Biotite and Progeny: Priming Young Soils for Ecosystem Support.

Biotite is a common primary mineral in many soil parent rocks. As a 2:1 phyllosilicate with isomorphous substitution, it has a high structural charge. The interlayer K that balances this charge is readily lost in soil weathering environments, transforming biotite (d001 = 1.0 nm) to vermiculite (d001 = 1.4 nm). The physical and chemical properties associated with this rapid transformation enhance the ability of relatively young soils to support ecosystems.