FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Twigg]

Is there a rough approximation for the surface area to volume ration of any muscovite crystal? I'm planning on dissolving one and that ratio would help me quite a bit.

[Pete Richards]

I think that ratio will depend on the relative magnitude of height and width, and probably to a lesser degree on the shape of the cross-section (i.e. the cleavage surface). Thin crystals will have a much higher surface to volume ratio than more-or-less equant ones. For many muscovite crystals, you can probably treat them as hexagonal prisms for this purpose without too much loss of precision.

[TheBrickPrinter]

As an ex paint formulator this question brought to mind oil absorbtion property of minerals used as pigments. Found this article by RT Vanderbilt about silicates used in paint as functional fillers. The study of mineralogy and of the properties of minerals used in paints is actually a pretty fascinating subject. As I have always thought, there is almost no chemical subject that cannot be taught using a gallon of paint.

RT Vanderbilt had quite a few interestin articles about their products which include micas, talcs, wollasonite, nepheline syenites, etc. So when you pick up gallon of paint, there is a lot of minerolgy going on in it. lol

[TheBrickPrinter]

oops
url is
https://www.rtvanderbilt.com/awards_4.htm
(link normalized by FMF)

[Twigg]

Both great suggestions! The rtvanderbilt data is just what I needed. I will never think of paint in the same way again. Thanks all.