Jonesite

Jonesite
General
Category Inosilicates
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Ba4(K,Na)2[Ti4Al2Si10O36]•6H2O
Crystal system Monoclinic
Crystal class Prismatic (2/m)
H-M Symbol: (2/m)
Space group P21/m
Unit cell a = 10.618, b = 25.918
c = 8.6945 [Å]; β = 127.633°; Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass 914.93 g/mol
Color Colorless
Crystal habit Bladed– Aggregation is thin blade-like crystals and Tabular– Dimensions thin in one direction
Cleavage {010} Distinct
Fracture Irregular
Mohs scale hardness 3 - 4
Luster Vitreous
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 3.21 g/cm3
Density 3.25 g/cm3
Optical properties Biaxial (+), a=1.641, b=1.66, g=1.682, bire=0.0410
Refractive index Index: 1.64 to 1.68
Birefringence δ = 0.041
Pleochroism Colorless
Other characteristics

Has medium relief and weak dispersion. Has fluorescent luminescence & white streak

Year of Discovery:1977
References [1][2][3]

Jonesite is a mineral with the chemical formula Ba4(K,Na)2[Ti4Al2Si10O36]*6H2O.[4] This mineral is named after Francis Tucker Jones (1905–1993), who discovered the mineral while working as a Research Chemical Microscopist at Berkeley in CA.[5] Jonesite has diffraction symmetry of mmm, which implies an orthorhombic system with all three axes perpendicular to each other and the angles between each axis equal to 90 degrees.[6] In addition to symmetrical properties, Jonesite is a biaxial mineral with birefringence, which is a term to describe the difference between index of refraction.[7] Jonesite is anisotropic, meaning the speed of light changes through the mineral, so the mineral shows color when viewed in crossed polarized light under a microscope. The mineral also has medium relief, which is a measure of how well the mineral stands out when viewed under a microscope in plane polarized light.[8] In addition to being one of the rarest minerals in the Benitoite Gem mine located in California, Jonesite also is the first titanosilicate mineral with a porous double-layered crystal structure.[9] This discovery is important because titanosilicate frameworks have industrial uses in energy companies and are used in containing radioactive waste.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Ralph, J., and Chau I. (2010) Jonesite Mineral Information and Data. Mineralogy Database. Retrieved 23 September 2010, from <http://www.mindat.org/min-2112.html>.
  2. ↑ Barthelmy, D. (2010) Jonesite Mineral Data. Mineralogy Database. Retrieved 11 September 2010, from <http://webmineral.com/data/Jonesite.shtml>.
  3. ↑ Wise, W., and Pabst, A. (2010) Jonesite. Mineralogical Record. Retrieved 23 September 2010, from <http://euromin.w3sites.net//mineraux/JONESITE.html>.
  4. ↑ American Geological Institute. (2010) Jonesite. Retrieved 11 September 2010, from <http://glossary.agiweb.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll>
  5. ↑ Barthelmy, D. (2010) Jonesite Mineral Data. Mineralogy Database. Retrieved 11 September 2010, from <http://webmineral.com/data/Jonesite.shtml>.
  6. ↑ Wise, W., and Pabst, A. (1977) Jonesite: A New Mineral from the Benitoite Gem Mine, San Benito County, California. Mineralogical Record, 8, 453-456.
  7. ↑ Barthelmy, D. (2010) Jonesite Mineral Data. Mineralogy Database. Retrieved 11 September 2010, from <http://webmineral.com/data/Jonesite.shtml>.
  8. ↑ Wise, W., and Pabst, A. (2010) Jonesite. Mineralogical Record. Retrieved 23 September 2010, from <http://euromin.w3sites.net//mineraux/JONESITE.html>.
  9. ↑ Krivovichev, S., and Armbruster, T. (2004) The Crystal Structure of Jonesite: A First Example of Titanosilicate with Porous Double Layers. American Mineralogist, 89, 314-318.
  10. ↑ Krivovichev, S., and Armbruster, T. (2004) The Crystal Structure of Jonesite: A First Example of Titanosilicate with Porous Double Layers. American Mineralogist, 89, 314-318.
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