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Meliphanite  (Melinophane)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  (Ca,Na)₂(Be,Al)[Si₂O₆(OH,F)]
[Fluosilicate of Calcium Sodium Beryllium and Aluminum]

Discovered in 1852;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Meliphanite is named from the Greek words for "honey-yellow" and "to appear" in allusion to its color.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/C.02-70

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DP.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures

Related to:

Melilite group. Fresnoite Group.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Tetragonal - Disphenoidal

Crystal Habit:

As tablets, to 3 cm; platy, lamellar, massive.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[010] Perfect, [001] Distinct

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

5.0 - 5.5

Density:

3.01 - 3.03 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Strongly Piezoelectric

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless, Yellow, Yellowish Red, Red

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.593 - 1.613  Uniaxial ( - ); may be anomalously Biaxial

Birefringence:

0.0080 - 0.0190

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

e = yellow, w = dark yellow

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In augite syenite (FredriksvÄarn, Norway)

Common Associations:

Natrolite, Fluorite, Mica(FredriksvÄarn, Norway)

Common Impurities:

Mg, K, H₂O

Co-type Localities:

Langesundsfjorden, Larvik, Vestfold, Norway
Stavern (Fredriksvärn), Larvik, Vestfold, Norway

Year Discovered:

1852

View mineral photos:

Meliphanite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Meliphanite, also known as Melinophane, is an extremely rare gem. It is a rare fluosilicate mineral that is very rarely found as gem quality crystals. Crystals are usually small, opaque, platy tablets or massive. The golden-orange color can be very attractive.

One of the only sources of gem quality crystals is on several of the islands in the Langesundsfjord; and at Tvedalen, near Larvik, Vestfold, Norway.
 

  
Meliphanite gems for sale:

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