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| Chemistry:
Al2SiO5 [Aluminum
Silicate] | Discovered
in 1824;
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered). Sillimanite
is named after American minerologist
Professor Benjamine Silliman (1779-1864) of Yale University,
New Haven, Connecticut, USA, and founder of the American
Journal of Science (Silliman's Journal). The
name Fibrolite is in allusion to the fibrous nature
of most material. |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Silicates |
Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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8/B.02-10 |
Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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9.AF.05 |
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9 : SILICATES (Germanates) A : Nesosilicates F :
Nesosilicates with additional anions; cations in [4], [5] and/or only [6]
coordination
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Orthorhombic
- Dipyramidal
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Crystal
Habit:
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Crystals
prismatic, may be acicular, with square cross sections,
rounded and striated, poorly terminated, to 2 cm; as
fibrous mats; rarely radiating.
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Twinning:
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None
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
[010]
Perfect
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Fracture: |
Uneven
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Tenacity:
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Tough
in aggregate
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Hardness
(Mohs): |
6.5 - 7.5 |
Density:
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3.23 - 3.24 (g/cm3) |
Luminescence:
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None |
Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive |
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Colorless
or White to Gray, also Brown, Yellow, Yellow-Green,
Gray-Green, Blue-Green, Blue |
Transparency: |
Transparent,
Translucent |
Luster: |
Vitreous
to Subadamantine, Silky |
Refractive
Index: |
1.653
- 1.684 Biaxial ( + ) |
Birefringence: |
0.0160
- 0.0230 |
Dispersion: |
Strong;
r > v; 0.015 |
Pleochroism: |
If
colored, X = pale brown or pale yellow; Y
= brown or green; Z = dark brown or blue
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
In
high-grade metamorphic schists, gneisses, and hornfels;
more rarely in pegmatites. Also as a detrital mineral. |
Co-Type
Localities: |
•
Vltava (Moldau), Sušice (Schüttenhofen), Plzen Region,
Bohemia, Czech Republic; • Chester, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA |
Year
Discovered: |
1824 |
View
mineral photos: |
Sillimanite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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Mindat.org Webmineral.com |
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Sillimanite (also
known as Fribolite) is a polymorph with Andalusite
and Kyanite.
A polymorph is a mineral that shares the same chemistry
with another, or other, minerals but has a different
crystal structure. Sillimanite is the rarest of the
three trimorphs. Sillimanite is mostly known as a catseye gem when
in its fibrous, massive form, but beautiful, clean
faceted gems are also available although faceted gems are
rare because clean Sillimanite is scarce and difficult
to cut.
Sillimanite
is found in many locations worldwide but gem quality
crystals are quite rare. The only sources of gem quality
Sillimanite crystals are Orissa, India; Mogok, Myanmar
(Burma); Ratnapura, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka.
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Sillimanite
gems for sale:
We
have not photographed the Sillimanite gems. Please
check back soon.
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