Click on a letter above to view the list of gems.  

Fluororichterite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  Na₂CaMg₅(Si₈O₂₂)F₂

Discovered in 1992;   IMA status: Valid (IMA Approved 1993).
Fluororichterite is named for its Fluorine content and its relationship to Richterite.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.09-12

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DE.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
E : Inosilicates with 2-periodic double chains, Si₄O₁₁; Clinoamphiboles

Related to:

Amphibole Group; Sodic-Calcic Clino-Amphibole Subgroup

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Prismatic crystals with a nearly diamond shaped cross-section with the four points usually cut by minor prism faces.

Twinning:

Commonly seen and results in a groove or notch running down the "spine" of the prismatic crystals.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Imperfect in two directions

Fracture:

Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

5.0 - 6.0

Density:

3.17 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioacitve

Optical Properties

Color:

Dark Green, Gray, Black, Brownish-Red, Rose-Red, Yellow; also very rarely Colorless

Transparency:

Opaque, Translucent; also very rarely Transparent

Luster:

Vitreous, Pearly

Refractive Index:

n/a

Birefringence:

n/a

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

n/a

Occurances

Geological Setting:

The product of a chemically unusual magma body that has intruded into and recrystallized a complex mixture of limestone, silicates and/or phosphates.

Common Associations:

Biotite, Calcite, Cancrinite, Molybdenite

Type Locality:

Pit 97 (N97 Mine), Ilmen Natural Reserve, Ilmen Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Urals Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1992

View mineral photos:

Fluororichterite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Fluororichterite is an extremely rare gem. It was only recently approved by the IMA as a new mineral in 1993. Fluororichterite is usually only found as opaque, black to very dark green crystals at a mine in Wilberforce, Ontario, Canada. A recent find in Pakistan produced small, transparent, near colorless crystals suitable for faceting. This find produced very little material, so gems are very difficult to obtain.
 

  
Fluororichterite gems for sale:

We have not photographed the Fluororichterite gems. Please check back soon.