Aegirine Explained

Aegirine
Category:Silicate mineral, pyroxene
Imasymbol:Aeg[1]
Molweight:231.00 g/mol
Strunz:9.DA.25
System:Monoclinic
Class:Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Symmetry:C2/c
Unit Cell:a = 9.658, b = 8.795
c = 5.294 [Å], β = 107.42°; Z = 4
Color:Dark Green, Greenish Black
Habit:Prismatic crystals may be in sprays of acicular crystals, fibrous, in radial concretions
Twinning:Simple and lamellar twinning common on
Cleavage:Good on, (110) ^ (10) ≈87°; parting on
Fracture:Uneven
Tenacity:Brittle
Mohs:6
Luster:Vitreous to slightly resinous
Refractive:nα = 1.720 – 1.778 nβ = 1.740 – 1.819 nγ = 1.757 – 1.839
Opticalprop:Biaxial (−)
Birefringence:δ = 0.037 – 0.061
Dispersion:moderate to strong r > v
Pleochroism:X = emerald green, deep green; Y = grass-green, deep green, yellow; Z = brownish green, green, yellowish brown, yellow
2V:Measured: 60° to 90°, Calculated: 68° to 84°
Streak:Yellowish-grey
Gravity:3.50–3.60
Diaphaneity:Translucent to opaque
References:[2] [3] [4] [5]

Aegirine is a member of the clinopyroxene group of inosilicate minerals. It is the sodium endmember of the aegirine–augite series. It has the chemical formula NaFeSi2O6, in which the iron is present as the ion Fe3+. In the aegirine–augite series, the sodium is variably replaced by calcium with iron(II) and magnesium replacing the iron(III) to balance the charge. Aluminum also substitutes for the iron(III). Acmite is a fibrous green-colored variety.

Aegirine occurs as dark green monoclinic prismatic crystals. It has a glassy luster and perfect cleavage. Its Mohs hardness varies from 5 to 6 and its specific gravity is between 3.2 and 3.4.This mineral commonly occurs in alkalic igneous rocks, nepheline syenites, carbonatites and pegmatites. It also appears in regionallymetamorphosed schists, gneisses, and iron formations; in blueschist facies rocks, and from sodium metasomatism in granulites. It may occur as an authigenic mineral in shales and marls. It occurs in association with potassic feldspar, nepheline, riebeckite, arfvedsonite, aenigmatite, astrophyllite, catapleiite, eudialyte, serandite and apophyllite.[2]

Localities include Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada; Kongsberg, Norway; Narsarssuk, Greenland; Kola Peninsula, Russia; Magnet Cove, Arkansas, US; Kenya; Scotland and Nigeria.

The acmite variety was first described in 1821, at Kongsberg, Norway,[6] and the aegirine variety in 1835 for an occurrence in Rundemyr, Øvre Eiker, Buskerud, Norway. Aegirine was named after Ægir, the Norse god of the sea.[3] A synonym for the mineral is acmite (from Greek ἀκμή "point, edge") in reference to the typical pointed crystals.[7]

It is sometimes used as a gemstone.[8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Warr. L.N.. 2021. IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine. 85. 3. 291–320. 10.1180/mgm.2021.43. 2021MinM...85..291W. 235729616. free.
  2. http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/aegirine.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. http://www.mindat.org/min-31.html Mindat
  4. http://webmineral.com/data/Aegirine.shtml Webmineral
  5. Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed.,
  6. Book: Dana, James Dwight . Manual of Mineralogy . 1855 . 1837 . 7th . Durrie & Peck . Philadelphia, PA.
  7. Acmite. 1. 149. y.
  8. Dictionary of Gems and GemologyBy Mohsen Manutchehr-Danai p.5