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| Aerinite
is named from the Greek word aerinos, for atmosphere
or sky-blue, alluding to its typical color.
| Discovered
in 1876.
IMA
status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered) |
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Chemistry
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Chemical
Formula: |
Ca4(Al;Fe3+;Mg;Fe2+)10Si12O35(CO3)(OH)12
•12H2O
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Hydrated
Calcium Aluminum Iron Magnesium Silicate Carbonate Hydroxide
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Molecular
Weight: |
1,944.10 gm |
Composition: |
Sodium |
0.59 % |
Na |
0.80 % |
Na2O |
|
Calcium |
10.51 % |
Ca |
14.71 % |
CaO |
|
Magnesium |
1.25 % |
Mg |
2.07 % |
MgO |
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Aluminum |
8.47 % |
Al |
16.00 % |
Al2O3 |
|
Iron |
6.89 % |
Fe |
5.17 % |
FeO
/ 4.11% Fe2O3 |
|
Silicon |
17.34 % |
Si |
37.09 % |
SiO2 |
|
Hydrogen |
1.87 % |
H |
16.68 % |
H2O |
|
Carbon |
0.74 % |
C |
2.72 % |
CO2 |
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Oxygen |
52.34 % |
O |
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|
100.00 % |
|
100.00 % |
= TOTAL OXIDE |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Silicates
(Germanates)
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Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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8/F.32-20
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Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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9.DB.45
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9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates B :
Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6;
Pyroxene-related minerals
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Trigonal
- Ditrigonal Pyramidal
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Crystal
Habit:
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As
masses of cryptocrystalline fibers; earthy, compact.
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Twinning:
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None
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
None
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Fracture: |
Unknown
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Tenacity:
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Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
~3.0
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Density:
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2.48 (g/cm3)
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Luminescence:
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None
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Radioactivity:
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Not
Radioactive
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Sky
Blue to Greenish-Blue, dark Blue
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Transparency: |
Semi-Transparent
to Opaque
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Luster: |
Vitreous
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Refractive
Index: |
1.510
- 1.580 Biaxial ( - )
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Birefringence: |
0.070
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Dispersion: |
None
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Pleochroism: |
Intense;
X
= bright blue; Y
= Z
= pale beige
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
A
hydrothermal mineral of the zeolite facies, formed at
relatively low temperature, in fractures cutting mafic
igneous rocks (Saint-Pandelon, France). |
Common
Associations: |
Prehnite,
Scolecite, Mesolite (Saint-Pandelon, France) |
Common
Impurities: |
Ti,
Mn, Na, K, P |
Type
Locality: |
Caserras del Castillo,
Estopiñán del Castillo, Huesca, Aragón, Spain |
Year
Discovered: |
1876
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View
mineral photos: |
Aerinite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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|
Mindat.org
Webmineral.com
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Aerinite
is a very rare, chemically complex, carbonate-bearing
silicate. It is typically found as sky blue masses of
cryptocrystalline fibers that would be almost impossible
to be faceted or formed as cabochons. Aerinite is also
found as darker blue, iron-rich, compact masses
from the Soriana Quarry, Estopiñán
del Castillo, Huesca, Aragón, Spain. This darker material is compact and solid
enough to be faceted although it is typically opaque.
These gems have attractive dark-blue color and good
vitreous luster.
Aerinite
is found at only a very few localities worldwide: at
Caserras, Juseu, and Estopiñan, Huesca Province; Tartaren,
Lerida Province; and other less-well-defined localities
in Spain. From Saint-Pandelon, Landes, France. In Morocco,
at Ourika. From the Gunsight Mountains, Pima County,
Arizona, USA.
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Aerinite
gems for sale:
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have not photographed our Aerinite gems. Please
check back soon.
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