Charoite
Charoite | |
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General | |
Category | Silicate mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | K(Ca,Na) 2Si 4O 10(OH,F)•H 2O |
IMA symbol | Cha[1] |
Crystal system | Monoclinic |
Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
Space group | P21/m |
Identification | |
Color | Violet, lilac, light brown |
Crystal habit | Fibrous, massive |
Cleavage | Good in three directions |
Fracture | Conchoidal |
Mohs scale hardness | 5 - 6 |
Luster | Vitreous to pearly |
Streak | White |
Diaphaneity | Translucent |
Specific gravity | 2.54 - 2.58 |
Optical properties | Biaxial (+) |
Refractive index | nα = 1.550 nβ = 1.553 nγ = 1.559 |
Birefringence | δ = 0.009 |
Ultraviolet fluorescence | Weakly fluorescent |
Other characteristics | ![]() |
References | [2][3][4][5] |
Charoite K(Ca,Na)
2Si
4O
10(OH,F)•H
2O[5] is a rare silicate mineral, first described in 1978 and named for the Chara River.[4] It has been reported only from the Aldan Shield, Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia.[5] It is found where a syenite of the Murun Massif has intruded into and altered limestone deposits producing a potassium feldspar metasomatite.[3][4]
Charoite is translucent lavender to purple in color with a pearly luster. Charoite is strictly massive in nature, and fractures are conchoidal. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, can lead many to believe at first that it is synthetic or enhanced artificially.
Though reportedly discovered in the 1940s, it was not known to most of the world until its description in 1978. It is said to be opaque and unattractive when found in the field; a fact that may have contributed to its late recognition.
Charoite occurs in association with tinaksite and canasite.[5]
Gallery[]
Charoitite, a charoite-dominated potassic metasomatite rock from the type area. Photo is 5.7 cm wide.
Charoite postage stamp, 2000, from a series commemorating "300 Years of Mining and Geological Service in Russia."
References[]
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ Mineralienatlas
- ^ a b Charoite info at WebMineral
- ^ a b c Mindat
- ^ a b c d Mineral Handbook
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- Calcium minerals
- Sodium minerals
- Potassium minerals
- Inosilicates
- Monoclinic minerals
- Minerals in space group 11