Abstract. Inelastic neutron scattering and computer modelling techniques have been used to study acoustic phonons in several layer silicate minerals. Experimental measurements have been made on four layer silicate minerals; namely samples of muscovite, Fe-bearing muscovite, margarite and chlorite. The longitudinal acoustic modes propagating along the [-0, O, 4] direction of muscovite and Fe-bearing muscovite were found to be the same, within experimental error. The longitudinal and transverse acoustic modes propagating along [0, O, 4] of muscovite have been calculated using computer simulation techniques based on lattice dynamics. The experimental and calculated longitudinal modes of muscovite are in excellent agreement, thereby demonstrating the complementary nature of both techniques. The shape of both experimental and calculated dispersion curves was found to be approximately sinusoidal, indicating that interatomic forces act principally between nearestneighbour atoms.