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Viridine  (green variety of Andalusite)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  (Al,Mn³⁺)₂ [O|SiO₄]

Discovered in 1789;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Viridine gets its name from the Latin word viridis for green. Andalusite is named for an occurance in the Andalusia region, Spain.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/B.02-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.GD.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
F : Nesosilicates with additional anions; cations in [4], [5] and/or only [6] coordination

Related to:

Sillimanite Group. Andalusite - Kanonaite Series. Disthene Series. Trimorphous with kyanite and sillimanite; forms a series with kanonaite.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

As euhedral crystals or columnar aggregates having nearly square cross sections, commonly elongated, to 20 cm. Also fibrous, compact, massive.

Twinning:

On [101], rare.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[110] Good, [100] Poor

Fracture:

Uneven to Sub-Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

6.5 - 7.5

Density:

3.13 - 3.17 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Light to dark Green

Transparency:

Transparent to nearly Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.66 - 1.69  Biaxial ( + ) or ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0290

Dispersion:

Strong; r < v

Pleochroism:

Weak

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A result of contact metamorphism of argillaceous sediments, also in regionally metamorphosed schists. Rare in granites and pegmatites, which however a®ord the largest crystals. Detrital in some sandstones.

Common Associations:

(Andalusite) Cordierite, Corundum, Garnet, Kyanite, Mica, Sillimanite, Tourmaline

Type Locality:

n/a

Year Discovered:

1789 (Andalusite)

View mineral photos:

Viridine Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org  (Viridine)
Mindat.org  (Andalusite)
Webmineral.com  (Andalusite)

Viridine is the Manganese bearing, green variety of Andalusite.  The Manganese gives Viridine its rich, grass green color.  It is a rare gem and usually very small.  Sources of Viridine are Belgium, Brazil, Germany and Sweden but most gem quality crystals come from Bahia, Northeast Region, Brazil.
 

  
Viridine gems for sale:

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