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Serendibite

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Serendibite
A relatively sharp, vitreous black crystal of serendibite from Le Oo, in Mogok Township, measures: 16 x 13 x 8 mm
General
CategoryInosilicates
Formula
(repeating unit)
(Ca,Na)2(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)3[O2|(Si,Al,B)6O18]
IMA symbolSer[1]
Strunz classification9.DH.40
Dana classification69.2.1a.6
Crystal systemTriclinic
Crystal classPinacoidal (1)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP1
Identification
Colorpale yellow, blue-green, greyish blue, black
TwinningPolysynthetic on {0–11} is common
CleavageNone observed
FractureUncommon, conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness6.5 – 7
LusterVitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent, Translucent,Opaque
Specific gravity3.42 – 3.52 (measured) 3.47 (calculated)
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive index1.701 – 1.706
PleochroismVisible,strong, color: green, blue, yellow, light blue, bluegreen, light yellow
2V angleMeasured: 80°
Dispersionstrong
References[2][3]

Serendibite is an extremely rare silicate mineral that was first discovered in 1902 in Sri Lanka by Dunil Palitha Gunasekera and named after Serendib, the old Arabic name for Sri Lanka.

The mineral is found in skarns associated with boron metasomatism of carbonate rocks where intruded by granite. Minerals occurring with serendibite include diopside, spinel, phlogopite, scapolite, calcite, tremolite, apatite, grandidierite, sinhalite, hyalophane, uvite, pargasite, clinozoisite, forsterite, warwickite and graphite.[3]

Crystal from Mogok, Myanmar, size: 1 cm x 0.7 cm x 0.7 cm

See also

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References

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  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. ^ Serendibite: Serendibite mineral information on Mindat
  3. ^ a b "The Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2017-03-12.