Phlogopite

Sulistia Devi
11141320000001

General

Identification

Category
Mica,phyllosilicates
Formula
KMg3(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2

Crystal system
Monoclinic(2/m)
Space Group: C 2/m

Color: Brownish red, dark

brown, yellowish brown, green,
white
Crystal habit: Tabular, scaly
masses, rarely perfect phenocryst
tablets
Cleavage: Perfect basal [001]
Fracture: None
Tenacity: Tough, flexible thin
laminae
Density: 2.78 - 2.85
g/cm3(Measured) 2.79
g/cm3(Calculated)

Phlogopiteis a yellow, greenish,

or reddish-brown member of
themicafamily ofphyllosilicates.
It is also known
asmagnesiummica.
Phyllosilicates consist of sheets of
silica tetrahedra attached to
close-packed sheets of aluminum
(gibbesite) or magnesium
hydroxide (brucite). Most
textbooks show neat hexagonal
silica sheets like those above but
in reality the arrangement is a lot
more like that below shown in
polyhedral form. The bases of the
tetrahedra are shown with hidden
edges in gray.

Phlogopite is the magnesiumendmemberof

thebiotitesolid solutionseries, with the chemical
formula KMg3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2. Iron substitutes for
magnesium in variable amounts leading to the
more common biotite with higher iron content.
For physical andopticalidentification, it shares
most of the characteristic properties of biotite.

 Paragenesis
Phlogopite is an important and relatively common end-member composition
of biotite. Phlogopite micas are found primarily in igneous rocks, although it is
also common in contactmetamorphicaureoles ofintrusiveigneous rockswith
magnesian country rocks.
Basaltic association
The basaltic occurrence of phlogopite is in association withpicrite basaltsand
high-alumina basalts. Phlogopite is stable in basaltic compositions at high
pressures and is often present as partially resorbedphenocrystsor an
accessory phase in basalts generated at depth.
Ultrapotassic association
Phlogopite mica is a commonly known phenocryst and groundmass phase
withinultrapotassic igneous rockssuch aslamprophyre,kimberlite,lamproite,
and other deeply sourced ultramafic or high-magnesian melts.
Ultramafic rocks
Phlogopite is often found in association with ultramafic intrusions as a
secondary alteration phase withinmetasomaticmargins of largelayered
intrusions. In some cases the phlogopite is considered to be produced by
autogenic alteration during cooling.
Miscellaneous
The largest documented single crystal of phlogopite was found in Lacey
mine,Ontario,Canada; it measured 10x4.3x4.3 m 3and weighed about 330
metric tons.Similar-sized crystals were also found inKarelia,Russia.

What is the important of the

mineral to the industry?
Industrial mineralsare geological materials which are mined for their
commercial value. Typical examples of industrial rock
sandmineralsarelimestone,clays,sand,gravel,diatomite,kaolin,bentonite,s
ilica,barite,gypsum, andtalc. Some examples of applications for industrial
minerals
areconstruction,ceramics,paints,electronics,filtration,plastics,glass,deter
gentsandpaper.
In some cases, even organic materials (peat) and industrial products or byproducts (cement,slag,silica fume) are categorized under industrial minerals,
as well as metallic compounds mainly utilized in non-metallic form (as an
example most of the titanium is utilized as an oxide TiO2rather than Ti metal).
In some cases, organic substances (such as peat) are categorized as industrial
minerals. This case, however, violates the technical definition of a "mineral."
A substance must be a mineral before it may be categorized as an industrial
mineral. Peat is a geologic substance mined for its economic value but that
does not mandate that it be referred to as a mineral or as an industrial
mineral.