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To: annie laurie

Why am I biotite? Isn't it obvious? Because The darker color and density increase with an increase in the iron content. Biotite tends to form in a wider range of conditions than phlogopite which is limited mostly to ultramafic rocks and magnesium rich marbles and pegmatites.


351 posted on 11/18/2005 7:48:19 PM PST by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: pcottraux
Why am I biotite? Isn't it obvious? Because The darker color and density increase with an increase in the iron content. Biotite tends to form in a wider range of conditions than phlogopite which is limited mostly to ultramafic rocks and magnesium rich marbles and pegmatites.

/smacks forehead

Of course! I should've thought of that right away, my apologies ;-)

Actually, I have a small piece of a really neat type of rock nicknamed "TV rock" (the true name is ulexite). It was given the nickname because it acts as a natural fiberoptic thanks to many many tiny 'tubules' (for lack of a better description) that permeate the rock. If you place it over the page of a book or newspaper, the text appears to float on the surface of the rock, several inches above the paper. Very cool :)

365 posted on 11/18/2005 7:58:39 PM PST by annie laurie (All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost)
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