Biotite
    K(Mg,Fe)3(OH)2[Si3AlO10]
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    shift-drag horizontal to rotate

  1. This structure uses two types of octahedra
    This structure uses tetrahedra

  2. Build a tetrahedral sheet Photo
  3. Build a total of four tetrahedral sheets
  4. Build an octahedral sheet
  5. Build a total of two octahedral sheets
  6. Join a tetrahedral and an octahedral sheet Photo
  7. Join another tetrahedral sheet to form one layer Photo
  8. Build a total of two layers
  9. Add potassium ions between layers Photo
  10. Add neighboring atoms
    11. Display options
    Polyhedra: Translucent Solid Quadrant Off
    Atoms: Ball&Stick Ball Stick
                Spacefill Translucent Off
    Always spacefill other ions
    Labels: Small Medium Large Off
    Stereo: Wall Red Blue 90° Off
    Spin   Perspective   Antialias

    Note: Silicon atoms in tetrahedra should be randomly substituted by aluminum 25% of the time but are always displayed as silicon.

Developed in collaboration with the
University of Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
Interdisciplinary Education Group   |   MRSEC on Nanostructured Interfaces
This page created by George Lisensky, Beloit College.  Last modified April 25, 2015 .