Natural Alteration of Mica and Reactions between Released Ions in Mineral Deposits

Abstract

Chemical changes during the natural alteration of micas were studied by electron microprobe and classical chemical analyses of fresh and altered portions of mica flakes from 10 Canadian mineral deposits. Results of 50 new analyses are discussed in five examples, starting from simple changes in the interlayer followed by exsolution of titania and ending with complex replacements of anions and cations in all layers of the mica structure. Alteration of micas starts along 001 cleavage planes and fractures and gradually extends into the entire flake leaving some or no remnants of the host mica. The removal of ions from the mica structure and from the flake takes place by gradual depletion, by exsolution of oxides, and/or by alternating removal and redeposition of a newly-formed oxide, illustrated in the following example of the removal of Ti; Residual minerals replacing the original micas are secondary and recrystallized micas, chlorite, vermiculite, serpentine, talc and depleted, optically amorphous flakes. Newly-formed minerals which may incorporate the released ions into their structures are rutile, anatase, sericite, hydronepheline, chlorite-serpentine aggregates, goethite and jarosite. The following partly-altered micas are indicative of sulphide mineralization;