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Pargasite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  NaCa₂[(Mg,Fe)₄Al](Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂  

Discovered in 1814;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Pargasite is named after the Type Locality, Pargas, Finland.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.10-110

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DE.15

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

Related to:

Amphibole Group. Calcic Clino - Amphibole Subgroup. Ferropargasite - Pargasite Series. Edenite - Pargasite Series. Magnesiohastingsite - Pargasite Series. Tremolite - Sadanagaite Series. Closely related to Fluor-Cannilloite.

Varieties:

Carinthine

Synonyms:

Pargasitic hornblende

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As stout prismatic crystals, to 3 cm; granular.

Twinning:

Simple or multiple twinning [100], common.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[110] Perfect, [010] Perfect

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

5.0 - 6.0

Density:

3.04 - 3.17 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Light Brown, Brown, Greenish Brown, Bluish Green, light to dark Green and Black

Transparency:

Translucent to Transparent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.613 - 1.670  Biaxial ( +/- )

Birefringence:

0.020

Dispersion:

Weak; r > v

Pleochroism:

X = colorless, greenish yellow; Y = light brown, bluish green, green; Z = light brown, bluish green.

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A common component of "hornblendes" in skarns metamorphosed from siliceous limestones; schists and amphibolites; also from andesitic volcanic and altered ultramafic rocks.

Common Associations:

Calcite, Corundum, Diopside, Phlogopite, Spinel, (skarn); Augite, "Hypersthene," Plagioclase (metabasalts and andesitic volcanics).

Common Impurities:

Ti, Cr, Mn, K, F, H₂O, P

Type Locality:

Pargas (Parainen), Turku-Pori, Länsi-Suomen Lääni, Finland

Year Discovered:

1814

View mineral photos:

Pargasite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Pargasite is a fairly common mineral found in several locations worldwide, but seldom found in crystals transparent enough for faceting. Pargasite is a member of the Calcic Clino-Amphibole Subgroup of the Amphibole Group of minerals that includes Actinolite, Ferro-edenite, Kaersutite, Pargasite, Richterite and Tremolite. The Amphibole Group is an extensive and complex group of minerals currently divided into several sub-groups. Pargasite is found in colors of light brown to brown, grayish black, bluish green and dark green (chromian).
 

  
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