can be scratched by a finger nail. The powder generated by scratching is green. It feels
oily when rubbed between the fingers. The plates are flexible, but not elastic like mica.

Talc is much softer and feels soapy between fingers. The powder generated by scratching is white.

Mica plates are elastic whereas chlorite plates are flexible without bending back.

Uses
Various types of chlorite stone have been used as raw material for carving into sculptures and vessels since
prehistoric times.

See also
List of minerals
Thuringite

References
1. Greenly E (1902). "The Origin and Associations of the Jaspers of South-eastern Anglesey" (htt
ps://zenodo.org/record/1749452). Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society. 58 (1–4): 425–
440. doi:10.1144/GSL.JGS.1902.058.01-04.29 (https://doi.org/10.1144%2FGSL.JGS.1902.058.
01-04.29).
2. Hogan MC (2008). Burnham A (ed.). "Ring Mountain Carving" (https://www.megalithic.co.uk/arti
cle.php?sid=19244). The Megalithic Portal.
 3. "Seraphinite: Mineral information, data and localities" (https://www.mindat.org/min-27184.html).
www.mindat.org. Retrieved 22 Mar 2019.

Hurlbut CS, Klein C (1985). Manual of Mineralogy (https://archive.org/details/manualofmineralo

00klei) (20th ed.). New York: Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0471805807.
Grove TL, Chatterjee N, Parman SW, et al. (2006). "The influence of H2O on mantle wedge
melting". Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 249 (1–2): 74–89. Bibcode:2006E&PSL.249...74G (https://ui.ad
sabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006E&PSL.249...74G). doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.06.043 (https://doi.org/1
0.1016%2Fj.epsl.2006.06.043).
"The Mineral Chlorite" (https://web.archive.org/web/20041125183102/http://mineral.galleries.co
m/Minerals/Silicate/CHLORITE/CHLORITE.htm). Amethyst Galleries. 1996. Archived from the
original (http://mineral.galleries.com/Minerals/Silicate/CHLORITE/CHLORITE.htm) on 25
November 2004. Retrieved 22 Mar 2019.
"Chlorite Group: Mineral information, data and localities" (https://www.mindat.org/min-1016.htm
l). Mindat.org. Retrieved 22 Mar 2019.
"Chlorite" (https://web.archive.org/web/20041112090955/http://www.gc.maricopa.edu/earthsci/i
magearchive/chlorite.htm). Maricopa.edu. Archived from the original (http://www.gc.maricopa.e
du/earthsci/imagearchive/chlorite.htm) on 12 November 2004. Retrieved 22 Mar 2019.]

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chlorite_group&oldid=998754064"

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