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Clinozoisite
Current inventory:  1 gem
 

Clinozoisite

  
Clinozoisite is named from being the monoCLINic dimorph of Zoisite.

Discovered in 1896;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

 

Chemistry

 

 

Chemical Formula:

Ca2Al3Si3O12(OH)

 

Calcium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

454.36 gm

Composition:

Calcium

17.64 %

Ca

24.68 %

CaO

 

Aluminum

17.82 %

Al

33.66 %

Al2O3

 

Silicon

18.54 %

Si

39.67 %

SiO2

 

Hydrogen

0.22 %

H

1.98 %

H2O

 

Oxygen

45.78 %

O

 

 

 

 

100.00 %

 

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

 

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/C.23-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.BG.05a

 

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
G : Sorosilicates with mixed SiO
4 and Si2O7 groups; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination

Related to:

Epidote Group. Clinozoisite-Epidote Series. Dimorphous with Zoisite. The Al3 analogue of Epidote.

Members of Group:

Epidote Group: Allanite-(Ce), Allanite-(La), Allanite-(Y), Åskagenite-(Nd), Clinozoisite, Clinozoisite-(Sr), Dissakisite-(Ce), Dissakisite-(La), Dollaseite-(Ce), Epidote, Epidote-(Pb), Epidote-(Sr), Ferriallanite-(Ce), Khristovite-(Ce), Manganiandrosite-(Ce), Manganiandrosite-(La), Manganipiemontite-(Sr), Mukhinite, Piemontite, Piemontite-(Sr), Uedaite-(Ce), Unnamed (Ca-analogue of Manganiandrosite-(La)), Unnamed (La-analogue of Ferriallanite-(Ce)), Unnamed (Mg-analogue of Ferriallanite-(Ce)), Unnamed (Mn-analogue of Ferriallanite-(Ce)), Vanadoandrosite-(Ce), Zoisite

Varieties:

Chrome-Clinozoisite, Clinothulite

Synonyms:

Aluminium-Epidote, Clinoepidote, Fouquéite

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Crystals prismatic, typically elongated and striated; commonly coarse to fine granular; also fibrous. Twinning: Lamellar, uncommon.

Twinning:

Lamellar on {100}, uncommon

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

Perfect on {001}

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

6.5

Density:

3.21 - 3.38 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

Not Fluorescent

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

Color:

Colorless, pale Yellow to Golden Yellow, Yellowish Green, Green, Gray, Pink, Red; Colorless in thin section

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous (glassy)

Refractive Index:

1.670 - 1.735  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.006 - 0.011

Dispersion:

r > v  or  r < v

Pleochroism:

None

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

Typically in low- to medium-grade regionally metamorphosed igneous and sedimentary rocks, as well as in contact metamorphosed calcium-rich sediments; an alteration product of plagioclase feldspars (saussuritization).

Common Associations:

Amphiboles, Plagioclase, Quartz

Common Impurities:

Ti, Fe, Mn, Mg

Type Locality:

Gösleswand (Goslerwand), Ströden, Prägraten, Virgen valley, East Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria

Year Discovered:

1896

View mineral photos:

Clinozoisite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 


Clinozoisite is a rare member of the Epidote Group of minerals that includes Allanite, Clinozoisite, Epidote,
Piemontite, Tanzanite, Thulite and Zoisite. Clinozoisite is found in several locations throughout the world but gem quality crystals are rare. Possibly the best current source is the Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan. Crystals from this source are small and usually heavily included, but have beautiful olive green, greenish yellow to golden yellow colors. Gems are also usually small and moderately included.

Distribution: A widespread mineral. Typical occurrences for good crystals include: from Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan. At the Goslarwand, near Prägraten, Tirol, Austria. From Vernirovice, Czech Republic. At Kälviä, Finland. From Arendal, Norway. At Camaderry Mountain, County Wicklow, Ireland. From Amborompotsy, Madagascar. At Sittampundi, Madras, India. In the USA, from the Belvidere Mountain quarries, Lowell, Orleans County, Vermont; in northern Spade Spring Canyon, Los Angeles County, California; in the Nightingale district, Pershing County, Nevada. In Mexico, from the Juarez district, Baja California, and at Alamos, Sonora. In Canada, from Timmins, Ontario.
 

  
Clinozoisite gems for sale:

Clinozoisite-002

Gem:

Clinozoisite

Stock #:

CLINOZ-002

Weight:

0.2055 ct

Size:

3.93 x 3.87 x 2.31 mm

Shape:

Trillion

Color:

Golden Yellow

Clarity:

SI

Origin:

Skardu, Pakistan

Treatment:

None (natural)

Price:

SOLD (but we have others)

Pictures are of the actual gem offered for sale.
Gem images are magnified to show detail.

Clinozoisite-002

This rare gem is from the Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan.


Clinozoisite-001

Gem:

Clinozoisite

Stock #:

CLINOZ-001

Weight:

0.504 ct

Size:

7.45 x 3.00 x 2.29 mm

Shape:

Cut Corner Rectangle

Color:

Greenish Yellow

Clarity:

SI

Origin:

Baltistan, Pakistan

Treatment:

None (natural)

Price:

SOLD (but we have others)

Pictures are of the actual gem offered for sale.
Gem images are magnified to show detail.

Clinozoisite-001

This rare gem is from the Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan.


 


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