Euclase

Euclase is a beryllium aluminium

hydroxide silicate mineral
(BeAlSiO4(OH)). It crystallizes in the
monoclinic crystal system and is
typically massive to fibrous as well as in
slender prismatic crystals. It is related to
beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) and other beryllium
minerals. It is a product of the
decomposition of beryl in pegmatites.[3]
 Euclase

General

Category Nesosilicate

Formula BeAlSiO4(OH)
(repeating unit)

Strunz classification 9.AE.10

Crystal system Monoclinic

Crystal class Prismatic (2/m)

(same H-M symbol)

Space group P21/a

Unit cell a = 4 763 b = 14 29

Unit cell a = 4.763, b = 14.29
c = 4.618 [Å]; β =
100.25°; Z = 4

Identification

Color Colorless, white, pale

green to deep
yellowish green,
greenish blue, pale
blue to deep blue

Crystal habit Prismatic crystals

Cleavage Perfect, perfect on

{010}, imperfect on
{110} {001}

Fracture Conchoidal

Tenacity Brittle

Mohs scale hardness 7.5

Luster Vitreous

Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent,
translucent

Specific gravity 2.99 - 3.1

Optical properties Biaxial (+)

Refractive index nα = 1.652 nβ = 1.655

nγ = 1.671

Birefringence δ = 0.019

Pleochroism May be marked in

shades of deep blue

2V angle 50°

Dispersion r>v

References [1][2][3]

Euclase crystals are noted for their blue

color, ranging from very pale to dark blue.
The mineral may also be colorless, white,
or light green. Cleavage is perfect,
parallel to the clinopinacoid, and this
suggested to René Just Haüy the name
euclase, from the Greek εὖ, easily, and
κλάσις, fracture. The ready cleavage
renders the crystals fragile with a
tendency to chip, and thus detracts from
its use for personal ornament. When cut
it resembles certain kinds of beryl and
topaz, from which it may be
distinguished by its specific gravity (3.1).
Its hardness (7.5) is similar to beryl (7.5 -
8), and a bit less than that of topaz (8).[4]
Euclase, 3.0 x 1.6 x 1.6 cm. Lost Hope Mine, Mwami,
Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe

It was first reported in 1792 from the

Orenburg district in the southern Urals,
Russia, where it is found with topaz and
chrysoberyl in the gold-bearing gravels of
the Sanarka (nowadays probably,
Sakmara River, Mednogorsk district,
Orenburgskaya Oblast'). Its type locality
is Ouro Prêto, Minas Gerais, Southeast
Region, Brazil,[2] where it occurs with
topaz. It is found rarely in the mica-schist
of the Rauris in the Austrian Alps.

References
1. Euclase data on Webmineral
2. Euclase on Mindat.org with location
data
3. Euclase in the Handbook of
Mineralogy, Mineral Data Publishers
PDF
4. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911).
"Euclase"  . Encyclopædia Britannica
(11th ed.). Cambridge University
Press.
 Wikimedia Commons has media
related to Euclase.

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Euclase&oldid=903573280"

Last edited 4 months ago by an anonymous user

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless

otherwise noted.