FILOSILICATOS

Marco Antonio Márquez G

Introdución
 Capas de tetraedros compartiendo los
oxígenos de la base
 Capas coplanares o no
 Combinadas con capas de octaedros
en dos patrones:
 Trioctaedral
 Dioctaedral
Grupos

 Tres grupos:
 Grupo de las micas
 Grupo de la serpentina

 Grupo de las arcillas

Composición de las micas
X2Y4-6Si6Al2O20(OH)4
Moscovita
 Chemical Formula: KAl2(Si3Al)O10(OH,F)2
 Composition:
Potassium    9.81  %  K     11.81 % K2O    
Aluminum    20.30  %  Al    38.36 % Al2O3    
Silicon     21.13  %  Si    45.21 % SiO2    
Hydrogen      0.46  %  H      4.07 % H2O    
Oxygen      47.35  %  O    
Fluorine      0.95  %  F     0.95 % F  
100.00  %       100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: KAl3Si3O10(OH)1.8F0.2
 Environment: Granites and pegmatites.
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1850
 Locality: Common world wide.
 Name Origin: From Muscovy glass, alluding to the
Russian province of Muscovy.
 Synonym: Binnite (Ba)   Fuchsite (Cr)   Isinglass   Potash
Mica
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: White, Gray, Silver white, Brownish white,
Greenish white.
 Density: 2.77 - 2.88, Average = 2.82
 Diaphaniety: Transparent to translucent
 Fracture: Brittle - Sectile - Brittle fracture with
slightly sectile shavings possible.
 Habit: Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms.
 Habit: Massive - Lamellar - Distinctly foliated fine-
grained forms.
 Habit: Micaceous - Platy texture with "flexible"
plates.
 Hardness: 2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail
 Luminescence: None.
 Luster: Vitreous (Glassy)
 Streak: white
Pink crystals of fluorapatite with pale blue beryl (aquamarine) on
books of muscovite crystals
Flogopita
 Chemical Formula: KMg3(Si3Al)O10(F,OH)2
 Composition:
Potassium    9.33 %  K     11.23 % K2O    
Magnesium   17.39 %  Mg    28.84 % MgO    
Aluminum     6.44 %  Al    12.16 % Al2O3    
Silicon     20.10 %  Si    42.99 % SiO2    
Hydrogen    0.24 %  H      2.15 % H2O    
Oxygen      41.98 %  O    
Fluorine     4.53 %  F      4.53 % F
100.00 %       100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Environment: Contact and regional metamorphic
limestones and dolomites. Ultramafic igneous rocks.
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1841
 Locality: St. Lawrence Co., at Edwards, New York, USA.
 Name Origin: From the Greek flogopos - "resembling
fire."
 Synonym: Magnesium Mica
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Brown, Gray, Green, Yellow, Reddish brown.
 Density: 2.7 - 2.9, Average = 2.8
 Diaphaniety: Transparent to translucent
 Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage)
fractured in an uneven pattern.
 Habit: Lamellar - Thin laminae producing a lamellar
structure.
 Habit: Micaceous - Platy texture with "flexible"
plates.
 Habit: Scaly - Morphology like fish scales.
 Hardness: 2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail
 Luminescence: None.
 Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
 Streak: white
Biotita
 Chemical Formula: K(Mg,Fe++)3[AlSi3O10(OH,F)2
 Composition:
Potassium    9.02 %  K     10.86 % K2O    
Magnesium   14.02 %  Mg    23.24 % MgO    
Aluminum     6.22 %  Al    11.76 % Al2O3    
Iron         6.44 %  Fe     8.29 % FeO    
Silicon     19.44 %  Si    41.58 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     0.41 %  H      3.64 % H2O    
Oxygen      43.36 %  O    
Fluorine     1.10 %  F      1.10 % F
100.00 %       100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: KMg2.5Fe2+0.5AlSi3O10(OH)1.75F0.25
 Environment: Granitic rocks. Forms a series with phlogopite. Has several
polytypes (1M, 3T, 2M1). Biotite is now a group name for phlogopite,
siderophyllite and eastonite.
 IMA Status: Not Approved IMA 1998
 Locality: Common world wide.
 Name Origin: Named in 1847 after the French physicist, Jean Baptiste
Biot (1774 - 1862), who studied the optical properties of the micas.
 Synonym: Iron Mica   Lepidomelane (Fe)   Manganophyllite (Mn)  
Micaceous Iron Ore
Prismatic wohlerite crystals with lepidomelane (Fe-rich biotite).
Fibrous mass of anthophyllite as a shell around biotite
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Dark brown, Greenish brown, Blackish brown,
Yellow, White.
 Density: 2.8 - 3.4, Average = 3.09
 Diaphaniety: Transparent to translucent to opaque
 Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured
in an uneven pattern.
 Habit: Lamellar - Thin laminae producing a lamellar
structure.
 Habit: Micaceous - Platy texture with "flexible" plates.
 Habit: Pseudo Hexagonal - Crystals show a hexagonal
outline.
 Hardness: 2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite
 Luminescence: None.
 Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
 Streak: gray
Vermiculita
 Chemical Formula:
(Mg,Fe++,Al)3(Al,Si)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O)
 Composition:
Magnesium    8.68 %  Mg   14.39 % MgO    
Aluminum    23.01 %  Al   43.48 % Al2O3    
Iron         9.97 %  Fe   12.82 % FeO    
Silicon      5.57 %  Si   11.92 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     2.00 %  H    17.87 % H2O    
Oxygen      50.77 %  O
  100.00 %      100.48 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula:
Mg1.8Fe2+0.9Al4.3SiO10(OH)2·4(H2O)
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1824
 Name Origin: From the Latin vermiculus, "little
worm."
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Colorless, Green, Gray white, Yellow
brown.
 Density: 2.3 - 2.7, Average = 2.5
 Diaphaniety: Translucent
 Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not
cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
 Habit: Lamellar - Thin laminae producing a
lamellar structure.
 Habit: Scaly - Morphology like fish scales.
 Hardness: 1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum
 Luster: Vitreous - Dull
 Streak: greenish white
Clorita (Tosudita)-Grupo del Clinocloro
 Chemical Formula: Na0,5(Al,Mg)6(Si,Al)8O18(OH)12·5(H2O)
(Mg,Fe)5(Al,Fe3+)2Si3O10(OH)8
 Composition:
Sodium       1.18 %  Na     1.59 % Na2O    
Magnesium    4.99 %  Mg     8.28 % MgO    
Aluminum    13.85 %  Al    26.18 % Al2O3    
Silicon     20.19 %  Si    43.19 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     2.28 %  H     20.35 % H2O    
Oxygen      57.51 %  O  
100.00 %        99.59 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: Na0.5Al4Mg2Si7AlO18(OH)12·5(H2O)
 Environment: Hydrothermal alteration product of tuffs, andesites,
sediments, and so on.
 IMA Status: Approved IMA 1963
 Locality: Al-tosudite - Alushta, Crimea, Russia. Mg-tosudite -
Kamakita mine, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Li-tosudite - Himalaya
pegmatite, San Diego County, Californina, USA.
 Name Origin: Named for Toshio Sudo (1911-), Japanese
mineralogist and crystallographer, University of Tokyo, Japan.
 Synonym: Alushtite   Chlorite
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Azure, Blue white, Green,
Yellow, White.
 Density: 2.42
 Habit: Massive - Lamellar - Distinctly
foliated fine-grained forms.
 Hardness: 1-2 - Between Talc and
Gypsum
 Luster: Vitreous (Glassy)
 Streak: white
Lepidolita
 Chemical Formula: K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2
 Composition:
Potassium   10.07 %  K     12.13 % K2O    
Lithium      3.58 %  Li     7.70 % Li2O    
Aluminum     6.95 %  Al    13.13 % Al2O3    
Silicon     28.93 %  Si    61.89 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     0.26 %  H      2.32 % H2O    
Oxygen      45.32 %  O    
Fluorine     4.89 %  F      4.89 % F  
100.00 %       100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: KLi2AlSi4O10F(OH)
 Environment: Lithia-bearing pegmatites.
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1792
 Locality: Pala, San Diego Co., California, USA.
 Name Origin: From the Greek lepidion - "scale" and lithos
- "stone."
 Synonym: Lithium Mica
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Colorless, Gray white, Lilac, Yellowish, White.
 Density: 2.8 - 2.9, Average = 2.84
 Diaphaniety: Translucent
 Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage)
fractured in an uneven pattern.
 Habit: Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms.
 Habit: Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals
forming large masses.
 Habit: Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).
 Hardness: 2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite
 Luminescence: None.
 Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
 Streak: white
Margarita
 Chemical Formula: CaAl2(Al2Si2)O10(OH)2
 Composition:
Calcium    10.07 %  Ca    14.08 % CaO    
Aluminum   27.10 %  Al    51.21 % Al2O3    
Silicon    14.11 %  Si    30.18 % SiO2    
Hydrogen    0.51 %  H      4.52 % H2O    
Oxygen     48.22 %  O               
100.00 %       100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: CaAl4Si2O10(OH)2
 Environment: Commonly associated with corundum
as an alteration product.
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1823
 Locality: Corundum mines at Ekaterinurg Distict, Ural
Mountains, Russia.
 Name Origin: From the Greek margaritos - "pearl."
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Good
 Color: White, Gray, Pinkish gray, Yellowish gray.
 Density: 2.99 - 3.08, Average = 3.03
 Diaphaniety: Translucent to subtranslucent
 Fracture: Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses
and most non-metallic minerals.
 Habit: Lamellar - Thin laminae producing a lamellar
structure.
 Habit: Massive - Lamellar - Distinctly foliated fine-
grained forms.
 Habit: Scaly - Morphology like fish scales.
 Hardness: 4 - Fluorite
 Luminescence: None.
 Luster: Pearly
 Streak: white
Glauconita
 Chemical Formula: (K,Na)(Fe+++,Al,Mg)2(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2
 Composition:
Potassium    5.49 %  K      6.62 % K2O    
Sodium       0.27 %  Na     0.36 % Na2O    
Magnesium    2.28 %  Mg     3.78 % MgO    
Aluminum     1.90 %  Al     3.58 % Al2O3    
Iron        19.62 %  Fe     3.37 % FeO / 24.31 % Fe2O3    
Silicon     25.00 %  Si    53.48 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     0.47 %  H      4.22 % H2O    
Oxygen      44.97 %  O
100.00 %        99.72 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: K0.6Na0.05Fe3+1.3Mg0.4Fe2+0.2Al0.3Si3.8O10(OH)2
 Environment: Altered from detrital biotite by marine diagenesis
in shallow water under reducing conditions; especially in
sandstone.
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1828
 Locality: Otago Peninsula, New Zealand. Common world wide.
 Name Origin: From the Greek "glaucos" for the blue green
color.
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Blue green, Green, Yellow green.
 Density: 2.4 - 2.95, Average = 2.67
 Diaphaniety: Translucent to Subopaque
 Habit: Micaceous - Platy texture with
"flexible" plates.
 Hardness: 2 - Gypsum
 Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
 Luster: Earthy (Dull)
 Magnetism: Nonmagnetic
 Streak: light green
Paragénesis de las micas
 Primary minerals in igneous and
metamorphic rocks
 Muscovite: Metamorphic rocks (pelitic
schists), some granites.
 Biotite: Metamorphic rocks (pelitic
schists), all granites and granodiorites.
 Phlogopite: Ultramafic rocks
(kimberlites), metamorphosed Mg-rich
limestones
 Chlorite: Alteration product of biotite in
retrograde metamorphic rocks;
greenschist facies.
Grupo de la
serpentina y el
talco
 Amesite:Mg 2Al[(OH) 4|
AlSiO 5]
 Antigorite:
(Mg,Fe2+ ) 3[(OH) 4|Si 2O 5]
 Berthierine:(Fe,Fe,Mg) 2-
3(Si,Al) 2O 5(OH) 4
 Brindleyite:
(Ni,Mg,Fe) 2Al(Si,Al)O 5(OH) 4
 Caryopilite:
(Mn,Mg) 3Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Clinochrysotile
:Mg 3Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Cronstedtite
:Fe2+2Fe3+ [(Si,Fe3+ )O 5]
(OH) 4
 Dickite:Al 2Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Fraipontite:
(Zn,Al) 3(Si,Al) 2O 5(OH) 4
 Greenalite:(Fe,Fe) 2-
3Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Halloysite:Al 2Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Kaolinite:Al 2Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Kellyite:Mn2+2Al[(OH) 4|
AlSiO 5]
 Lizardite:Mg 3[(OH) 4|
Si 2O 5]
 Manandonite
:LiAl 4Si 3BO 10(OH) 6
 Nacrite:Al 2Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Népouite:
(Ni,Mg) 3Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Odinite:
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn) 2.4(Si,Al)
 2O 5(OH) 4
 Orthochrysotile
:Mg 3Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Parachrysotile
:Mg 3Si 2O 5(OH) 4
 Pecoraite:Ni 3[(OH) 4|
Si 2O 5]
Antigorita
 Chemical Formula: (Mg,Fe++)3Si2O5(OH)4
 Composition:
Magnesium   18.18 %  Mg    30.15 % MgO    
Iron        13.93 %  Fe    17.92 % FeO    
Silicon     18.68 %  Si    39.95 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     1.34 %  H     11.98 % H2O    
Oxygen      47.88 %  O
100.00 %       100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: Mg2.25Fe2+0.75(Si2O5)(OH)4
 Environment: Common in regional and contact
metamorphosed serpentinites
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1840
 Locality: Antigorio, Italy
 Name Origin: Named after its locality. From the Latin,
serpens - "snake."
 Synonym: Bowenite   Jenkinsite   Picrolite   Picrosmine  
Williamsite
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Good
 Color: Green, Gray, Bluish gray, Brown, Black.
 Density: 2.5 - 2.6, Average = 2.54
 Diaphaniety: Translucent to Subopaque
 Fracture: Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses
and most non-metallic minerals.
 Habit: Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals
forming large masses.
 Habit: Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).
 Habit: Scaly - Morphology like fish scales.
 Hardness: 3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite
 Luster: Vitreous - Greasy
 Streak: greenish white
Chromite veins in yellow to green antigorite with picrolite, chromian
antigorite and dolomite (polished section).
Location: Wood's Mine, near 'Texas', Little Britain Township,
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Lizardita
 Chemical Formula: Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
 Composition:
Magnesium   26.31 %  Mg   43.63 % MgO  
Silicon     20.27 %  Si   43.36 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     1.45 %  H     13.00 % H2O    
Oxygen      51.96 %  O
100.00 %       100.00 % 
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA)
1956
 Synonym: Orthoantigorite
Propiedades Físicas

 Cleavage: [001] Perfect

 Color: Green, Green blue, Yellow,
White.
 Density: 2.55 - 2.6, Average = 2.57
 Diaphaniety: Translucent
 Hardness: 2.5 - Finger Nail
 Streak: white
Lizardite pseudomorphously replacing olivine
Location: Snarum, Norway
Clinocrisotilo
 Chemical Formula: Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
 Composition:
Magnesium   26.31 %  Mg    43.63 % MgO    
Silicon     20.27 %  Si    43.36 % SiO2    
Hydrogen    1.45 %  H     13.00 % H2O    
Oxygen      51.96 %  O
100.00 %       100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
 Environment: Metamorphosed and hydrothermally-
altered ultra-basic rocks.
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1951
 Name Origin: From the Greek chrysos - "gold" and
tilos - "fiber."
 Synonym: Asbestos, Chrysotile, Deweylite,Mountain
Leather, Serpentine, amianto
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [???] Distinct
 Color: Green, Red, Yellow, White.
 Density: 2.53 - 2.65, Average = 2.59
 Diaphaniety: Translucent to opaque
 Fracture: Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle
materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces,
(e.g. quartz).
 Habit: Amorphous - No crystalline form or imitative
shape.
 Habit: Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to
subhedral crystals in matrix.
 Habit: Massive - Fibrous - Distinctly fibrous fine-grained
forms.
 Hardness: 2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite
 Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
 Luster: Resinous
 Streak: white
Aplicación
 Asbestos is commonly found in many
building materials and household items.
 Asbestos is a commercial term applied to
the asbestiform varieties of six different
minerals:
1. Chrysotile (asbestiform serpentine) 
2. Amosite (asbestiform grunerite) 
3. Crocidolite (asbestiform riebeckite) 
4. Tremolite (asbestiform) 
5. Actinolite (asbestiform) 
6. Anthophyllite (asbestiform)
Aplicación
 The properties of asbestos that
caused it to be widely used
commercially are:
1. The ability to be separated into long, thin,
flexible fibers
2. High tensile strength

3. Low thermal and electrical conductivity

4. High mechanical and chemical durability

5. High heat resistance

Talco
 Chemical Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
 Composition:
Magnesium   19.23 %  Mg   31.88 % MgO    
Silicon     29.62 %  Si    63.37 % SiO2    
Hydrogen     0.53 %  H      4.75 % H2O    
Oxygen      50.62 %  O
100.00 %       100.00 %
 Environment: Hydrothermal alteration of non-
aluminous magnesian silicates
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1546
Locality: Common world wide
 Name Origin: From the Arabic
 Synonym: Kerolite, Magnesium Talc, Soapstone,
Steatite - massive
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Pale green, White, Gray white, Yellowish
white, Brownish white.
 Density: 2.7 - 2.8, Average = 2.75
 Diaphaniety: Translucent
 Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage)
fractured in an uneven pattern.
 Habit: Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms.
 Habit: Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals
forming large masses.
 Habit: Scaly - Morphology like fish scales.
 Hardness: 1 - Talc
 Luminescence: Fluorescent.
 Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
 Streak: white
White talc pseudomorphous after quartz
Location: Johannezeche, Bavaria, Germany
Pirofilita
 Chemical Formula: Al2Si4O10(OH)2
 Composition:
Aluminum   14.98 %  Al   28.30 % Al2O3    
Silicon    31.18 %  Si   66.70 % SiO2    
Hydrogen    0.56 %  H     5.00 % H2O    
Oxygen     53.28 %  O
100.00 %      100.00 %
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1829
 Locality: Pyschminsk and Beresovsk, Ural
Mountains, Russia.
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: Brown green, Brownish yellow,
Greenish, Gray green, Gray white.
 Density: 2.8 - 2.9, Average = 2.84
 Diaphaniety: Translucent to opaque
 Fracture: Flexible - Flexible fragments.
 Habit: Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with
no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g.
howlite).
 Hardness: 1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum
 Luminescence: Fluorescent.
 Luster: Pearly
 Streak: white
Rutile on fine-grained pyrophyllite.
Location: Graves Mt. Georgia, USA.
Caolinita
 Chemical Formula: Al2Si2O5(OH)4
 Composition:
Aluminum  20.90 %  Al   39.50 % Al2O3    
Silicon    21.76 %  Si   46.55 % SiO2    
Hydrogen   1.56 %  H    13.96 % H2O    
Oxygen     55.78 %  O
100.00 %      100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Environment: Secondary mineral derived from the
wathering of alumino-silicate minerals
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1930
 Locality: Kao-Ling, China
 Name Origin: Named after the locality
 Synonym: Pianlinite - Disordered
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: White, Brownish white, Grayish white,
Yellowish white, Grayish green.
 Density: 2.6
 Diaphaniety: Transparent to translucent
 Fracture: Earthy - Dull, clay-like fractures with no
visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).
 Habit: Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible
crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).
 Hardness: 1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum
 Luminescence: None.
 Luster: Earthy (Dull)
 Streak: white
Pyramidal diagentic quartz overgrowth on a sand grain
with associated kaolinite platelets
Montmorillonita
 Chemical Formula: (Na,Ca)0,3(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2·n(H2O)
 Composition:
Sodium      0.84 %  Na     1.13 % Na2O    
Calcium     0.73 %  Ca     1.02 % CaO    
Aluminum    9.83 %  Al    18.57 % Al2O3    
Silicon    20.46 %  Si    43.77 % SiO2    
Hydrogen    4.04 %  H     36.09 % H2O    
Oxygen     64.11 %  O
100.00 %       100.58 % = TOTAL OXIDE
 Empirical Formula: Na0.2Ca0.1Al2Si4O10(OH)2(H2O)10
 IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1847
 Locality: Veinne, Montmorillone, France.
 Name Origin: Named after the locality.
 Synonym: Bentonite
Propiedades Físicas
 Cleavage: [001] Perfect
 Color: White, Gray white, Yellow, Brownish yellow,
Greenish yellow.
 Density: 2 - 2.7, Average = 2.35
 Diaphaniety: Translucent to Opaque
 Fracture: Earthy - Dull, clay-like fractures with no
visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).
 Habit: Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible
crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).
 Hardness: 1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum
 Luminescence: None.
 Luster: Earthy (Dull)
 Streak: white
Authigenic smectite (montmorillonite) overgrown on
pore spaces and authigenicly-overgrown quartz grains
in a sandstone. SEM image of a core sample