CORDIERITE

CORDIERITE WITH CHALCOPYRITE

 General

Category Cyclosilicate

Formula (Mg,Fe)2Al4Si5O18
(repeating unit)

Crystal system Orthorhombic

 Identification

Color Blue, smoky blue, bluish violet; greenish,

yellowish brown, gray; colorless to very
pale blue in thin section

Crystal habit Pseudo-hexagonal prismatic twins, as

imbedded grains, and massive

Twinning Common on {110}, {130}, simple,

lamellar, cyclical
Cleavage Fair on {100}, poor on {001} and {010}
Mohs scale hardness 7 - 7.5

Luster Greasy or vitreous

Streak White

Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent

Specific gravity 2.57 - 2.66

Optical properties Usually optically (-), sometimes (+); 2V =

0-90°
Refractive index nα = 1.527 - 1.560 nβ = 1.532 - 1.574 nγ =
1.538 - 1.578 Indices increase with Fe
content.

Pleochroism X = pale yellow, green; Y = violet, blue-

violet; Z = pale blue

Diagnostic features Resembles quartz can be distinguished

by pleochroism. Can be distinguished
from corundum by its lower hardness
IOLITE
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