Hsianghualite

Tectosilicate
(repeating unit)Li2Ca3(BeSiO4)3F2IMA symbolHsi[1]Strunz classification9.GB.05 (10 ed)
8/J.16-10 (8 ed)Dana classification77.1.1.5Crystal systemIsometricCrystal classTetartoidal (23)
H-M symbol: (23)Space groupI213,[2] originally reported as 4 3 2[3]IdentificationFormula mass475.4 g/molColorWhite or colorlessCrystal habittrisoctahedral or dodecahedral crystals or granular masses[3]CleavageNoneTenacityBrittle[4]Mohs scale hardness6.5LusterVitreousStreakWhiteDiaphaneityTransparent to translucentSpecific gravity2.97 to 3.00, measured[5]Refractive indexn = 1.6132[3]

Hsianghualite is a tectosilicate (framework silicate) of lithium, calcium and beryllium, with fluorine, a member of the zeolite group. It was discovered in 1958 and named for the type locality, Hsiang Hua, 香花, meaning fragrant flower.

Structure

Structure is analogous to that of analcime with Be and Si in tetrahedral co-ordination forming a three-dimensional framework.[2] Its space group is I213[2] (Previously reported as I4132[3]). Unit cell parameters are a = 12.879 or 12.897,[3][5] and Z = 8.

Environment

It occurs within phlogopite veins in the light-coloured band of green and white banded metamorphosed Devonian limestone which has been intruded by beryllium-bearing granite.[6] Associated mineral include fluorite, liberite, chrysoberyl, taaffeite and nigerite.[2]

Localities

Hsianghualite has been found only at the type locality, the Xianghualing Mine in Linwu County, Hunan Province, China.

References

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b c d Gaines et al (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy Eighth Edition
  3. ^ a b c d e American Mineralogist (1959) 44:1327 English language abstract of Huang Yung-hwei, Tu Shaohua, Wang K'ung-hai, Chao Chun-Lin, and Yu Cheng-Chih (1958)Ti-chih-yueh-k'an 7: 35 (in Chinese)
  4. ^ Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Nichols, Monte C. (2005). "Hsianghualite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b American Mineralogist (1961) 46:244. Data from A A Beus (1960) Akademii Nauk SSSR 1-329 (in Russian).
  6. ^ Roberts, Campbell and Rapp (1990) Encyclopedia of Minerals, 2nd edition

External links

  • Mindat
  • Webmineral data