Mineralpedia Details for Diaspore
Diaspore
Named for the Greek word diasporas, meaning “to scatter,” in reference to the minerals nature to crackle, decrepitate, when exposed to a blowpipe flame. Somewhat uncommon, but widespread, Diaspore has quite a few localities and prominent localities include in Russia, Slovakia, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, Macedonia, Greece, South Africa, and the United States. Diaspore occurs as, usually, a final product of diagenesis of bauxite deposits, but can also occur from the hydrothermal alteration of aluminum-rich minerals and as a hydrothermal mineral itself in alkalic pegmatites.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/diaspore.pdf
- Formula
- AlO(OH)
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Platy, Tabular, Disseminated
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Good, None
- Luster
- Vitreous - Pearly
- Color
- white, greenish gray, grayish brown, colorless, yellow
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle - Conchoidal
- Hardness
- 6.5-7
- WebMineral
- View Diaspore
- Mindat
- View Diaspore
Diaspore from Saga quarry, Sagåsen, Mørje, Porsgrunn, Telemark, Norway
Sharp excellent prismatic crystals of lilac Diaspore from 1 to 2mm with colorless Natrolite.
Diaspore from Postmasburg, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
- Special Info
- Type Locality
Deep red compact platy Diaspor with similiar, but smaller crystals of Ephesite. Besides the Shultz label it comes with a Sorbonne tag.
Diaspore from Muğla Prov., Turkey
- Special Info
- Gem Quality
Gemmy single light yellowish single crystal. It is not purple, it just looks purple in the photos.
Diaspore from Chester Emery mines, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, United States
Lilac colored Diaspore crystals to 6mm. A large specimen.
