Lecture 20 (12/06/2006) Systematic Description of Minerals Part 4: Silicates II: Cyclosilicates, Inosilicates, Phyllosilicates and Tectosilicates
Silicate Mineral Classification (based on arrangement of SiO 4 tetrahedra)
Cyclosilicates (Ring) x(SiO 3 ) Unit Composition Hexagonal and Orthorhombic (pseudohexagonal) symmetries most common Forms silicate minerals with: Moderate density( ) and hardness (7-8) Prismatic habits Poor cleavage Beryl
Common Cyclosilicates Beryl Be 3 Al 2 (Si 6 O 18 ) Common accessory mineral in granite pegmatite Gem varieties – Aquamarine, Emerald, Rose Beryl, Golden Beryl Cordierite (Mg,Fe) 2 Al 4 Si 5 O 18 ·nH20 Common mineral in contact metamorphosed argillaceous rocks Resembles quartz in appearance and hardness (7-7.5) Tourmaline (Na,Ca)(Li,Mg,Al) 3 (Al,Fe,Mn) 6 (BO 3 ) 3 (Si 6 O 18 )(OH) 4 Common accessory mineral in granite pegmatite Characteristic striated prisms with trigonal outline watermelontourmaline
Inosilicates (Chain) x(SiO 3 ) Unit Composition Single and double silicon tetrahedra chains Typically monoclinic and orthorhombic symmetry Single chains (Pyroxenes) develop ~90° cleavage Double chains (Amphiboles) develop 120 ° cleavage AmphiboleStructurePyroxeneStructure
Pyroxenes (XYZ 2 O 6 ) X (M 2 ) – Na, Ca, Mn, Fe +2, Mg, Li Y (M 1 ) – Mn, Fe +2, Mg, Fe +3, Cr +3, Ti +4 Z (Tetrahedral site) - Al +3, Si +4 Clinopyroxenes Orthopyroxenes
Exsolution in Pyroxene Exsolved comp Original comp
Amphiboles (A 0-1 X 2 Y 5 Z 8 O 22 (OH,F)) A – Na, K X (M 4 ) – Na, Ca, Mn, Fe +2, Mg, Li Y (M 1-3 ) – Mn, Fe +2, Mg, Fe +3, Cr +3, Ti +4 Z (Tetrahedral site) - Al +3, Si +4
Common Types of Amphiboles
Phyllosilicates (Sheet) x(Si 2 O 5 ) Unit Composition Infinite sheets of silicon tetrahedra Strong single cleavage parallel to silicon sheets PyrophylliteMuscovite
Phyllosilicate Structures Alternating Si Tetrahedral and Octahedral layers bound by large cations or weak electrostatic bonds
Common Phyllosilicates Antigorite Chrysotile Kaolinite Talc Pyrophyllite Muscovite Lepidolite Biotite Chlorite
Tectosilicates (Framework) x(SiO 2 ) Unit Composition 3-D framework of linked silicon tetrahedra Variable physical properties and symmetries depending on linkage of framework groupings
SiO 2 Group Opal SiO 2 ·nH 2 O Quartz SiO 2
Feldspar Group
Alkali Feldspars Perthite (albite exsolution in microcline)
Plagioclase Feldspars Albite Twinning CompositionalZoning(Oscillatory)
Feldspathoids (Si-poor feldspars) Common in alkaline (Si-undersaturated) igneous rocks Leucite – KAlSiO 4 Nepheline – (Na,K)AlSiO 4 Sodalite – Na 8 (AlSiO 4 ) 6 Cl 2
Hydrous Tectosilicates Analcime (Scapolite Gp) NaAlSi 2 O 6 ·H 2 O Natrolite (Zeolite Gp) Na 2 Al 2 Si 3 O 10 ·2H 2 O Heulandite (Zeolite Gp) CaAl 2 Si 7 O 18 ·6H 2 O Stilbite (Zeolite Gp) NaCa 2 Al 5 Si 13 O 36 ·14H 2 O
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