Aerinite

Aerinite (Ca4(Al,Fe,Mg)10Si12O35(OH)12CO3·12H2O) is a bluish-purple inosilicate mineral. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and occurs as fibrous masses and coatings. It has a dark, vitreous luster, a specific gravity of 2.48 and a Mohs hardness of 3.

Aerinite
Aerinite from Spain
General
CategoryInosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca4(Al,Fe,Mg)10Si12O35(OH)12CO3·12H2O
Strunz classification9.DB.45
Crystal systemTrigonal
Space groupP3c1
Unit cella = 14.690(15), b = 16.872(15)
c = 5.170(15) [Å]; β = 94.75°; Z = 1[1]
Identification
ColorBlue to blue-green
Crystal habitfibrous
Mohs scale hardness3
Lustervitreous
Streakbluish white
Diaphaneitytranslucent
Specific gravity2.48
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα1.510(5), nβ = 1.560(5), nγ = 1.580
PleochroismIntense; X = bright blue; Y = Z = pale beige
2V angle63° (calc.)
Dispersionδ = 0.07
References[2][3][1][4]
Aerinite from Spain

It is a low-temperature hydrothermal phase occurring in zeolite facies alteration of mafic rocks. Associated minerals include prehnite, scolecite and mesolite.[2]

Its name comes from a Greek root "aerinos," meaning "atmosphere" or "sky".[1]

References

  1. Aerinite. Mindat.org
  2. Aerinite. Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. Aerinite. Webmineral
  4. Rius, Jordi; Elkaim, Erik; Torrelles, Xavier (23 February 2004). "Structure determination of the blue mineral pigment aerinite from synchrotron powder diffraction data: The solution of an old riddle". European Journal of Mineralogy. 16 (1): 127–134. doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2004/0016-0127.
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