Kaersutite

Kaersutite
Kaersutite (black) in tuff. Locality: Suletice, Czech Republic
General
CategoryInosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
NaCa2(Mg3Ti4+Al)(Si6Al2)O22(O)2
IMA symbolKrs[1]
Strunz classification9.DE.10
Dana classification66.01.03a.18
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupC2/m
Identification
ColorDark brown to black, yellow-brown, green-brown, or red-brown in thin section
Crystal habitPrismatic phenocrysts, granular aggregates
TwinningSimple or multiple twinning parallel to {100}
CleavagePerfect on {110}, intersecting at 56° and 124°
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness5–6
LusterVitreous
StreakPale brownish-grey
DiaphaneitySemitransparent
Specific gravity3.20–3.28
Optical propertiesBiaxial (−)
Refractive indexnα = 1.670–1.689 nβ = 1.690–1.741 nγ = 1.700–1.772
Birefringenceδ = 0.030–0.083
PleochroismStrong; X = yellow, yellow-brown; Y = red, red-brown; Z = deep brown, dark red-brown.
2V angle66–82°
References[2][3][4][5]

Kaersutite is a dark brown to black double-chain calcic titanium-bearing amphibole mineral with formula: NaCa2(Mg3Ti4+Al)(Si6Al2)O22(O)2.[6]

Ferro-kaersutite is the divalent iron-rich endmember of the kaersutite group, with the iron replacing magnesium in the structure.[7]

Kaersutite occurs as phenocrysts in alkalic volcanic rocks, in nodules of peridotite and gabbro in alkalic basalts, and in syenites, monzonites, and carbonatite tuffs. Mineral associations include titanian augite, rhoenite, olivine, ilmenite, spinel, plagioclase, and titanian pargasite.[2]

It was first described in 1884 and is named for Qaersut (formerly Kaersut), Umanq district in northern Greenland.[3]

References

[edit]
  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 "Kaersutite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  3. ^ a b http://www.mindat.org/min-2129.html Mindat: Kaersutite
  4. ^ http://www.webmineral.com/data/Kaersutite.shtml Webmineral data
  5. ^ "IMA Master List". Archived from the original on 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  6. ^ http://www.minsocam.org/msa/ammin/toc/Abstracts/2012_Abstracts/ND12_Abstracts/Hawthorne_p2031_12.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  7. ^ Ferro-kaersutite on Mindat