Wiluite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Wiluite is named

Discovered in 1997;   IMA status: Valid (IMA approved 1998)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Ca₁₉(Al,Mg,Fe,Ti)₁₃(B,Al,[ ])₅Si₁₈O₆₈(O,OH)₁₀

Calcium Aluminum Magnesium Iron Titanium Boron Silicate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

2,924.83 gm

Composition:

Calcium

26.04 %

Ca

36.43 %

CaO

Magnesium

3.99 %

Mg

6.61 %

MgO

Titanium

0.82 %

Ti

1.37 %

TiO₂

Aluminum

6.46 %

Al

12.20 %

Al₂O₃

Iron

1.72 %

Fe

2.46 %

Fe₂O₃

Silicon

17.28 %

Si

36.98 %

SiO₂

Boron

0.96 %

B

3.09 %

B₂O₃

Hydrogen

0.07 %

H

0.62 %

H₂O

Oxygen

42.67 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/C.26-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.BG.35

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
G : Sorosilicates with mixed SiO₄ and Si₂O₇ groups; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination

Related to:

Vesuvianite Group

Varieties:

n/a

Synonyms:

IMA1997-026

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Euhedral Crystals; occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

{100} Poor

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

6.0

Density:

3.36 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Dark Green

Transparency:

Translucent to Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.721 - 1.725  Uniaxia ( + )

Birefringence:

0.004

Dispersion:

Very high

Pleochroism:

Very Strong

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A low-temperature, Si-deficient variety of vesuvianite occurs in porous tetrahedral "achtarandite” pseudomorphs consisting of hibschite, along the banks of the Wiluy River, Yakutia, Russia, the type locality.

Common Associations:

Wollastonite and olive-green Grossulars.

Common Impurities:

n/a

Type Locality:

Vilyui River Basin (Vilui River Basin; Wilui River Basin), Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1997; (IMA approved 1998)

View mineral photos:

Wiluite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Wiluite is a very rare variety of Vesuvianite that was discovered in 1997 in the Wilui River Valley of the Eastern-Siberian Region of Russia. It is a very complex silicate mineral containing calcium, aluminum, magnesium, iron, titanium and boron in addition to the basic silicate minerals. Wiluite crystals are usually well-formed euhedrals of dark green color and are translucent to opaque.

Wiluite is only known from two locations, the type locality at the Vilyui River Basin (Vilui River Basin; Wilui River Basin), Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia; and a very minor source at Ariccia, Latium, Italy.
 

  
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