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Aerinite

 

Aerinite

 

Discovered in 1876.   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

 

Chemistry

 

 

Chemical Formula:

Ca4(Al;Fe3+;Mg;Fe2+)10Si12O35(CO3)(OH)12 •12H2O

 

Hydrated Calcium Aluminum Iron Magnesium Silicate Carbonate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

1,944.10 gm

Composition:

Sodium

0.59 %

Na

0.80 %

Na2O

 

Calcium

10.51 %

Ca

14.71 %

CaO

 

Magnesium

1.25 %

Mg

2.07 %

MgO

 

Aluminum

8.47 %

Al

16.00 %

Al2O3

 

Iron

6.89 %

Fe

5.17 %

FeO / 4.11% Fe2O3

 

Silicon

17.34 %

Si

37.09 %

SiO2

 

Hydrogen

1.87 %

H

16.68 %

H2O

 

Carbon

0.74 %

C

2.72 %

CO2

 

Oxygen

52.34 %

O

 

 

 

 

100.00 %

 

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

 

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.32-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DB.45

 

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si
2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Trigonal - Ditrigonal Pyramidal

Crystal Habit:

As masses of cryptocrystalline fibers; earthy, compact.

Twinning:

None

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

None

Fracture:

Unknown

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

~3.0

Density:

2.48 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

Color:

Sky Blue to Greenish-Blue, dark Blue

Transparency:

Semi-Transparent to Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.510 - 1.580  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.070

Dispersion:

None

Pleochroism:

Intense; X = bright blue; Y = Z = pale beige

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

A hydrothermal mineral of the zeolite facies, formed at relatively low temperature, in fractures cutting mafic igneous rocks (Saint-Pandelon, France).

Common Associations:

Prehnite, Scolecite, Mesolite (Saint-Pandelon, France)

Common Impurities:

Ti, Mn, Na, K, P

Type Locality:

Caserras del Castillo, Estopiñán del Castillo, Huesca, Aragón, Spain

Year Discovered:

1876

View mineral photos:

Aerinite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 

Aerinite is a very rare, chemically complex, carbonate-bearing silicate. It is typically found as sky blue masses of cryptocrystalline fibers that would be almost impossible to be faceted or formed as cabochons. Aerinite is also found as darker blue, iron-rich, compact masses from the Soriana Quarry, Estopiñán del Castillo, Huesca, Aragón, Spain. This darker material is compact and solid enough to be faceted although it is typically opaque. These gems have attractive dark-blue color and good vitreous luster.

Aerinite is named from the Greek word aerinos, for atmosphere or sky-blue, alluding to its typical color.

Aerinite is found at only a very few localities worldwide: at Caserras, Juseu, and Estopiñan, Huesca Province; Tartaren, Lerida Province; and other less-well-defined localities in Spain. From Saint-Pandelon, Landes, France. In Morocco, at Ourika. From the Gunsight Mountains, Pima County, Arizona, USA.

Aerinite gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Aerinite gems. Please check back soon.

 


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