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The A and B mica layers and the crystal structure of sheet silicates

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Abstract

A discussion of the transition from the “ideal hexagonal” mica structure to the “ideal ditrigonal” one, leads to the conclusion that the single mica layer may have two different structures (labelled A and B). The recent literature data show that both the A and B structures have been detected in some triocahedral layer lattice silicates found in nature. An examination of the structural stability of the A and B structures suggests that the last one may not be realized by dioctahedral layer lattice silicates. The concept of two structurally different mica layers, which however have the same lattice constants, greatly improves the understanding of polymorphism and twin laws in layer lattice silicates.

The structural features of the tetrahedral sheet, octahedral sheet and interlayer region are carefully examined. Thus we can reach the following conclusions: the tetrahedal sheet is not entirely free to reduce its lateral dimensions by the mechanism of tetrahedal rotation owing to the repulsion among Obas atoms; the octahedral sheet in layer lattice silicates, may increase or reduce its lateral dimensions as compared to the lateral dimensions it has in the hydroxide minerals; the interlayer region is characterized by a regular octahedral coordination of the Obas around the interlayer cation. On the ground of these conclusions, new structural models for some selected layer lattice silicates are proposed.

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Abbreviations

Obas :

basal oxygen atoms of the (Al, Si)O4 tetrahedra

Oap :

apical oxygen atoms of the (Al, Si)O4 tetrahedra

b tetr :

b dimension which the tetrahedral sheet would assume if unconstrained

b oct :

b dimension which the octahedral sheet has in the hydroxide minerals

b obs :

observed value of b

c *oct :

thickness of the octahedral sheet

d o :

distance between an octahedral cation and an Oap atom

d int :

distance between an interlayer cation and an Obas atom

α:

average tetrahedral rotation from ideal hexagonal symmetry

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  1. Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Pisa, Italy

    Marco Franzini

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  1. Marco Franzini
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Franzini, M. The A and B mica layers and the crystal structure of sheet silicates. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 21, 203–224 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371751

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