Annite

Annite

Annite sample
General
Category Phyllosilicates
Mica group
Formula
(repeating unit)		 KFe32+AlSi3O10(OH,F)2
Strunz classification 9.EC.20
Crystal system Monoclinic
Crystal class Prismatic (2/m)
H-M symbol: (2/m)
Space group C2/m
Unit cell a = 5.39, b = 9.33
c = 10.29 [Å]; β = 100°; Z = 2
Identification
Color Brown to black
Crystal habit usually in "blocks" of thin sheets or as aggregations of foliated thin scales. Includes large, well formed pseudohexagonal prisms up to 12 cm across and 15 cm long.[1]
Twinning contact twins with composition surface on {001} and twin axis {310}
Cleavage perfect in one direction {001}[2]
Fracture uneven
Tenacity flexible[3]
Mohs scale hardness 2.5 - 3
Luster submetallic to vitreous; pearly on cleavage surfaces[4]
Streak brownish white
Specific gravity approximately 3.3
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 1.625 - 1.631 nβ = 1.690 nγ = 1.691 - 1.697
Pleochroism X = brown; Y = Z = dark brown
2V angle Calculated: 12° to 36°
Other characteristics diagnostic: occurrence: in magnesium poor igneous and metamorphic rocks.
References [5][6]

Annite is a phyllosilicate mineral in the mica family. It has a chemical formula of KFe32+AlSi3O10(OH)2.[6] Annite is the iron end member of the biotite mica group, the iron rich analogue of magnesium rich phlogopite.[7] Annite is monoclinic and contains tabular crystals and cleavage fragments with pseudohexagonal outlines.[8] There are contact twins with composition surface {001} and twin axis {310}.[9]

Annite was first described in 1868 for the first noted occurrence in Cape Ann, Rockport, Essex County, Massachusetts, US.[5] It also occurs on Pikes Peak, El Paso County, Colorado.[6] It occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks that are deficient in magnesium. It occurs associated with fluorite and zircon in the type locality.[6]

Properties

The relief of a mineral refers to the way a mineral may stand out in plane polarized light. A mineral may be referred to as having a low or high relief. Minerals with a high relief, such as annite, have sharp grain boundaries and display good fracture and cleavage. When viewed under a microscope, this mineral may appear to stick out of the other minerals in the thin section. Relief primarily depends on the index of refraction of the mineral.[6] The index of refraction of a mineral is a measure of the speed of light in the mineral. It is expressed as a ratio of the speed of light in vacuum relative to that in the given mineral. Annite has three indices of refraction known to be nα = 1.625 - 1.631 nβ = 1.690 nγ = 1.691 - 1.697.[5] It is also an anisotropic mineral, meaning under the cross polars of a microscope the mineral will become extinct every 90°. However, in plane polarized light, annite appears as a brown or green platy form and is pleochroic, meaning the mineral changes colors under a microscope without the polars being crossed.[6]

Uses

Annite is a member of the mica group and has very similar properties as other micas such as muscovite and biotite. More importantly, annite is interesting to geologists because it can be used for potassium-argon dating. Because annite contains large amounts of potassium, it can be used to find the absolute age of articles older than 1000 years. This type of dating also preserves a record of the direction and intensity of the local magnetic field, giving field geologists better knowledge of their surroundings.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Hazen, R.M. and Burnham, C.W. (1973) The crystal structures of one-layer phlogopite and annite. American Mineralogist, 58, 889-900.
  2. ↑ Deer, W.A., Howie,R.A., and Zussman,J (1963)Sheet Silicates. Rock-forming minerals Volume 3, 55-84.
  3. ↑ Eugster, H.P. and Wones, D.R.(1962)Annite. Stability relations of the ferruginous biotite. 3, 82-125
  4. ↑ Dana, E.S. (1892) Dana's system of mineralogy, (6th edition), 634.
  5. 1 2 3 Mindat.org
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Handbook of Mineralogy
  7. ↑ Deer, W. A., R. A. Howie and Zussman, J., An Introduction to the Rock Forming Minerals, Longman, 1966, p. 212 ISBN 0-582-44210-9
  8. ↑ Kwak, T.A.P. and Askins, P.W. (1981), Geology of Gneiss of the F-Sn-W (-Be_Zn) skarn (wrigglite) at Moina, Tasmania, Economical Geology, 76, 439-476
  9. ↑ Anthony,J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, C.M. (1995), Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume II, Silica, Silicates Part 1, p. 31
  10. ↑ Eugster, H.P. and Wones, D.R.(1962) Stability relations of the ferruginous biotite, annite. 3, 82-125
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