Weathering of biotite in Palgonsan granite was studied by using X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe micro analysis. Biotite altered to biotite/vermiculite regular mixed layer mineral (B/V) in the early stage of weathering. Although partially replaced by kaolinite with the progress of weathering. B/V is the major weathering product of biotite throughout the profile. During the formation of B/V, Mg, Fe and K are removed from a biotite layer to form a vermiculite layer by about 28%, 44% and 88%, respectively, whereas the Ti content is not changed. Considerable volume increase after the kaolinitization of B/V suggests that Al and Si are largely introduced from the external weathering solution. The silicate lattice templet of a weathering biotite facilitated the nucleation and growth of kaolinite. In the Palgongsan granite weathering profile, plagioclase weathered mostly into halloysite whereas biotite greatly contributes to the kaolinite crystallization though its small content in fresh rock.

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