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Greenlandite  (variety of Fuchsite/Muscovite)

Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  Quartz: SiO₂ + Fuchsite: (Al,Cr)₃Si₃O₁₀(OH)
[Silicon Dioxide] + [Potassium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride]

Discovered in 1960's;   IMA status: Not Valid (Trade Name).
Greenlandite is named after Greenland where it was discovered.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/H.10-70 (Muscovite)

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.EC.15 (Muscovite)

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets

Related to:

 Muscovite: Mica Group. Muscovite Series.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Quartz: Trigonal - Trapezohedal; Muscovite: Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Muscovite: Crystals tabular to columnar, pseudohexagonal or diamond-shaped, to 4.5 m and 77 t. As stellate aggregates, plumose, globular; scaly, granular, compact massive.

Twinning:

Muscovite: Composition plane [001], twin axis [310], forming six-pointed stars.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Muscovite: [001] Perfect, partings on [110] and [010]

Fracture:

Muscovite: Laminae, Flexible and Elastic

Tenacity:

Muscovite: Tough

Hardness (Mohs):

Muscovite: 2.0 - 2.5; Quartz: 7.0

Density:

Muscovite: 2.77 - 2.88 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Muscovite: None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Muscovite: Light to dark Green, Black impurity streaks

Transparency:

Muscovite: Opaque

Luster:

Muscovite: Vitreous to Pearly or Silky

Refractive Index:

Muscovite: 1.552 - 1.616  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

Muscovite: 0.0340 - 0.0420

Dispersion:

Muscovite: Weak; r > v

Pleochroism:

Muscovite: Weak

Occurances

Type Locality:

Isukasia, north of Nuuk, Greenland

Year Discovered:

1960's

View mineral photos:

Fuchste Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org  (Fuchsite)
Mindat.org  (Muscovite)
Webmineral.com  (Muscovite)

Greenlandite has been called "The Oldest Gemstone on Earth" because it has been established that the geological environment in which it was formed is about 3.8 billion years old - one of the oldest formations on earth! Greenlandite is found only in Greenland and so is aptly named, and could be considered the official "Country Stone" of Greenland. It was discovered in the 1960's during a survey of the large iron deposit, Isukasia, north of Nuuk and has subsequently been found in several locations in the Godhabsfjord area of Greenland.

Greenlandite is a variety of the mineral Fuchsite which is a variety of Muscovite and consists of Quartzite mixed with Fuchsite. Fuchsite is colored green by its chromium (Cr) content which gives Greenlandite its rich and beautiful light to dark green colors. It is similar to green Adventurine Quartz but usually has richer, deeper greens.
 

  
Greenlandite gems for sale:

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