Vesuvianite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Idocrase)
Jump to: navigation, search
Vesuvianite

General
Category Mineral
Chemical formula Ca10(Mg, Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH,F)4
Identification
Molecular Weight 1,422.09 gm
Color Yellow, green, brown - rarely blue or red
Crystal habit Massive to columnar
Crystal system Tetragonal
Cleavage Poor to very poor
Fracture Sub conchoidal
Mohs Scale hardness 6.5
Luster Vitreous to resinous
Refractive index nω = 1.702 - 1.742 nε = 1.698 - 1.736
Optical Properties Uniaxial (-)
Birefringence 0.0040-0.0060
Pleochroism slight in colored varieties
Streak White
Specific gravity 3.35 - 3.45
Solubility Vesuvianite is virtually insolouble in acids
Diaphaneity Subtransparent to Translucent
Other Characteristics striated lengthwise

Vesuvianite, also known as Idocrase is a green, brown, yellow, or blue silicate mineral. Vesuvianite occurs as tetragonal crystals in skarn deposits and limestones that have been subjected to contact metamorphism. It was first discovered within included blocks or adjacent to lavas on Mount Vesuvius, hence it's name.

A bluish variety known as cyprine has been reported from Franklin, New Jersey and other locations, the blue is due to impurities of copper. Californite is a name sometimes used for jade-like vesuvianite, also known as California-, American- or Vesuvianite-jade. Xanthite is a manganese rich variety. Wiluite is an optically positive variety from Wilui, Siberia. Idocrase is an older synonym sometimes used for gemstone quality vesuvianite.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
 This article about a specific mineral or mineraloid is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesuvianite"
Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.