Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Pyrophyllite

Big Photo

Pyshminskoe (Staro-Pyshminskoye) deposit, Berezovskoe Au Deposit (Berezovsk Mines), Berezovskii (Berezovskii Zavod), Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Show Pyrophyllite Photos (62)
Formula:
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
System:MonoclinicColour:White, gray, pale blue, ...
Hardness:1 - 2
Name:From the Greek for "fire" and "leaf" for the way it exfoliates when heated.


Pyrophyllite-Talc Group.

Classification of Pyrophyllite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EC.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.2.1.1

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
2 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 2:1 layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:15.5

15 : Silicates of Aluminum
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3323.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Pyrophyllite

Type Locality:Pyshminskoe (Staro-Pyshminskoye) deposit, Berezovskoe Au Deposit (Berezovsk Mines), Berezovskii (Berezovskii Zavod), Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia

Occurrences of Pyrophyllite

Geological Setting:Hydrothermal veins and in bedded deposits in schistose rocks.

Physical Properties of Pyrophyllite

Lustre:Pearly, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:White, gray, pale blue, pale green, pale yellow, brownish green
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2
Tenacity:Flexible
Cleavage:Perfect
on {001}
Comment:inelastic
Density (measured):2.65 - 2.9 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.81 g/cm3

Crystallography of Pyrophyllite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.16Å, b = 8.966(3) Å, c = 9.347(6) Å
α = 91.18°, β = 100.46°, γ = 89.64°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.576 : 1 : 1.042
Unit Cell Volume:V 425.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Lamellar crystals, spherulitic aggregates, granular, massive
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Pyrophyllite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.534 - 1.556 nβ = 1.586 - 1.589 nγ = 1.596 - 1.601
2V:Measured: 53° to 62°, Calculated: 46° to 60°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.062

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v weak

Chemical Properties of Pyrophyllite

Formula:
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
Essential elements:Al, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, Si

Relationship of Pyrophyllite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EC.05Minnesotaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Talc
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Willemseite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.10Ferripyrophyllite
Fe
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Celadonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chernykhite
(Ba,Na)(V
3+
 
,Al,Mg)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Montdorite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
[(OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
9.EC.15Muscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Nanpingite
CsAl
 
2
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Paragonite
NaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Roscoelite
K(V,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Tobelite
(NH
 
4
,K)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Aluminoceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chromphyllite
K(Cr,Al)
 
2
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ferro-aluminoceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ferroceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chromceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Cr,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Tainiolite
KLiMg
 
2
[F
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ganterite
(Ba,Na,K)(Al,Mg)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Annite
KFe
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Ephesite
NaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Hendricksite
K(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Masutomilite
(K,Rb)(Li,Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Norrishite
KLiMn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Phlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Polylithionite
KLi
 
2
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Preiswerkite
NaMg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Siderophyllite
KFe
2+
2
Al[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
](OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Tetra-ferriphlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Wonesite
(Na,K)(Mg,fe,Al)
 
6
(Al,Si)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH,F)
 
4
9.EC.20Zinnwaldite
KLiFe
2+
 
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Eastonite
KMg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Tetraferriannite
KFe
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Trilithionite
K(Li,Al)
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Fluorannite
KFe
2+
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Shirokshinite
KNaMg
 
2
[F
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Shirozulite
K(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Sokolovaite
CsLi
 
2
AlSi
 
4
O
 
10
F
 
2
9.EC.20Aspidolite
NaMg
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Fluorophlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20UM2004-49-SiO:AlCsFHKLi
(Cs,K)(Al,Li)
 
2.6
[(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
](F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Suhailite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
 
3
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20IMA2009-017
KMg
 
2.5
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]F
 
2
9.EC.20IMA2009-006
KLi
 
2
TiSi
 
4
O
 
11
F
9.EC.25Brammallite
Na
 
0.65
Al
 
2.0
ٱAl
 
0.65
Si
 
3.35
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.30Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Anandite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(O,OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al,Fe)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Bityite
CaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Clintonite
Ca(Mg,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
SiO
 
10
]
9.EC.35Kinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Ferrokinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Oxykinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.40Beidellite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
0.3
Al
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Kurumsakite
(Zn,Ni,Cu)
 
8
Al
 
8
V
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
35
·27H
 
2
O (or near)
9.EC.40Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Nontronite
Na
 
0.3
Fe
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Volkonskoite
Ca
 
0.3
(Cr,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.40Yakhontovite
(Ca,Na)
 
0.5
(Cu,Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.EC.40Smectite
9.EC.45Hectorite
Na
 
0.3
(Mg,Li)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Saponite
Ca
 
0.25
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.45Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Spadaite
MgSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Stevensite
(Ca,Na)
 
x
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Swinefordite
Li(Al,Li,Mg)
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
,(OH,F)
 
4
·xH
 
2
O
9.EC.45Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Ferrosaponite
Ca
 
0.3
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.50Vermiculite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.55Baileychlore
(Zn,Fe,Al,Mg)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Chamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Clinochlore
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Cookeite
LiAl
 
4
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
FeMn
 
3
MnZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Gonyerite
(Mn,Mg)
 
5
Fe(Si
 
3
Fe)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Nimite
(Ni,Mg,Al)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Orthochamosite
(Fe,Mg,Fe)
 
5
Al(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH,O)
 
8
9.EC.55Pennantite
(Mn
 
5
Al)(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Sudoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Donbassite
Al
 
2
[Al
 
2.33
][Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
](OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Glagolevite
Na(Mg,Al)
 
6
[(OH,O)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Borocookeite
Li
 
1+3x
Al
 
4-x
[(BSi
 
3
)O
 
10
](OH)
 
8
 [0.00 <= x <=0.33]
9.EC.60Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Corrensite
(Mg,Fe)
 
9
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
10
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.60Dozyite
Mg
 
7
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.EC.60Hydrobiotite
9.EC.60Karpinskite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.60Kulkeite
Mg
 
8
Al(AlSi
 
7
)O
 
20
(OH)
 
10
9.EC.60Lunijianlaite
Li
 
0.7
Al
 
6.2
(Si
 
7
AlO
 
20
)(OH,O)
 
10
9.EC.60Rectorite
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Saliotite
Li
 
0.5
Na
 
0.5
Al
 
3
Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
(OH)
 
5
9.EC.60Tosudite
9.EC.60Brinrobertsite
Na
 
0.3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 3.5 H
 
2
O
9.EC.65Macaulayite
(Fe,Al)
 
24
Si
 
4
O
 
43
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.70Burckhardtite
Pb
 
2
(Fe,Mn)AlTeO
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
9.EC.75Ferrisurite
(Pb,Ca)
 
2-3
(CO
 
3
)
 
1.5-2
(OH,F)
 
0.5-1
[(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
]·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.75Surite
Pb(Pb,Ca)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(Al,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.75Niksergievite
(Ba,Ca)
 
2
(Al,Si)
 
7
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.80Kegelite
Pb
 
12
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
Si
 
11
O
 
38
 or near
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
15.1Andalusite
Al
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
15.2Kyanite
Al
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
15.3Sillimanite
Al
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
15.4Mullite
Al
 
8
[(O,OH,F)|(Si,Al)O
 
4
]
 
4
15.6Dickite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
15.7Nacrite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
15.8Kaolinite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
15.9Metahalloysite
15.10Halloysite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
15.11Allophane
(Al
 
2
O
 
3
)(SiO
 
2
)
 
1.3-2
·2.5-3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Pyrophyllite

Synonyms:
Ablikite
Other Languages:
German:Pyrophyllit
Russian:Пирофиллит
Spanish:Ablikita
Pyrophyllita
Varieties:
Chrome-PyrophylliteGelpyrophyllite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Pyrophyllite

Reference List:Gruner, J.W. (1934), The crystal structure of Pyrophyllite: Zeits. Krist.: 88: 412.

Kerrick, D.M. (1968), Experiments on the upper stability limit of Pyrophyllite at 1.8 kilobars and 3.9 kilobars water pressure: American Journal of Science: 266: 204-214.

Gorniy Zhournal: 9: 452-460.

American Mineralogist (1970) 55: 1259-1272.

American Mineralogist (1981): 66: 350-357.

MacKenzie, K.J.D., Brown, I.W.M., Meinhold, R.H., and Bowden, M.E.J. (1985) Thermal reactions of pyrophyllite studied by high-resolution solid-state 27Al and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. ournal of the American Ceramic Society: 68: 266-272.

Mineralogical Record (1989): 20: 465.

Fitzgerald, J.J., Hamza, A.I., Dc, S.F., and Bronnimann, C.E. (1996) Solid-state 27Al and 29Si NMR and 1H CRAMPS studies of the 2:1 phyllosilicate pyrophyllite. Journal of Physical Chemistry: 100: 17351-17360.

Wang, L., Zhang, M., Redfern, S.A.T., and Zhang, Z.Y. (2002) Dehydroxylation and transformatons of the 2:1 phylosilicate pyrophyllite at elevated temperatures: An infrared spectroscopic study. Clays and Clay Minerals: 50: 272-283.

Wang, L., Zhang, M., and Redfern, S.A.T. (2003) Infrared study of CO2 incorporation into pyrophyllite [Al2Si4O10(OH)2] during dehydroxylation. Clays and Clay Minerals: 51: 439-444.

Sainz-Díaz, C.I., Escamilla-Roa, E., and Hernández-Laguna, A. (2004) Pyrophyllite dehydroxylation process by First Principle calculations. American Mineralogist: 89: 1092-1100.

Internet Links for Pyrophyllite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Pyrophyllite on Google
  • Look for Pyrophyllite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Pyrophyllite on Webmineral
  • Look for Pyrophyllite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Pyrophyllite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Pyrophyllite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Pyrophyllite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Pyrophyllite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Search for - Pyrophyllite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Pyrophyllite

    Show Locality List (489 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 26th Oct 2009 14:52:14