The name of biotite comes from the French physicist J. B. Biot Trioctahedral micas By Dominic Papineau Annite (Potassium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Aspidolite (Sodium Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Biotite (Potassium Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride) Eastonite (Potassium Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Ephesite (Sodium Lithium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Hendricksite (Potassium Zinc Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Lepidolite (Potassium Lithium Aluminum Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide) Masutomilite (Potassium Lithium Aluminum Manganese Silicate Fluoride) Montdorite (Potassium Iron Manganese Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Fluoride) Norrishite (Potassium Lithium Manganese Silicate) Polylithionite (Potassium Lithium Aluminum Silicate Fluoride) Phlogopite (Potassium Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Preiswerkite (Sodium Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Siderophyllite (Potassium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide) Tainiolite (Potassium Lithium Magnesium Silicate Fluoride) Tetra-ferri-annite (Potassium Iron Silicate Hydroxide) Tetra-ferriphlogopite (Potassium Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide) Trilithionite (Potassium Lithium Aluminum Silicate Fluoride) Zinnwaldite (Potassium Lithium Iron Aluminum Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide) The name of biotite comes from the French physicist J. B. Biot

The chemical and structural properties of biotite Chemical formula of biotite: K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 The composition is similar to phlogopite but with considerable substitution of Fe2+ for Mg. In fact, biotite is an intermediate between phlogopite and annite. A complete solid solution exists between annite, biotite, and phlogopite. Other common substitutions include Ti, Fe3+ and Al for Mg in the octahedral site and also Al for Si in the tetrahedral site. Substitution of F and Cl for OH are also common. Substitutions can also occur in the site of the interlayer cation K+ where Na, Ca, NH4+, Ba, Rb, and Cs can substitute. Biotite is more susceptible to chemical weathering than muscovite, because the Fe2+ can oxidize to Fe3+ in the presence of an electron acceptor. As a result, the mineral alters to other aluminosilicates and ferric oxide.

The physical properties of biotite Colors: brown (high Fe + Mg and low Ti), green-brown (low Ti), blue-green (no Ti), or black. Luster: splendent Cleavage: perfect in one direction Hardness: 2.5 to 3 Density: 2.8 to 3.2 g/cm3 Crystal habit: generally tabular crystals with a pseudohexagonal shape.

The optical properties of biotite Biotite is biaxial negative 2VZ = 0o - 25°  = 1.57 – 1.63  = 1.61 – 1.70 = 1.61 – 1.70 = 0.040 to 0.080 (third order interference colors seen as a “bird’s eye texture”) Strongly pleochroic 0o to 9o extinction angle

The crystallographic properties of biotite Crystal system: monoclinic Point Group: 2/m Unit cell parameters: a = 5.31 b = 9.23 c = 10.18  = 99.3° Z = 2 V = 479.79 Calculated density = 2.89 Space group: C2/m is the most common (1M)

The crystal structure of biotite Silicon or aluminum tetrahedra Iron or magnesium octahedron Oxygen atom Potassium or interlayer cation The tetrahedral sheets are 2.271Å thick for 1M biotite The octahedral sheets are 2.138Å thick for 1M biotite The interlayer separation is of 3.334Å for 1M biotite

Optical spectroscopic properties of biotite Fe2+ is observed by absorption bands near: 270 nm (37 040 cm-1) 385 nm (25 970 cm-1) Near UV, Visible, and Near IR 456 nm (21 930 cm-1) 720 nm (14 000 cm-1) 920 nm (11 000 cm-1) 1150 nm (9 000 cm-1) Cr3+ is observed by absorption bands near: 400 nm (24 000 cm-1) Visible 600 nm (16 700 cm-1) Ti3+ is observed by absorption bands near: 400 to 500 nm (24 000 to 20 000 cm-1) Visible

Infrared spectroscopic properties of biotite Infrared spectroscopy in micas can be used for: Mica and polytype identification Estimation of chemical composition Determine ordering and orientation of small molecular units Derive thermodynamic parameters Examine the interaction of a wide variety of chemical substances with micas OH-stretching is observed by absorption bands near: 930 nm (10 750 cm-1) 1380 nm (7250 cm-1) Wavenumber (cm-1) 2700 nm (3710 cm-1) Phlogopite 2760 and 2900 nm (3620 and 3450 cm-1)

The crystallization of biotite in igneous rocks

The crystallization of biotite from sediments Biotite can crystallize from pelitic sediments (metamorphosed argillaceous sediments). This metamorphism occurs by a series of dehydration reactions The most basic requirements to obtain some biotite in metamorphic rocks are a little K2O, sufficient Al2O3 and the appropriate metamorphic conditions. Biotite in pelitic schist thus originates from mineral reactions which include quartz, muscovite, biotite, chlorite, and K-feldspar. Biotite Ti content increases as a function of metamorphic grade

The stability of biotite in metamorphic processes Biotite is stable from greenschist to granulite facies

Occurrences of biotite Biotite occurs in a wide variety of environments Igneous rocks: Granite, gabbro, diorite, peridotite, monzonite, syenite, etc. Pegmatites: Where it can contain some rare-earth elements. Metamorphic rocks: Found in a wide range of temperature and pressure conditions characterizing the biotite zone.