Mineral - Aerinite
Aerinite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Silicates
Toxicity
none
Formula
Ca₆(Fe³⁺,Fe²⁺,Mg,Al)₄(Al,Mg)₆Si₁₂O₃₆(OH)₁₂(CO₃)·12H₂O
Unit Cell
a=16.88 c=5.23 Z = 1
Physical Properties
Hardness
3
Streak
whiteblueblue white
Density
Normal (2-3,5)
Cleavage
nd
Fracture
nd
Tenacity
Optical Properties
Color
blue
Birefringence
0.070
Luster
Vitreous,
Metallic,
Earthy
Transparency
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
trigonal
Point Group
ditrigonal-pyramidal - 3m
Space Group
P3c1 (158)
Habit
coarse, earthy, massive, acicular
Formation
As a low-grade metamorphic (zeolite facies) phyllosilicates under hydrothermal to diagenetic conditions in basic volcanic rocks embedded in pelitic sedimentary rocks, whereby its formation is induced by alkali-rich, oxidizing fluids
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Rarely
Synonyms
Aerinite
Composition
Elements
Mass
SiO₂
36.91
TiO₂
0.01
Al₂O₃
17.20
Fe₂O₃
7.31
FeO
3.47
MnO
0.10
MgO
3.15
CaO
12.03
Na₂O
0.27
K₂O
0.04
H₂O
17.79
CO₂
2.30
P₂O₅
0.71
France (Dana 1892)
Name and first discovery : Named after the Greek word "aerinos" for "heavenly," due to its intense light blue color, aerinite was first discovered near Caserras del Castillo in Spain and described in 1876 by Arnold von Lasaulx, who noticed the mineral in the collection of Martin Websky at the University of Breslau due to its vibrant blue color.
Chemistry :
Synonyms :
Varieties :
Abbreviation : Aer
literature
Dana, J. D., & Dana, E. S. (1892). The system of mineralogy of James Dwight Dana, 1837-1868: descriptive mineralogy . J. Wiley & sons.