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Name: |
vesuvianite (idocrase) |
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Class: |
Silicates |
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Chemistry: |
Ca10 (Mg,Fe)2 Al4 [ (OH)4 | (SiO4)5 | (Si2O7)2 ] Hydrated Calcium Magnesium Aluminum Silicate |
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Color(s): |
brown, green, magenta, rarely yellow, blue, black, gray |
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Hardness: |
6.5 |
SpecGrav: |
3.27 - 3.45 |
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Fracture: |
uneven |
Cleavage: |
incomplete |
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Crystal: |
tetragonal (short and long columnar, dipyramidal, sometimes acicular) often vertically striated |
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Envronment: |
metamorphic and igneous rocks as a by product of volcanic activity. |
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Association: |
garnet, diopside, wollastonite, epidote |
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Locals: |
| Germany | Switzerland | California, USA | Canada | Mexico | Italy | USSR | |
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Misc: |
The name Vesuvianite comes from the famous locality in Italy, Mt. Vesuvius. The name Idocrase comes from the Greek word "eidos", meaning "form" and "krausis" meaning "mixture". This referenced its mixed crystal form. Partially soluble in acids. |
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Photos |
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1.) Jeffrey Quarry, Richmond Co., Canada |
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