geology

Home » Minerals » Chlorite

Chlorite - Mineral Properties and Uses

What is Chlorite?

"Chlorite" is a name used for a group of sheet silicate minerals with similar properties. They are primarily found in weakly metamorphosed rock and form from the alteration of clay-rich sedimentary rocks and from alteration of pyroxenes, amphiboles and micas. They are also found in some sediments.

Uses

Very few industrial uses. Used as a filler and as a constituent of clay.

Color

various shades of green, yellow, white, pink, rose-red

Streak

greenish to greenish black to white

Luster

vitreous to pearly

Diaphaneity

transparent to translucent

Cleavage

basal, perfect

Hardness

2 - 2.5

Specific Gravity

2.6 - 3.3

Distinguishing
Characteristics

color, hardness

Crystal System

monoclinic

Chemical Classification

silicate

Chemical Composition

a generalized formula: (Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2.(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6

(Many solid solution possiblities exist with the "chlorite" composition, each producing a specimen with slightly varying properties. Chlorite minerals include clinochlore (most abundant), baileychlore, chamosite, cookeite, donbassite, gonyerite, nimite, odinite, orthochamosite, pennantite, ripidolite, sudoite.

Chlorite Pictures

chlorite
Chlorite from Quebec, Canada.
This specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across.

chlorite
A side view of the layering of chlorite from Quebec, Canada.
Specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across.




More Information About Minerals!


Mineral photographs that appear on this page with a Geology.com copyright mark are property of Geology.com and may not be used beyond our website. If you like these photos and would like to share them with others please link to this page or email its URL. The photos were taken and composed by Ann Bryant.
© 2005-2012 Geology.com. All Rights Reserved.
Images, code and content of this website are property of Geology.com. Use without permission is prohibited. Pages on this site are protected by Copyscape.