Kainosite-(Y)

Kainosite
General
Category Silicate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca2(Y,Ce) SiO4O12(CO3)•(H2O)
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Crystal class Dipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space group Pmnb
Identification
Formula mass 664.14 g/mol
Colour Variable, from brown and yellow to colourless
Cleavage {110} Good
Fracture Brittle and uneven
Mohs scale hardness 5–6
Lustre vitreous to resinous
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 1.662–1.665 nβ = 1.682–1.689 nγ = 1.687–1.692
Birefringence Maximum Birefringence: δ = 0.025–0.027
2V angle Measured: 40°, Calculated: 38° to 52°
Dispersion strong
Other characteristics high relief

Kainosite is a silicate mineral that has the formula of Ca2(Y,Ce) SiO4O12(CO3)•(H2O). Kainosite was first discovered in Norway on the island of Hitterø[1] and was named by Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (1832–1901) in allusion to the Greek word for "unusual" for its rarity and exotic composition.[2]

Kainosite, is part of the orthorhombic crystal class minerals, which is a system that results from stretching a cubic lattice along two of its orthogonal pairs. Kainosite is a biaxial mineral,so the light entering its crystals will be polarized in two vibration directions (XYZ) for it has two optic axes. Because Kainosite is orthorhombic, the vibration directions XYZ coincide with the a,b,c crystallography axes.

Kainosite is very rare and mostly found in Russia in vugs, pegmatites, granites, and alkalic complex as an altered product of the mineral kuliokite.


References

  1. Kainosite-(Y), WebMineral.com.Accessed 17 September 2010.
  2. Kainosite-(Y), MinDat.org
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.