Occurrence and major- and minor-element compositions of chlorites from plutonic rocks of the central Sierra Nevada batholith have been studied in detail.

Chlorite has formed largely as an alteration product of biotite, presumably late in the magmatie history of the granitic rocks as a result of subsolidus reaction. Major-element composition of chlorite is strongly influenced by composition of coexisting biotite. Minor-element differences between the two minerals can, for the most part, be attributed to structural differences. The minor-element data, particularly for Cu, indicate that the process of chloritization is not a likely mechanism for release of ore metals from primary minerals.