Mica Minerals Research Articles

Illite From Muloorina, South Australia

AbstractIllite from Muloorina, just south of Lake Eyre in South Australia, is commonly used as a standard ferric iron-bearing illite which has a cation exchange capacity (CEC) of ~22 meq/100 g, too high a value for this clay to conform to the most recent conclusions about illite composition. The objective of the present study was to reassess the Muloorina illite to determine the reason for this high CEC value. The composition determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis calculated to a cation charge of +22 is K0.68(Mg0.39Al1.02Fe0.543+Fe0.042+)[Si3.59Al0.38Fe0.033+]O10(OH)2. X-ray diffraction of glycolated and heated K-saturated Muloorina illite revealed no evidence of expandable layers. The cell dimensions are a = 5.314(1)Å, b = 9.040(1)Å, c = 10.135(3)Å, and b = 100.97(3)° (3σ in parentheses). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that Muloorina illite has a remarkably fine and uniform particle size in the form of irregularly stepped hexagonal crystals, averaging 60 nm in diameter at their widest, and 35 nm thick, each step being ~7 nm high. At most steps and between many steps defects occur where a 2:1 layer terminates, with a wide interlayer spacing beyond, commonly reaching to the crystal edge. Even though uninterrupted stacking of >10 or so 2:1 layers across one crystal is uncommon, the irregular distribution of the dislocations leaves appreciable structural continuity so that the mean diffracting thickness is of the order of 16 nm. Muloorina illite is not an interstratified illite-smectite, but a mica mineral with low-charge regions associated with terminating 2:1 layer defects. Such regions are wedge shaped at the nm scale and stabilized by the bonding of the illitic remainder of that interlayer. Approximately 17% of the total volume of each Muloorina illite crystallite is occupied by such low-charge 2:1 layers.

Controls on the phosphorus content of fine stream bed sediments in agricultural headwater catchments at the landscape-scale

There have been no landscape-scale assessments which quantify the relative importance of the organic and mineral properties of BS (bed sediment) and associated catchment characteristics (geology, land cover and mean topsoil phosphorus (P) content) for BSP concentration. Mid infra red diffuse reflectance spectrometry was applied to estimate the quantities of organic matter, dithionite extractable aluminium- (Al d ) and iron (Fe d ), kaolinite, dioctahedral clay and mica (D&M) minerals in 1052 snapshot samples of fine (<150 μm) BS in small to medium-sized (5–55 km 2) agricultural headwater catchments across a large area (15 400 km 2) of central England. Analyses included estimates of BS specific surface area, cerium (Ce) concentrations (enriched in P-bearing apatite and P-fertilsers), and catchment average topsoil P content. Simple linear regression demonstrated that the proportion of variance in BSP explained by specific components of BS across all catchments declined in the following order: Al d > Fe d > topsoil P = kaolinite = residual iron> organic matter = Ce> D&M > mineral SSA. No single component accounted for more than 36% of the variance in BSP. Multiple regression – including a classification of bedrock lithology and proportions of arable and grassland by area – accounted for 61.9% of the variance in BSP. The proportion of arable and grassland by area in each catchment was also a statistically significant predictor of BSP. Across this large region – with widely differing geology and soils – Fe d in BS is more strongly associated with kaolinite than D&M minerals because iron-oxyhydroxides and kaolinite form contemporaneously during pedogenesis. The SSA of fine bed sediments is largely determined by catchment area, fitted accurately using a power function.

Experimental Vermiculitization of Mica and Chlorite Minerals

Experimental Vermiculitization of Mica and Chlorite Minerals

Potassium Release from Mica Minerals Occurring in Soils

Potassium Release from Mica Minerals Occurring in Soils

Extraction of lithium from micaceous waste from china clay production

The granites of South-West England are a potential source of lithium which is generally found within the mica mineral, zinnwaldite. It is mainly found in the central and western end of the St. Austell granite. When kaolin extraction occurs in these areas a mica-rich waste product is produced which is currently disposed of in tailings storage facilities. In this study a tailings sample containing 0.84% Li 2O was upgraded by a combination of froth flotation, using dodecylamine as the collector, and wet high intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS) to 2.07% Li 2O. The concentrate was then roasted with various additives, including limestone, gypsum and sodium sulphate, over a range of temperatures. The resulting products were then pulverised before being leached with water at 85 °C. Analysis of these products by XRD revealed that the water-soluble sulphates, KLiSO 4 and Li 2KNa(SO 4) 2, were produced under specific conditions. A maximum lithium extraction of approximately 84% was obtained using gypsum at 1050 °C. Sodium sulphate produced a superior lithium extraction of up to 97% at 850 °C. In all cases iron extraction was very low. Preliminary tests on the leach solution obtained by using sodium sulphate as an additive have shown that a Li 2CO 3 product with a purity of >90% could be produced by precipitation with sodium carbonate although more work is required to reach the industrial target of >99%.

Hydrothermal mineral alteration patterns in the Mount Isa Inlier revealed by airborne hyperspectral data

High-resolution mineral maps derived from hyperspectral imaging (4.5 m pixel) enable the recognition of various types of hydrothermal alteration and the identification of fluid pathways. Airborne hyperspectral images from the Eastern Fold Belt of the Mount Isa Inlier were tested as a new tool for the detection of Fe-oxide Cu–Au (IOCG) related alteration. Four different types of hydrothermal alteration were identified with the hyperspectral mineral maps: (1) Metasomatic 1: white mica mineral maps show the spatial distribution of regional sodic–calcic alteration in metasedimentary successions of the Soldiers Cap Group in the Snake Creek Anticline. (2) Metasomatic 2: alteration zonation is evident from albitised granites assigned to the Williams–Naraku Suite along the Cloncurry Fault. These show characteristic absorption features in the shortwave infrared range (SWIR) which are depicted on the white mica mineral maps (white mica composition, white mica content, white mica crystallinity index). Alteration zonation in gabbros of the Cloncurry District was detected by a combination of MgOH and Fe2+ mineral maps (MgOH content, MgOH composition, amphibole/chlorite and Fe2+ and MgOH) combined with white mica mineral maps (white mica composition and white mica content). (3) Fluid channels 1: major fault zones, such as the Mt Dore fault zone in the Selwyn Corridor, are interpreted as important fluid pathways, where gradual changes in the mineral chemistry are highlighted with mineral maps (e.g. white mica content, white mica composition, white mica crystallinity index). (4) Fluid channels 2: MgOH and Fe2+ mineral maps were used to map breccia pipes in the northern Cloncurry District north of the Saxby Granite (Suicide Ridge). The MgOH and Fe2+ mineral maps were also used to distinguish various mafic rocks from amphibolites, which are host rocks for some of the IOCG deposits in the Eastern Fold Belt (e.g. Mount Elliott), and calcsilicate breccias pipes (e.g. Suicide Ridge).

Characterization of the hydrothermal systems associated with Archean VMS-mineralization at Panorama, Western Australia, using hyperspectral, geochemical and geothermometric data

Airborne hyperspectral imagery was used to study the distribution of white mica minerals in Archean (3.2Ga) submarine hydrothermal systems associated with volcanogenic massive sulfide mineralization in a well-exposed volcanic sequence of the Soansville greenstone belt in the Pilbara, Western Australia. White mica mineral abundance and distribution maps were compared with published hydrothermal alteration maps and differences were interpreted using whole-rock geochemistry and temperature estimates from oxygen isotope geothermometric studies of hydrothermally altered rocks. Three different zones were identified from the hyperspectral imagery: 1) Al-rich white mica zones in the upper parts of the volcanic sequence which are related to recharge of unevolved seawater, 2) Al-poor white mica zones at middle and upper levels of the volcanic sequence predominantly related to K alteration by more-evolved hydrothermal fluids, and 3) high to intermediate Al-content white mica zones in lower levels of the sequence and in cross-cutting zones related to intense alteration by laterally flowing and upwelling evolved fluids. The integrated study of the spatial distribution of hyperspectrally detected white mica minerals together with published maps and rock analyses allowed characterization of the hydrothermal systems and reconstruction of paleo fluid pathways.

광양 초남 금 광산 비소오염 토양의 지화학적 및 광물학적 특성

Geochemical and mineralogical properties of a contamited soil should be taken into account to decide a remediation strategy for a given contaminant because development and optimization of soil remedial technologies are based on geochemical and mineralogical separation techniques. The objective of this study was to investigate the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of arsenic-contaminated soils. The arsenic-contaminated soil samples were obtained from Chonam gold mine, Gwangyang, Chonnam, Particle size analysis, sequential extraction, and mineralogical analyses were used to characterize geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the As-contaminated soils. Particle size analyses of the As-contaminated soils showed the soils contained 17-36% sand, 25-54% silt, 9-28% clay and the soil texture were sandy loam, loam, and silt loam. The soil pH ranged from 4.5 to 6.6. The amount of arsenic concentrations from the sequential soil leaching is mainly associated with iron oxides (1 to 75%) and residuals (12 to 91%). Major minerals of sand and silt fractions in the soils were feldspar, kaolinite, mica, and quartz and minor mineral of which is an iron oxide. Major minerals of clay fraction were composed of illite, kaolinite, quartz, and vermiculite. And minor minerals are iron oxide and rutile. The geochemical and mineralogical analyses indicated the arsenic is adsorbed or coprecipitated with iron oxides or phyllosilicate minerals. The results may provide understanding of geochemical and mineralogical characteristics for the site remediation of arsenic-contaminated soils.

Implications of the thermal properties and kinetic parameters of dehydroxylation of mica minerals for fault weakening, frictional heating, and earthquake energetics

Transient frictional heating during earthquake slip induces dehydroxylation of phyllosilicate minerals. As this reaction is endothermic and releases H 2O, it affects dynamic fault weakening and the energetics of earthquakes. To quantitatively evaluate this effect, accurate determination of both the kinetic parameters of the reaction and the thermal properties of the minerals is needed. We chose an illite–muscovite sample as representative of the phyllosilicates found in active crustal faults. For this sample, we measured the specific heat capacity and thermal diffusivity, investigated their temperature dependencies, and determined the weight loss and enthalpy of the dehydroxylation reaction to be 5.22 wt.% and 0.2895 kJ g − 1 , respectively. We applied Friedman analysis to the weight loss data from heating experiments and found that the dehydroxylation reactions were well fitted by two-step reactions of an n-dimensional nucleation mechanism according to the Avrami–Erofeev equation with n = 0.5 (first step) and two-dimensional diffusion (second step). On the basis of these experimental results, we performed numerical analyses of dynamic fault weakening, which demonstrated that the fluids released by dehydroxylation contribute to pressurization of pore fluids inducing a decrease in effective normal stress on faults, and that the dehydroxylation reaction absorbs heat from the energy released. We also performed a sensitivity analysis on the kinetic function and parameters and the thermal properties, which showed that the contribution of these to fault weakening is considerably smaller than those of frictional coefficient and slip-zone thickness.

Applications of glaze and decor on dimensioned andesites used in construction sector

This report presents initial results of the development process of a new product using andesites obtained from Afyon/Iscehisar region as an alternative to traditional ceramic wall and floor tiles used in construction sector. The series of characterization tests were conducted on andesite samples. Then, the samples were applied glaze for trial purposes. Analysis indicated that the andesite samples consisted of sanidine, mica and pyroxene minerals and its apparent porosity, density, water absorption and compressive strength values were 15.75%, 2610 g/cm 3, 7.43% and 40.7 MPa, respectively. In heat microscope measurements, maximum sintering was recorded at 1138 °C. Linear expansion coefficient ( α) of the andesite at 400 °C was 3.26 × 10 −6 K −1. Firing performed by using the prepared glaze recipe at approximately 1160 °C produced good results in terms of body-glaze harmony. In addition, different decorative surface finishes to be used in indoor and outdoor spaces were obtained via under glaze decorative technique.

Geochemical signals for determining the slip-weakening mechanism of an ancient megasplay fault in the Shimanto accretionary complex

[1] To investigate the slip behavior of a megasplay fault branching from a subduction boundary megathrust, we investigated the geochemistry of an out-of-sequence thrust that formed at 2.5–5.5 km depth. Rocks from the slip zone show major-element and fluid-immobile trace-element compositions that are consistent with disequilibrium flash melting. Distinct depletions of Li, Rb, and Cs in the slip-zone rocks indicate fluid–rock interactions at high temperatures (>350°C). These findings suggest a slip process in which high-temperature pore fluids were generated by frictional slip, but the thermally-enhanced pressure might not have reached a sufficient level to cause thermal pressurization, and the temperature continued to increase to attain melting of mica minerals. Comparison with slip zone that formed at a shallower depth (1–2 km), where only thermal pressurization occurred, suggests a transition from melt lubrication at depth to thermal pressurization at shallower depths along a megasplay faults.

Late Triassic subduction-related ultramafic–mafic magmatism in the Amasya region (eastern Pontides, N. Turkey): Implications for the ophiolite conundrum in Eastern Mediterranean

The eastern Pontides orogenic belt of northeastern Turkey offers critical clues on convergent margin tectonics associated with the late Mesozoic-early Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the eastern Mediterranean region. Here we report the geology, petrology, geochemistry, Nd–Sr–Pb isotopes and U–Pb zircon ages from a ultramafic–mafic complex in Aksalur which forms part of a series of Alaskan-type ultramafic–mafic bodies in the Amasya region located at the south-western corner of the eastern Pontides orogenic belt. These ultramafic–mafic intrusions occur as minor (30–300 m in diameter), scattered, roughly circular bodies within the low-grade metamorphic rocks of the Tokat metamorphic massif. Petrographic studies characterise the rock types as gabbro and wehrlite, with the latter showing typical cumulate texture and mainly comprising serpentinized olivine, clinopyroxene, hornblende, mica and opaque minerals. The gabbroic rocks are characterized by relatively high initial ratios of 143Nd/ 144Nd (0.512618–0.512633) and low initial ratios of 87Sr/ 86Sr (0.70420–0.70435). Their initial Pb isotope ratios range from 17.306 to 17.771. The gabbros and cumulate wehrlites display geochemical distribution patterns analogous to the Alaskan-type intrusions that were derived from a subduction-related, high-alumina, hydrous basaltic parental magma in a convergent plate setting. LA-ICPMS analyses of zircons separated from the gabbros show high Th/U ratios (1.35–5.26) typical of magmatic origin. The U–Pb isotopic data define a weighted mean 206Pb/ 238U age of 203.3 ± 4.9 Ma. Detailed evaluation of the magma tectonics suggests that the Alaskan-type Aksalur ultramafic–mafic intrusions were accumulated in magma chamber(s) located at relatively shallow crustal levels. Two distinct magmatic pulses are identified: the first phase produced the gabbroic intrusions and the second phase was characterized by numerous small-scale werhlitic cumulate intrusions. In contrast to the previous models which assigned a mid-oceanic ridge-derived ophiolite affinity for ultramafic–mafic complexes in the eastern Pontides orogenic belt, our study reveals that these intrusions were derived from subduction-related high-alumina hydrous basaltic magmas transferred into the overlying relatively thin continental crust along deep-seated fractures.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Investigation on the Surfactant Wettability Alteration Mechanism of Aged Mica Mineral Surfaces

In this study, the mica samples aged in crude oil were treated by two types of surfactants: Triton X-100 and C16TAB, to find the mechanisms of wettability alteration. The contact angle measurements were conducted stepwise to check the wettability alteration of the mica surfaces. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) topographies and phase images were obtained and used to investigate the effects of aging in crude oil and surfactant treatment of the mica surface. The results show that the solution of Triton X-100/brine changes the wettability of the mica surface aged in crude oil to water-wet; however, the solution of C16TAB/brine alters the aged mica surface to more oil-wet conditions. Fractal measurement was used to check the AFM images for quantitative assessment of the surface roughness for wettability alteration investigation. Two different mechanisms proposed here are the surface cleaning and the surfactant adsorption for Triton X-100 and C16TAB, respectively.

Weathering of phlogopite in simulated bioleaching solutions

The purpose of this study was to examine structural alterations of finely ground phlogopite, a trioctahedral mica, when exposed to acid, iron- and sulfate-rich solutions typical of bioleaching systems. Phlogopite suspensions were supplemented with ferrous sulfate and incubated with iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) at 22°C. As bacteria oxidized ferrous iron, ferric iron thus formed partially precipitated as K-jarosite. K-jarosite precipitation was contingent on the preceding ferrous iron oxidation by bacteria and the release of interlayer-K from phlogopite. This chemically and microbially induced weathering involved alteration of phlogopite to a mixed layer structure that included expansible vermiculite. The extent of phlogopite weathering and structure expansion varied with duration of the contact, concentration of ferrous iron and phlogopite, and the presence of monovalent cations (NH4+, K+, or Na+) in the culture solution. NH4+ and K+ ions (100mM) added to culture suspensions precipitated as jarosite and thereby effectively prevented the loss of interlayer-K and structural alteration of phlogopite. Additional Na+ (100mM) was insufficient to precipitate ferric iron as natrojarosite and therefore the precipitation was coupled with interlayer-K released from phlogopite. When ferrous iron was replaced with elemental sulfur as the substrate for A. ferrooxidans, the weathering of phlogopite was based on chemical dissolution without structural interstratification. The results demonstrate that iron oxidation and the concentration and composition of monovalent ions can have an effect on mineral weathering in leaching systems that involve contact of phlogopite and other mica minerals with acid leach solutions.

The ecological complexity of the Thai-Laos Mekong River: I. Geology, seasonal variation and human impact assessment on river quality

The objective of this study is to assess the variation of pollution in the Thai–Laos Mekong associated with seasonal dynamics concomitant with the natural geological features and human activities that impact on the adverse quality of the river. The complex ecology of the 1500 km stretch of the Thai-Laos Mekong River has been studied in this paper to understand the relationship with the geomorphology, with the sub-tropical monsoonal climate and the impact of human activity. Sub-surface geology controls the nature and extent of the drainage basin and of the river channel. The volume flow of the river varies naturally and dynamically in phase with the rainfall; traditional models based on steady state hydraulics are inappropriate. Continuous erosion of the river banks and bed generates a sediment load of impure silt, mica, quartz and clay minerals that inhibits light penetration and limits the primary productivity of the river. The river separates two countries at different stages of development; it flows through or close to eight non-industrial conurbations (Populations 350,000–2,000,000) but is otherwise sparsely populated. The river is used for subsistence agriculture, village transport, fishing including aquaculture and as a source of domestic water. Hydroelectricity is generated from the Laos tributaries. The river is a depository for partially treated urban waste and untreated village waste, hence populations of E.coli bacteria sometimes render the water unsuitable for drinking unless treated with the highest value of 240/100ml found at station 7 during the summer season of 2003. Furthermore the river is polluted by trace metals, notably cadmium and mercury, and by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are particularly concentrated in the sediments. Previous work has shown that cadmium and mercury exceed the Probable Effect Level (PEL) values of Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines and that the PAH concentrations were also greater than the Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Consequently the fish stock, a vital source of protein for the local human population maybe seriously affected. As conflict between the demands of human activities will be exacerbated by the continuing development of the basin; monitoring must be continued and a better model of the river's ecology is needed to predict the impact of development.

The Mawrth Vallis Region of Mars: A Potential Landing Site for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission

The primary objective of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, which will launch in 2011, is to characterize the habitability of a site on Mars through detailed analyses of the composition and geological context of surface materials. Within the framework of established mission goals, we have evaluated the value of a possible landing site in the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars that is targeted directly on some of the most geologically and astrobiologically enticing materials in the Solar System. The area around Mawrth Vallis contains a vast (>1 × 10⁶ km²) deposit of phyllosilicate-rich, ancient, layered rocks. A thick (>150 m) stratigraphic section that exhibits spectral evidence for nontronite, montmorillonite, amorphous silica, kaolinite, saponite, other smectite clay minerals, ferrous mica, and sulfate minerals indicates a rich geological history that may have included multiple aqueous environments. Because phyllosilicates are strong indicators of ancient aqueous activity, and the preservation potential of biosignatures within sedimentary clay deposits is high, martian phyllosilicate deposits are desirable astrobiological targets. The proposed MSL landing site at Mawrth Vallis is located directly on the largest and most phyllosilicate-rich deposit on Mars and is therefore an excellent place to explore for evidence of life or habitability.

Particle size characteristics of suspended sediment transported in meltwater from the Gangotri Glacier, central Himalaya — An indicator of subglacial sediment evacuation

Proglacial meltwater streams draining out of the Himalayan glaciers carry considerable amounts of suspended sediment, with a variety of particle sizes, because of the supraglacial, englacial, and subglacial debris, as well as formation of sediments from erosion by the movement of the ice. This paper examines particle size transported in the proglacial meltwater stream of Gangotri Glacier for seven consecutive melt seasons (May–October, 2000–2006) in order to provide information on (i) temporal variations in the particle size distribution, (ii) texture and mineralogy of the sediments, and (iii) origin and evacuation pattern of the sediments. Our results indicate dominance of silt size (0.002–0.06 mm) particles (71%) followed by sand size (0.06–0.6 mm) particles (24%) and clay size (< 0.002 mm) particles (5%) during the melt season, with increased variation as melt season progresses. The sediment contains quartz, feldspar, mica, illite, and kaolinite minerals, which represent a poor to poorly sorted fraction with a coarse to fine skewed textural distribution. Overall, this study indicates a subglacial evacuation pattern of the suspended sediment based on (i) size classification, (ii) higher percentage of coarser particles toward the end of the melting season, (iii) symmetrical to positively skewed with a kurtosis of mesokurtic to platykurtic texture, and (iv) a less-rounded shape of particle size. Our result on the evolution of meltwater pathways indicates a progressively better interconnected drainage system with advancing melt season. The evolution of meltwater pathways also demonstrates complex behavior of the glacial system and the need for a better understanding of sediment availability and contribution.

Preferred orientation of phyllosilicates: Comparison of fault gouge, shale and schist

Samples of fault gouge from the San Andreas Fault drill hole (SAFOD), a shale from the North Sea sedimentary basin and schists from metamorphic rocks in the Alps have been analyzed with high energy synchrotron X-rays to determine preferred orientation of mica and clay minerals. The method relies on obtaining 2D diffraction images which are then processed with the crystallographic Rietveld method, implemented in the software MAUD, allowing for deconvolution of phases and extraction of their orientation distributions. It is possible to distinguish between detrital illite/muscovite and authigenic illite/smectite, kaolinite and chlorite, and muscovite and biotite, with strongly overlapping peaks in the diffraction pattern. The results demonstrate that phyllosilicates show large texture variations in various environments, where different mechanisms produce the rock microfabrics: fault gouge fabrics are quite weak and asymmetric with maxima for (001) in the range of 1.5–2.5 multiples of random distribution (m.r.d.). This is attributed to heterogeneous deformation with randomization, as well as dissolution–precipitation reactions. Shale fabrics have maxima ranging from 3 to 9 m.r.d. and this is due to sedimentation and compaction. The strongest fabrics were observed in metamorphic schists (10–14 m.r.d.) and developed by deformation as well as recrystallization in a stress field. In the analyzed samples, fabrics of co-existing quartz are weak. All phyllosilicate textures can be explained by orientation of (001) platelets, with no additional constraints on a-axes.

The role of SIMS in the investigation of the complex crystal chemistry of mica minerals

A full characterisation of micas requires complete chemical analysis, including the determination of light elements, combined with Mössbauer spectroscopy or any technique suitable for the determination of ferric and ferrous iron contents, and crystal structural analysis (SCXRD). In this context, the SIMS technique is essential for a deeper understanding of the crystal chemistry of mica owing to its capability of precise and accurate quantification of light elements, i.e., H, Li, B, F, .... The role of SIMS is here outlined in the investigation of the complex crystal structure of mica, with new data on a set of volcanic samples, and their comparison with those from literature on trioctahedral micas from volcanic areas of Southern Italy. The importance of SIMS micro-spot (in-situ) analysis is here emphasized as a modern approach to gain insight into physico-chemical processes that affect grain-to-grain or intra-grain chemical variability in complex mineral structures.

Altered mineralogy associated with stirred tank bioreactor leaching of a black schist ore

The purpose of this work was to investigate changes in mineralogical composition resulting from the bioleaching of a black schist ore that contained pyrrhotite, pyrite, sphalerite, pentlandite, and chalcopyrite as the main sulfide minerals. The ore also contained quartz, mica (phlogopite), and feldspars as matrix minerals and graphite as an accessory phase. Ground black schist samples were leached with a mixed culture of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in stirred tank reactors at pH 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 for 18 days at 30 °C. Leach residues from these experiments were characterized for mineralogical composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD). At pH 1.5, ferric iron precipitation was minimal based on XRD analysis. Jarosite precipitates were most abundant in solids from bioleaching at pH 2. Phlogopite, the main mica mineral, was completely transformed to an expandable phase, vermiculite, at pH 2. Phlogopite weathering released K from the mica interlayer positions and provided K for K-jarosite precipitation, thus shifting the reactions toward mica weathering and K-jarosite formation. XRD patterns also showed the presence of elemental sulfur and gypsum and changes in sulfide mineral phases depending on the pH of the leach solution.