Description
Chlorite is a group of minerals belonging to the phyllosilicate family. Chlorite is often referred to as a single mineral, but in fact, chlorite consists of several varieties, each named separately. The four extremes of the group consist of the elements Mg, Fe, Ni, or Mn: Chlorite minerals have a shape somewhere between micas and clay minerals and have silica tetrahedra arranged in rings. Depending on their chemical composition, members of the chlorite group contain more or less magnesium, aluminum, iron, or other elements. Generally, the average specific gravity is between 2.6 and 3.2. The hardness of chlorite minerals ranges from 2 to 3. All chlorites are not radioactive, which distinguishes them from many clay minerals and micas, which are slightly radioactive.
