The study of complex mineral silicates by trimethylsilylation

The Lentz trimethylsilylation technique has been applied to study four micas: biotite, phlogopite, muscovite and suzorite. The Lentz derivitisation technique is shown to be independent of the exact amount of phase transfer agent (propan‐2‐ol or ethanol) present in the trimethylsilylation of the micas as long as the ratio of mineral to hexamethyldisiloxane is held constant. The polyorganosiloxane product distribution is shown to be largely dependent on the amount and distribution of Al3+ present in the tetrahedral layers of the micas.