Aerinite
Aerinite | |
---|---|
Aerinite from Spain | |
General | |
Category | Inosilicate |
Formula (repeating unit) | Ca4(Al,Fe,Mg)10Si12O35(OH)12CO3·12H2O |
Strunz classification | 09.DB.45 |
Unit cell | a = 14.690(15) Å, b = 16.872(15) Å, c = 5.170(15) Å, Z = 2 |
Identification | |
Color | Blue to blue-green |
Crystal habit | fibrous |
Mohs scale hardness | 3 |
Luster | vitreous |
Streak | bluish white |
Diaphaneity | translucent |
Specific gravity | 2.48 |
Optical properties | Biaxial (-) |
Refractive index | nα1.510(5), nβ = 1.560(5), nγ = 1.580 |
Pleochroism | Intense; X = bright blue; Y = Z = pale beige |
2V angle | 63° (calc.) |
Dispersion | δ = 0.07 |
References | [1][2][3] |
Aerinite (Ca4(Al,Fe,Mg)10Si12O35(OH)12CO3·12H2O) is a bluish-purple inosilicate mineral. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and occurs as fibrous masses and coatings. It has a dark, vitreous luster, a specific gravity of 2.48 and a Mohs hardness of 3.
It is a low-temperature hydrothermal phase occurring in zeolite facies alteration of mafic rocks. Associated minerals include prehnite, scolecite and mesolite.[1]
Its name comes from a Greek root "aerinos," meaning "atmosphere" or "sky".[3]
References
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, June 16, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.