Encyclopedia of Chemistry

Target:
Operation:
Search for:

Overview Complete alphabetical index  
Zinnwaldite

This article is about the mineral. For the color, see Zinnwaldite (color).
Zinnwaldite

General
Category Phyllosilicate mineral
Chemical formula KLiFeAl(AlSi3)O10(OH,F)2
Identification
Color Light brown to yellowish- or greenish-white
Crystal habit Micaceous, platey scaly masses, pseudo-hexagonal phenocryst tablets
Crystal system Monoclinic
Twinning On composition plane {001}, twin axis [310].
Cleavage Perfect basal {001}
Fracture Uneven
Tenacity Laminae flexible, elastic.
Mohs Scale hardness 3.5 - 4.0
Luster Pearly to vitreous
Refractive index nα = 1.565 - 1.625 nβ = 1.605 - 1.675 nγ = 1.605 - 1.675
Optical Properties Biaxial (-) 2V = 30°
Birefringence 0.040 - 0.050
Pleochroism distinct
Streak White
Specific gravity 2.9 - 3.1
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent

Zinnwaldite, KLiFeAl(AlSi3)O10(OH,F)2, is a potassium lithium iron aluminium silicate hydroxide fluoride silicate mineral in the mica group.

It occurs in greisens, pegmatite and quartz veins often associated with tin ore deposits. Commonly associated with topaz, cassiterite, wolframite, lepidolite, spodumene, beryl, tourmaline and fluorite.

It was first described in 1845 in Zinnwald (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinnwald), Germany.

References

  • Handbook of Mineralogy
  • Webmineral data
  • Mindat
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Zinnwaldite". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
MyChemEurope.COM
Newsletter Subscription
Your e-mail:
Top  
© 2006-2009 Chemie.DE Information Service GmbH
a Life Science Network Division

 www.Bionity.COM   www.ChemEurope.COM   www.Quimica.ES   www.ChemieKarriere.NET   www.BioKarriere.NET