klorinit

Klorinit is a mineral belonging to the chlorite group, a family of green phyllosilicate minerals. It is commonly referred to by its group name, with varieties such as clinochlore and chamosite representing different iron-magnesium- aluminum substitutions within the same structural framework. The general chemical formula is (Mg, Fe)5AlSi3O10(OH)8, with considerable variation in Mg, Fe, and Al content. The name derives from the Greek word chloros, meaning green, reflecting its typical coloration.

Klorinit forms during low- to medium-grade regional metamorphism of clay-rich sedimentary rocks, as well as in hydrothermal alteration zones of mafic to ultramafic rocks. It commonly occurs in metamorphic rocks such as schists, phyllites, and slates, and in altered carbonate and silica-rich rocks. It is frequently found alongside quartz, sericite, epidote, and calcite, and can appear in foliated, micaceous aggregates.

Physical properties of klorinit include a green to olive-green color, often with a pearly to silky luster on cleavage surfaces. It forms as platy to schistose grains with excellent basal cleavage. Mohs hardness is typically around 2–3, and the mineral has a relatively low density, with a specific gravity in the approximate range of 2.6–3.3. It is generally translucent to opaque.

Uses and significance: klorinit is primarily a rock-forming mineral in metamorphic rocks and is not a major ore mineral. It serves as an indicator mineral for low- to medium-grade metamorphism and is used in petrology to infer metamorphic conditions, often contributing to chlorite geothermometry and the interpretation of alteration histories.