Clinochlore

Formula:  (Mg,Fe)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8

Origin of name:  From Greek klinen to incline and chloros green

 

Crystal system:  Monoclinic

Crystal class:  2/m

Twinning:  On {001} about [310] axis

Unit cell: a = 5.32 Ǻ, b = 9.21 Ǻ, c = 14.29 Ǻ, β = 97.1°

 

Colour:  Colourless, white, yellowish, pale green to grass-green

Diaphaneity:

Luster:  Pearly, greasy, dull

Habit:  Crystals tabular, hexagonal cross section; massive, foliated, coarse scaly granular, fine granular, earthy

Hardness:  2 to 2.5

Specific gravity:  2.63 to 2.98

Cleavage:  1; {001} perfect

Tenacity:  Laminae flexible, inelastic

Streak:  Greenish to white

 

Synonyms/varieties:  Kammererite (Cr-rich var.), leuchtenbergite (Fe-free var.), pennine/penninite (prismatic var.), ripidolite (Fe2+-rich var.), sheridanite

 

Comments:  Series with chamosite

 

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