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Clinohedrite

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Clinohedrite
Clinohedrite coating hardystonite, franklinite with willemite reaction rims. Franklin, New Jersey. Orange fluorescence under UV.
General
CategorySilicate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		CaZn(SiO4)·H2O
IMA symbolCnh
Strunz classification9.AE.30
Dana classification52.2.1.2
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classDomatic (m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupCc
Unit cella = 5.09 Å, b = 15.82 Å,
c = 5.38 Å; β = 103.39°; Z = 4
Identification
ColorColorless to brown surface coating, clear to pale pink to amethystine crystals
Crystal habitThin to thick or platey surface and fracture coatings, in vugs or cavities, rarely as crusts of crystals – prismatic to tabular, may be wedge-shaped
CleavagePerfect on {010}
Mohs scale hardness5.5
LusterBrilliant, glassy; pearly on {010}
Streakwhite
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
Specific gravity3.28–3.33
Optical propertiesBiaxial (−)
Refractive indexnα = 1.662 nβ = 1.667 nγ = 1.669
Ultraviolet fluorescenceUV=orange
Other characteristicsStrongly pyroelectric
References

Clinohedrite is a rare silicate mineral. Its chemical composition is a hydrous calcium-zinc silicate; CaZn(SiO4)·H2O. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and typically occurs as veinlets and fracture coatings. It is commonly colorless, white to pale amethyst in color. It has perfect cleavage and the crystalline habit has a brilliant luster. It has a Mohs hardness of 5.5 and a specific gravity of 3.28–3.33.

Under short wave ultraviolet light it fluoresces a rich orange color. It is frequently associated with minerals such as hardystonite (fluoresces violet blue), esperite (fluoresces bright yellow), calcite (fluoresces orange-red), franklinite (non-fluorescent) and willemite (fluoresces green).

Clinohedrite was found primarily at the Franklin zinc mines in New Jersey, the type locality, but has also been reported from the Christmas mine, Gila County, Arizona, and the Western Quinling gold belt, Gansu Province, China.

It was first described in 1898 and was named for its crystal morphology from the Greek klino for incline, and hedra for face.

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. Mineralienatlas
  3. ^ http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/clinohedrite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. ^ http://www.mindat.org/min-1075.html Mindat
  5. "Webmineral data". Webmineral.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
  6. "Mineral Galleries". Galleries.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.


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