Optical absorption spectra and Fe distribution in the structures of Li-Fe micas

The paper proposes pioneering data on the polarized optical absorption spectra of Li-Fe micas: intermediate members of the siderophyllite-zinnwaldite-polylithionite and annite-protolithionite-zinnwaldite-trilithionite series with variable Fe and Li proportions and Li- and Fe-bearing muscovite (phengite). Based on the analysis of structural data, the complicated structure of the Fe²⁺ → Fe³⁺ charge transfer band in the mica structures is explained, and arguments are presented to justify the ascribing of its shortwave component (CTB-1, ν = 17200-14900 cm^?1) to charge transfer in the pair Fe²⁺(M2) → Fe³⁺(M2) and the longwave component (CTB-2, ν = 14200-13600 cm^?1) to charge transfer in the pair Fe²⁺(M1) Fe³⁺(M2). It is demonstrated that the anomalous shift of the superposition of two-component CTB toward the shortwave region, to 17000 cm^?1, results from a decrease in the length of oxygen edges between adjacent M2M2 and M1M2 tetrahedrons when Li is accommodated in the mica structure. The first data are presented on the spectrum of Fe²⁺ ions in large distorted M3(M1) tetrahedrons (OAC Fe²⁺ II) in hetero-octahedral Li micas (zinnwaldite), and the behavior of the corresponding absorption bands at 11400 and 8000 cm^?1 is determined. It is proved that characteristics of the optical spectra of Fe²⁺ ions can be used as an indicator of the structure of the octahedral layer in the mica structures. Results of the comparative analyses of spectral parameters of the Fe²⁺ → Fe³⁺ charge transfer, crystal field spectra of Fe²⁺ ions, and the crystal-chemical characteristics controlling them in micas of the polylithionite-siderophyllite series are completely consistent with the character of cation ordering in the crystal structures of these micas determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.