Richterite

Sodium amphibole mineral
(repeating unit)Na(NaCa)Mg5Si8O22(OH)2#IMA symbolRct[1]Strunz classification9.DE.20Crystal systemMonoclinicCrystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)Space groupC2/mIdentificationColorBrown, yellow, red, or greenCrystal habitPrismatic; acicular or asbestiformTwinningSimple or multiple parallel to {100}CleavagePerfectFractureUneven, brittleMohs scale hardness5–6LusterVitreousStreakPale yellowDiaphaneityTransparent to translucentSpecific gravity3.0–3.5Optical propertiesBiaxial (−)Refractive indexnα = 1.615 nβ = 1.629 nγ = 1.636Birefringenceδ = 0.021PleochroismStrong: pale yellow, orange, and red2V angle68° measuredReferences[2][3][4][5]

Richterite is a sodium calcium magnesium silicate mineral belonging to the amphibole group. If iron replaces the magnesium within the structure of the mineral, it is called ferrorichterite; if fluorine replaces the hydroxyl, it is called fluororichterite. Richterite crystals are long and prismatic, or prismatic to fibrous aggregate, or rock-bound crystals. Colors of richterite range from brown, grayish-brown, yellow, brownish- to rose-red, or pale to dark green. Richterite occurs in thermally metamorphosed limestones in contact metamorphic zones. It also occurs as a hydrothermal product in mafic igneous rocks, and in manganese-rich ore deposits. Localities include Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, and Wilberforce and Tory Hill, Ontario, Canada; Långban and Pajsberg, Sweden; West Kimberley, Western Australia; Sanka, Myanmar; and, in the US, at Iron Hill, Colorado; Leucite Hills, Wyoming; and Libby, Montana. The mineral was named in 1865 for the German mineralogist Hieronymous Theodor Richter (1824–1898).

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. ^ "Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  3. ^ Richterite on Mindat.org
  4. ^ Richterite data on Webmin
  5. ^ "IMA Master List". Archived from the original on 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  • Bonewitz, 2008, Smithsonian Rock and Gem