Chemistry:Piemontite

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Piemontite
Piémontite.jpg
Piémontite from the type locality: Prabornaz Mine, Italy
General
CategorySorosilicates
Epidote
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca
2
(Al,Mn3+,Fe3+)
3
(SiO
4
)(Si
2
O
7
)O(OH)
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/m
Identification
ColorReddish-brown, reddish-black
Crystal habitSlender prismatic, blocky to massive
TwinningOn [100] uncommon
Cleavage[001] good, [100] distinct
FractureUneven to splintery
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness6 – 6.5
|re|er}}Vitreous
StreakRed
DiaphaneityTranslucent to nearly opaque
Density3.46 – 3.54
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+) 2V = 64–106
Refractive indexnα = 1.725 – 1.756 nβ = 1.730 – 1.789 nγ = 1.750 – 1.832
Birefringenceδ = 0.025 – 0.076
PleochroismVisible
Dispersionr>v very strong
References[1][2][3]

Piemontite is a sorosilicate mineral in the monoclinic crystal system with the chemical formula Ca
2
(Al,Mn3+,Fe3+)
3
(SiO
4
)(Si
2
O
7
)O(OH)
.[1] It is a member of the epidote group.[3]

Red to reddish-brown or red-black in color, piemontite has a red streak and a vitreous lustre.[3] Manganese (Mn3+) causes the red color.[5]

The type locality is the Prabornaz Mine, in Saint-Marcel, Aosta Valley, Italy.[3]

It occurs metamorphic rocks of the greenschist to amphibolite metamorphic facies and in low-temperature hydrothermal veins in altered volcanic rocks. It also occurs in metasomatized deposits of manganese ore. Associated minerals include: epidote, tremolite, glaucophane, orthoclase, quartz and calcite.[1]

Piemontite on quartz, from No. 5 shaft, Messina mine, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Red piemontite microcrystals cover three sides of a doubly terminated quartz crystal. Size: 7.1 × 3.0 × 2.6 cm.

References