Comparison of the surface structure of the tetrahedral sheets of muscovite and phlogopite by AFM

Abstract

 The surface structure of the tetrahedral sheet of dioctahedral mica muscovite was compared to that of the tetrahedral sheet of trioctahedral mica phlogopite using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM revealed distinct structural differences between the tetrahedral sheet surfaces of the two micas. The hexagonal ring in the AFM image of muscovite elongates in the [3 1 0] direction, and the groove runs perpendicular to the [3 1 0] direction. On the phlogopite surface, the hexagonal ring contracts slightly in the a axis direction, but the groove is not apparent. These results were consistent with the bulk structure data of the two micas determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD).

The degree of surface relaxation was much larger in muscovite than in phlogopite. In muscovite, the interlayer K reduces the amount of tetrahedral rotation that actually occurs, since the interlayer K is too large for its hexagonal hole after full tetrahedral rotation. Thus, it is naturally expected that muscovite will show more tetrahedral rotation after removal of the interlayer K. It is also expected that muscovite will show more tilting of SiO₄ tetrahedra after cleaving, since an attractive force between the hydrogen in the OH group and the lower basal oxygen should be in operation, due to the decreased distance between them following interlayer K removal.