Kaolinite − When a layer of silica rings is joined to a layer of alumina octahedra through shared oxygens, as shown in Figure 8, the mineral kaolinite is formed. Kaolinite is the sole or dominant constituent of what is known as kaolin clay or simply kaolin.
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| Kaolinite |
Kaolin may be considered the prototypical phyllosilicate in that its sheet structure results in platy or flake-shaped particles that occur as overlapping, separable layers. Because an individual kaolin particle has an oxygen surface on one side and an hydroxyl surface on the other, it is strongly hydrogen bonded to the laminae above and below it. These particles stack together in such a way that under magnification they look like sheaves of paper and are often called “books”. It is difficult to delaminate kaolin books into individual platelets, although this is done commercially. Compared to the silica, feldspar, and chain silicate structures, kaolin, and phyllosilicates in general, are relatively soft and lower in specific gravity.
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