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Kaolinite

UNB-2016-0530Minerals » Silicates » Phyllosilicates

Description

Five samples of compact white Kaolinite with visible cleavage on some samples. Kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4) can be white, grey or yellowish in colour. Lustre is dull but pearly on the cleavage and streak is white. Hardness is 2 to 2 1/2 and cleavage is perfect in one direction. Kaolinite usually occurs as submicroscopic grains of plates in compact masses.

Specifications

Object nameKaolinite
IDUNB-2016-0530
Legal statusPermanent collection
CategoryMineral
Classification
Mineral group:
Silicates
Sub-group:
Phyllosilicates
Composition
  • (Al,Fe2+,Fe3+Li,Mg,Mn,Ni)5−6(Al,Fe3+,Si)4(O,OH)18
  • K(Fe,Mg)3AlSi3O10(OH)2
  • (Mg,Fe2+)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
  • Various (e.g., Muscovite - KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2)
  • Al2Si2O5(OH)4
  • K(Li,Al)3(Al,Si,Rb)4O10(F,OH)2
  • Na2AlSi3O8·H2O
  • LiAlSi4O10
  • NaAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
  • D3[Si2O5](OH)4
  • Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
  • KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2
OriginLangley, South Carolina, U.S.A.
Pieces5
PartialNo
Measurements
  • 4cm x 5.5cm x 4.8cm
  • 1.2cm x 1cm x 1.1cm
  • 0.4cm x 1.4cm x 0.2cm
  • 0.4cm x 1.3cm x 0.2cm
  • 1.4cm x 2cm x 0.5cm

Map of Origin

Publications

  • Chesterman, C.W. 1979. Audubon Society, Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals. Knopf.