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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, Si₂O₆; 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:

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