Sorosilicates

Prepared by Ausejo, John Michael

Topic Outline
• Overview: Sorosilicates
• Epidote Group
• Other Sorosilicates
• Other information
Sorosilicates (Double Island Silicates)
• Oneof the corner oxygens is shared with
another tetrahedron
• Two linked tetrahedrons isolated from all
other tetrahedrons
• The basic structural unit is Si2O7-6.
• Ratio is: 2:7
• Thestructural formula is:
Ca2(Al,Fe+3)Al2O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)
Sorosilicates: Epidote Group
• Epidote group (has both (SiO4)4− and
(Si2O7)6− groups)
• Calcium aluminum Fe-silicate mineral
• Thestructural formula is: Ca2(Al,Fe+3)Al2O(SiO4)
(Si2O7)(OH)
Sorosilicates: Epidote Group
• Epidote Ca2Al2(Fe3+;Al)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) – occurs in marble and schistose met rx; also a
product of hydrothermal alteration of various minerals; Fe-rich variety; H=6-7; pistachio-green;
vitreous to resinous; monoclinic
• Zoisite Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH) – found in metamorphic and pegmatitic rocks; H=6-7; white,
gray, greenish brown; vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces; orthorhombic
• Tanzanite Ca2Al3O(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH) – variety of zoisite; trichoic (blue, violet, and burgundy);
only found in Tanzania; H=6.5; royal blue, indigo, purple; orthorhombic
• Clinozoisite Ca2Al3(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH) – occurs in low to medium graded met rx; also in
contact metamorphism of high Ca-sed rx; colorless, green, gray; H=6-7; virtreous; monoclinic
• Dollaseite-(Ce) CaCeMg2AlSi3O11F(OH) – most prominent in Ostanmosa, Sweden; generally
found to be Fe-poor locations and tremolite skarns; H=6.5-7; brown; prismatic; monoclinic
Sorosilicates: Epidote Group

Dollaseite-(Ce)
Epidote

Zoisite
Sorosilicates: Epidote Group
Tanzanite

Clinozoisite
Sorosilicates
• Hemimorphite (calamine) Zn4(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O – occurs as a product of the oxidation
of the upper parts of sphalerite ore bodies; importamt ore of Zn along with Smithsonite;
H=4.5-5; vitreous; white, blue, greenish; orthorhombic
• Lawsonite CaAl2Si2O7(OH)2·H2O – metamorphic mineral usually in the blueschist
facies; occurs as secondary mineral in altered gabbro and diorite; H=7.5; colorless,
white, pale blue; vitreous, greasy; orthorhombic
• Axinite (Ca,Fe,Mn)3Al2BO3Si4O12OH – is pyroelectric and piezoelectric; used as
gemstone; H=6-7.5; reddish brown to yellow; conchoidal; triclinic
• Vesuvianite Ca10(Mg, Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH,F)4 – occurs in skarn deposits and
limestones subjected to thermal metamorphism; H=6-7; yellow, green, brown; vitreous to
resinous; tetragonal
Sorosilicates

Hemimorphite

Lawsonite
Sorosilicates
Axinite

Vesuvianite
Sorosilicates: Other information
• Vesuvianite is also known as idocrase
• Axinite has four groups namely: Ferroaxinite Ca2Fe2+Al2BOSi4O15(OH)
iron rich, clove-brown; Magnesioaxinite Ca2MgAl2BOSi4O15(OH)
magnesium rich, pale blue to pale violet; Manganaxinite
Ca2Mn2+Al2BOSi4O15(OH) manganese rich, honey-yellow; and Tinzenite,
(CaFe2+Mn2+)3Al2BOSi4O15(OH) iron – manganese intermediate, yellow,
brownish yellow-green
• Tanzanite exhibits trichroism and is a variety of Zoisite
Daghang Salamat!
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- Sliver, 1994