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Click on a
letter above to view the list of gems. |
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| Chemistry:
BeAl2O4
+
(Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F) | Discovered
in 1835;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). Microlite
gets its
name is from the Greek words mikros meaning small, and
lithos meaning stone; due
to the very small size of the crystals found at the original locality. |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Oxides
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Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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4/C.18-10 |
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4 : Oxides & Hydroxides C : Oxides with metal : oxygen = 2:3 (M2O3 and
related compounds) 18 : Pyrochlore group, Microlite series with Ta > Nb
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Isometric
- Hexoctahedral |
Crystal
Habit:
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Commonly
as euhedral to subhedral octahedra, modified by the
dodecahedron, cube, to 8 cm; also granular, massive.
Twinning: Rare, according to the spinel law, twin plane.
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
[111]
Poor
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Fracture: |
Irregular,
Uneven, Splintery, Sub-Conchoidal
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
5.0
- 5.5
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Density:
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4.20 - 6.4 (g/cm3) |
Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Yellow,
Pale yellow to reddish brown, sometimes emerald-green
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Transparency: |
Opaque
to Translucent, Transparent in thin fragments |
Luster: |
Vitreous
to Adamantine, Resinous
on fractures |
Refractive
Index: |
1.93 - 2.02 Isotropic |
Birefringence: |
0.00 (Isotropic) |
Dispersion: |
n/a
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Pleochroism: |
None
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
A
primary mineral in lithium-bearing granite pegmatites,
or replacing tantalum minerals; in miarolitic cavities
in granites. |
Type
Locality: |
Clark Ledges pegmatite locality, Chesterfield, Hampshire
Co., Massachusetts, USA |
Year
Discovered: |
1835 |
View
mineral photos: |
Microlite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
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Microlite
is a very rare member of the Pyrochlore group of minerals. As
a mineral, it is usually opaque to translucent and plentiful
in some locations. Gem quality crystals however are
quite rare and very small so faceted gems tend to be
small and are extremely rare. Microlite is a beautiful gem
that is found in colors of pale to bright yellow,
brown, reddish and green. Current sources of gem grade
Microlite
are the Alto do Giz pegmatite, and Virgem da Lapa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Microlite
gems for sale:
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Gem:
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Microlite |
Stock
#:
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MICRO-002 |
Weight:
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0.5405
ct |
Size: |
4.36
x 4.26 x 2.56 mm |
Shape: |
Trillion |
Color: |
Yellow |
Clarity: |
SI |
Origin: |
Virgem
da Lapa M.S., Brazil |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$162.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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This
rare Microlite is very bright yellow and
large for the type. This gem is from Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Gem:
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Microlite |
Stock
#:
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MICRO-001 |
Weight:
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0.321
ct |
Size: |
3.38
x 2.38 mm |
Shape: |
Round |
Color: |
Yellow |
Clarity: |
Eye
Clean - SI |
Origin: |
Virgem
da Lapa M.S., Brazil |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$96.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
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This
rare Microlite is very bright yellow and
is eye clean with slight inclusions visible
under loupe. This gem is from Virgem da Lapa, Jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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