Mineralpedia Details for Monticellite
Monticellite
Italian mineralogist Teodoro Monticelli is the namesake of Monticellite. Monticellite is an uncommon, but widespread mineral that occurs in localities including Italy, Scotland, Ireland, the Unites States, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, and Russia among numerous others. It forms during the metamorphism of silicon-rich dolostones as well as in contact metamorphic deposits in contact with limestone and olivine gabbro, in skarn at the contact of granites and dolomitic limestones and occasionally in kimberlites.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/monticellite.pdf
- Formula
- CaMgSiO4
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Crystalline - Fine, Prismatic
- Cleavage
- Indistinct, None, None
- Luster
- Vitreous (Glassy)
- Color
- colorless, greenish gray, gray
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 5
- WebMineral
- View Monticellite
- Mindat
- View Monticellite
Monticellite from Commercial quarry, Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, United States
The Monticellite is the dull chocalate brown, rich specimen with the typical blue Calcite of the Commercial quarry. Also associated are more lustrous, brown Vesuvianite - Idocrase.
Monticellite from Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, United States
Brown granular masses in blue calcite matrix. Monticellite is a typical contact metamorphic mineral occuring in siliceous dolomites near intrusions. In this case a large quartz monzonite porphyry.
