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Kaolinite(Al4(Si4O10)(OH)8)
Synonyms:Kandite

Silicate,Phyllosilicate,Claymineral
CrystalSystem:Triclinic

Kaoliniteisanaluminousclaymineral
formedbyweatheringofacidigneous
rocks.

PhysicalProperties
HandSpecimenColour:white,pale
yellow
Transparency:translucent,opaque
Lustre:earthy,dull,pearly,waxy
Streak:white
Hardness:22.5
Density:2.63
Habit:veryfinegrainedaggregates
Cleavage:One:perfect[001]

OpticalProperties
PPLColour:colourless
Pleochroism:none
Relief:Moderate
Birefringence:00.08

2V:2450
Howtousecrystaldiagram
OpticType:Biaxial(+)and()

Occurrence
Kaoliniteisformedbychemicalweatheringoffeldsparsandotheraluminousminerals,itis,therefore,acommonalterationproductof
acidigneousrocks.Kaoliniteistheprincipalcomponentofchinaclay.

IdentificationTips
Usuallyclaymineralscannotbedistinguishedfromeachotherinthinsectionsincetheyformveryfinegrainedaggregatesofseveral
clayminerals.Claymineralscanalsohavecomplexstructureswhichcombinelayersfromdifferentendmemberclayminerals.Inhand
specimenitschalkywhiteappearanceisdistinctive.

RelatedMineralsandMineralGroups:
illite,smectite,vermiculite

ExampleImages
 ExampleImages

AXPLimageshowingseveralmu...viewviewrock AXPLimageshowinganandalus...viewviewrock

AXPLimageshowinginclusions...viewviewrock

viewmoreimages

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