| Zunyite | |
| Category: | Sorosilicates |
| Formula: | Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl |
| Imasymbol: | Znu[1] |
| Strunz: | 9.BJ.55 |
| System: | Isometric |
| Class: | Hextetrahedral (3m) H-M symbol: (3m) |
| Symmetry: | F3m |
| Unit Cell: | a = 13.8654 - 13.8882 Å; Z = 4 |
| Habit: | Crystalline - occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals |
| Twinning: | On, contact and penetration |
| Cleavage: | Good on |
| Fracture: | Uneven |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Mohs: | 7 |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Refractive: | n = 1.592 - 1.600 |
| Opticalprop: | Isotropic |
| Streak: | White |
| Gravity: | 2.874(5) (meas.) 2.87 - 2.90 (calc.) |
| Diaphaneity: | Transparent to translucent with inclusions |
| Other: | May fluoresce red under UV |
| References: | [2] [3] [4] |
Zunyite is a sorosilicate mineral, Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl, composed of aluminium, silicon, hydrogen, chlorine, oxygen, and fluorine.
Zunyite occurs in highly aluminous shales and hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks. It occurs in association with pyrophyllite, kaolinite, alunite, diaspore, rutile, pyrite, hematite and quartz.[2]
It was discovered in 1884, and named for its discovery site, the Zuni mine in the Silverton District, San Juan County, Colorado.[3]