| Klöchite | |
| Category: | Osumilite |
| Formula: | K◻2(Fe2+Fe3+)Zn3[Si12O30] |
| Imasymbol: | Klö |
| Strunz: | 9.CM.05 9 : SilicatesC : CyclosilicatesM : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered double rings |
| System: | Hexagonal |
| Class: | 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal |
| Symmetry: | P6/mcc |
| Unit Cell: | a = 10.120 Å, c = 14.298 Å |
| Color: | Blue, Bright Orange |
| Cleavage: | None Observed |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Refractive: | nω = 1.594 nε = 1.590 |
| Opticalprop: | Uniaxial negative |
| Gravity: | 3.007 |
| Density: | 3.007 g/cm3 |
| References: | [1] [2] |
Klöchite is a cyclosilicate mineral of the Osumilite Group, found in a basalt quarry in Klöch, Austria. The basalt quarry it was found in is part of the Styrian Basin Volcanic Field in south-eastern Austria. Klöchite was found to be hosted in a xenolith primarily composed of quartz, sanidine, and diopside. Very few vesicles in the xenolith held Klöchite crystals, and only two samples were taken for study.[1]
Klöchite was found at the Klöch volcano in south-east Austria. The town of Klöch has a basalt mine, where a SiO2-rich xenolith protrudes. Small vesicles in the xenolith are found to host titanite, enstatite, forsterite, and other minerals including klöchite.[1] Klöchite has also been found in the town of Porto da Cruz, Madeira, Portugal, in a gabbro outcrop.[2]
Klöchite is seen as a flattened, hexagonal crystal. It has a maximum thickness of 0.01 mm and diameter of 0.3 mm. Due to a limited amount of samples, the streak and hardness were not determined for Klöchite.[1]
Klöchite has a blue coloring, with a vitreous luster. It is also found to be translucent and is not fluorescent.[2]
| Element | wt% | Range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si | 29.29 | 28.84 - 29.55 | |
| Zn | 14.91 | 14.16 - 15.81 | |
| Fe | 8.46 | 7.89 2 - 8.79 | |
| K | 2.64 | 2.53 - 2.67 | |
| Mn | 1.31 | 1.22 2 - 1.39 | |
| Na | 1.09 | 0.88 - 1.51 |
Limited samples of Klöchite mean that powder x-ray diffraction was not able to be performed, but the group of scientists who discovered the mineral performed a simulated powder diffraction. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was carried out, and the space group P6/mcc was determined from the intensity and absences in the data. The simulated diffraction was compared to x-ray diffraction data of milarite group mineral darapiosite. Klöchite's crystal structure has a silicate tetrahedral ring structure like other cyclosilicates, with iron cation octahedra and zinc atoms connecting the silicate rings.[1] [2]