Summary: The characteristics of a phlogopite and its weathering product, vermiculite, have been studied by X-ray, infra-red, electron-microscope, and chemical methods. Inclusions within these minerals have been identified as thin films rich in iron oxide (which impart a schiller effect), spinel (which may exist in a preferred orientation), and serpentine. The orientation relationship between the fresh mica and its weathering product has been established by single-crystal methods. The mechanism of transformation from a 1-layer to a 2-layer polytype is discussed.