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Micaceous Minerals 3

Sunday, 19 February 2017 08:00 AM

Not all micaceous looking minerals fall in the MICA group of phyllosilicate minerals. Many of the other silicates appear micaceous but are not. We'll have a look at some of these minerals and hopefully explain the difference. Take a look at our article on Mica and Other Micaceous Minerals.

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Ferroceladonite

#46456

Details
Data
Provenance
Resources

Locality: Mikhailovskoe iron deposit, Kursk Oblast, Russia
Formula: KFe²⁺Fe³⁺Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
Availability: Sold
Size: 4 x 1.5 x 0.6 cm - Miniature
Special Info: XRD Confirmed
Special Info: EDS Confirmed

Green fine micaceous crystals less than 0.1mm throughout matrix. Identified by Dr. Igor Pekov.

Ferroceladonite

Formula: KFe²⁺Fe³⁺Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Microscopic Crystals
Cleavage: Perfect, None, None
Luster: Earthy (Dull)
Color: dark bluish green
Streak: paler green
Class: Monoclinic - Prismatic
Fracture: Earthy
Hardness: 2-2.5

Special Info: XRD Confirmed
Special Info: EDS Confirmed

Mineralpedia: View Ferroceladonite
On Dakota Matrix: Previously Sold Ferroceladonite
On Dakota Matrix: Other Available Ferroceladonite
WebMineral: View Ferroceladonite
Mindat: View Ferroceladonite

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Fluorannite

in cryolite - #46458

Details
Data
Provenance
Resources

Locality: Katugin Ta-Nb deposit, Kalarsky dist., Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
Formula: KFe²⁺₃(Si₃Al)O₁₀F₂
Availability: Sold
Size: 3 x 2 x 1 cm - Thumbnail

Fluorannite is the fluorine analogue of Annite. It is basically compact black and micaceous. It is actualy quite rare having been found in only three worldwide localities thus far.

Fluorannite

Formula: KFe²⁺₃(Si₃Al)O₁₀F₂
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Foliated, Fibrous, Tabular
Cleavage: Perfect, None, None
Luster: Sub Metallic
Color: iron black
Streak: gray
Class: Monoclinic - Prismatic
Fracture: Sectile
Hardness: 3

Mineralpedia: View Fluorannite
On Dakota Matrix: Previously Sold Fluorannite
On Dakota Matrix: Other Available Fluorannite
WebMineral: View Fluorannite
Mindat: View Fluorannite

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Lepidolite

var. ball-peen - #37795

Details
Data
Provenance
Resources

Locality: Bennett quarry, Buckfield, Oxford Co., Maine, United States
Formula: K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂
Availability: Sold
Size: 11 x 7 x 4 cm - Cabinet

Lilac "Lepidolite" forming rounded crystals. Lepidolite is a lithium rich mica falling withing the solid solution of polylithionite - trilithionite. According to Dr. David London, the lilac or purple color is not due to the presence of lithium but due to the presence of minor manganese. Lepidolite is found chiefly in pegmaties but not exclusive to pegmatites.

"Lepidolite" was actually discredited as a unique mineral species. It is rather a "catch-all" name describing purple or lilac colored Muscovites belonging to the solid solution group of Polylithionite - Trilithionite, which are lithium rich micas. Lepidolite is often found in LCT (lithium - cesium - tantalum) pegmatites and can often be enriched in rubidium.

This particular habit of Lepidolite is often described as "ball-peen" Lepidolite for its similarity to the ball-peen hammer. David London describes this habit in his book "Pegmatites" and again sites differential or rapid growth in the constantly evolving chemical environment.

Lepidolite

Formula: K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Platy, Foliated, Massive
Cleavage: Perfect, None, None
Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
Color: colorless, gray white, lilac, yellowish, white
Streak: white
Class: Monoclinic
Fracture: Uneven
Hardness: 2.5-3

Collection: Art Smith Collection

Mineralpedia: View Lepidolite
On Dakota Matrix: Previously Sold Lepidolite
On Dakota Matrix: Other Available Lepidolite
WebMineral: View Lepidolite
Mindat: View Lepidolite

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Lepidolite

#39884

Details
Data
Provenance
Resources

Locality: Minas Gerais, Brazil
Formula: K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂
Availability: Sold
Size: 8 x 5 x 3 cm - Sm Cabinet
Tagged: pegmatite mineral

This specimen is a rich purple cleavable mass of the lithium rich mica, which actually falls within the Polylithionite-Trilithionite series.

Lepidolite

Formula: K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Platy, Foliated, Massive
Cleavage: Perfect, None, None
Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
Color: colorless, gray white, lilac, yellowish, white
Streak: white
Class: Monoclinic
Fracture: Uneven
Hardness: 2.5-3

Collection: McConlogue Collection

Mineralpedia: View Lepidolite
On Dakota Matrix: Previously Sold Lepidolite
On Dakota Matrix: Other Available Lepidolite
WebMineral: View Lepidolite
Mindat: View Lepidolite

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Lepidolite

#43753

Details
Data
Provenance
Resources

Locality: Taquaral, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Formula: K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂
Availability: Sold
Size: 7.5 x 7.5 x 3 cm - Sm Cabinet

Purple "ball-peen" Lepidolite.

Lepidolite

Formula: K(Li,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(F,OH)2
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Platy, Foliated, Massive
Cleavage: Perfect, None, None
Luster: Vitreous - Pearly
Color: colorless, gray white, lilac, yellowish, white
Streak: white
Class: Monoclinic
Fracture: Uneven
Hardness: 2.5-3

Mineralpedia: View Lepidolite
On Dakota Matrix: Previously Sold Lepidolite
On Dakota Matrix: Other Available Lepidolite
WebMineral: View Lepidolite
Mindat: View Lepidolite

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Margarite

#BM41816

Details
Data
Provenance
Resources

Locality: Chester Emery mines, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, United States
Formula: CaAl₂(Si₂Al₂)O₁₀(OH)₂
Availability: Sold
Size: 9.5 x 5 x 5 cm - Cabinet

Pinkish grey micaceous Margarite from this classic locality.

Margarite is a phyllosilicate - and a mica group member. It is defined as dioctahedral brittle mica. Aluminum occupies the (M) octahedral positions with possible subsitutes of lithium, calcium (or possibly Na) at the Interlayer spots, and hydroxyl at the (A) positions. Be and Al can replace Si at the (T) positions. For more information on Mica minerals and other phyllosilicates please reference our article - Click Here.

Margarite occurs rarely as good pseudohexagonal crystals, usually scaly or platy aggregates as is this specimen. Grayish pink to pink, but also yellowish. Occurs mainly with diaspore in contact metamorphic deposits (Bernard & Hrysl), also in chlorite schists (Mindat). Associated with corundum, diaspore, tourmaline, staurolite, glauphane, chlorite, and magnetite...in high aluminun deposits (Handbook of Min.).

Margarite

Formula: CaAl₂(Si₂Al₂)O₁₀(OH)₂
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Lamellar, Massive - Lamellar, Scaly
Cleavage: Good, None, None
Luster: Pearly
Color: white, gray, pinkish gray, yellowish gray
Streak: white
Class: Monoclinic - Prismatic
Fracture: Brittle
Hardness: 4

Collection: McConlogue Collection

Mineralpedia: View Margarite
On Dakota Matrix: Previously Sold Margarite
On Dakota Matrix: Other Available Margarite
WebMineral: View Margarite
Mindat: View Margarite

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Micaceous Minerals 3