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INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE
CHEMISTRY
END MEMBERS
PHYSICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES
GEM VARIETY AND SPECIMENS
INTRODUCTION
End members of the series by analogy with the plagioclase feldspars may be
expressed as 3NaAlSi3O8.NaCl (marialite) and 3CaAl2Si2O8.CaCO3(meionite)
There is continuous solid solution between the marialite (Ma) and meionite (Me)
end members, with most samples having compositions between about Me20 to
Me80.
The conventional nomenclature is marialite (Me0--20), dipyre (Me20--50), mizzonite
(Me50--80), and meionite (Me80--100).
Three substitutions occur, Na+ c Ca2+, Al3+ Si4+, Cl- CO3(2-) in all the
members of the series. The compositional difference in the group arises due to the
following solid solutions.
Compositionally, scapolite
is essentially plagioclase
feldspar with chloride ions
and carbonate and
sulfate radicals in
interstices of the structure.
The extra anions are
balanced by extra sodium
or calcium (and some
potassium) atoms, so the
formula can be written as
plagioclase plus halite,
calcite, or gypsum.
GEM VARIETY SOURCES - Tanzania produces the finest golden yellow scapolite known in
commercial quantities. Dodoma, Tanzania yields transparent, golden yellow to orangey
yellow gem material. This source sometimes produces very pale to near colorless stones,
as well as violetish and pink (rare) cuttable crystals.
Espirito Santo, Brazil produces pale yellow crystals, sometimes large and facetable.
Madagascar produces yellow, facetable crystals.
Other notable gem-quality sources include:
Canada: Quebec (lemon yellow, opaque scapolite, some with silky luster); Ontario (light
yellow, pink, and green material yielding tiny cut gems).
Kenya: brownish cat’s eyes.
Myanmar: white, yellow, pink to violet also bluish, pinkish, white cat’s eyes.
Afghanistan; China; Pakistan; Peru; Sri Lanka; Tajikistan.
HUMITE GROUP OF MINERALS
INTRODUCTION
STRUCTURE
Mg - HUMITES
PHYSICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OTHER GROUPS OF HUMITES
INTRODUCTION
Named after its principal member, humite, which was named after Sir Abraham Hume
(1749-1838), English connoisseur and collector of gems, minerals and artwork.
The humite group is a group of nesosilicates with the general formula An(SiO4)m(F,OH)2.
Humite Group is also structurally related to olivine, (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 (and the related mineral
tephroite, Mn2SiO4) in that the members of this group contain layers of the olivine structure
that alternate with layers of the brucite-like sheets.
Not all the brucite-like sheets are composed of Mg(OH)2 as iron and manganese substitute
for the magnesium in several members of this group. The major
substitution is between F- and (OH)- and substantial amounts of fluorine are always present
Mg Humites Group
Mg-Humites is one of the most important member of the Humite Group of minerals.
Members of the Humite Group are noted for having a mixture of silicate layers and
oxide layers in their structures. The silicate layers have the same structure as olivine.
The oxide layers have the same structure as brucite. In the case of Mg-humite,
there are variable number of consecutive olivine layers(n=1 to n=4) that alternate
between each brucite layer.
NORBERGITE (2/m 2/m 2/m) Mg2SiO4 - Mg(F, OH)2
The Mn-humites are almost exclusively found associated with Mn-ores, either hydrothermal
deposits or in metamorphosed ores associated with carbonate rocks and/or skarns (calc-
silicate rocks).
The Ca-humites are all very rare minerals, All except reinhardbraunsite have been found
only at the Upper Chegem caldera( northern Caucasus mts. Russia) The Ca-humites are
this rare because they can only be formed at very high temperatures at low pressure, and
then only in the contact between carbonate xenoliths and magma
OVERVIEW OF THE VARIOUS HUMITES
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