What are the physical properties of spodumene?
Table of Contents
What are the physical properties of spodumene?
It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac kunzite (see below), yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite, prismatic crystals, often of great size….
| Spodumene | |
|---|---|
| Luster | Vitreous, pearly on cleavage |
| Streak | white |
| Specific gravity | 3.03–3.23 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (+) |
What makes biotite unique?
It is sometimes called “iron mica” because it is more iron-rich than phlogopite. It is also sometimes called “black mica” as opposed to “white mica” (muscovite). Biotite is the most ubiquitous ferromagnesian mineral occurring in most igneous and metamorphic rocks.
What are the optical properties of muscovite?
| Muscovite | |
|---|---|
| Diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 2.76–3 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (-) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.552–1.576 nβ = 1.582–1.615 nγ = 1.587–1.618 |
Is biotite isotropic or anisotropic?
Optical properties Basal sections of biotite in thin section are typically approximately hexagonal in shape and usually appear isotropic under cross-polarized light.
What is the luster of spodumene?
VitreousSpodumene / Luster
Is spodumene a fluorescence?
RF T5WKF7–Crystals of major industrial lithium ore spodumene showing red fluorescence in ultraviolet light (365 nm).
What are the optical properties of biotite?
Petrographic Data File
| Biotite | |
|---|---|
| Property | Value |
| Optic Orientation | Y=b Z^a = 0 – 9o X^c = 0 – 9o optic plane (010) |
| Refractive Indices alpha = beta = gamma = | 1.522-1.625 1.548-1.672 1.549-1.696 |
| Max Birefringence | 0.03-0.07 |
What is the description of biotite?
Definition of biotite : a generally black or dark green form of mica that is a constituent of crystalline rocks and consists of a silicate of iron, magnesium, potassium, and aluminum.
How does biotite and muscovite mica can be identified visually?
The mica minerals have one perfect cleavage that allows them to be broken into very thin sheets. This is very distinctive. Muscovite is clear, silvery, or coppery silver in color (depending on the thickness of the sample and presence of impurities) whereas fresh biotite is black.
What is the extinction angle of biotite?
Extinction angle is 0 to a few degrees from cleavage. Interference colors may range up to 2nd order red, but color of mineral may mask them. Often contains pleochroic halos around small included zircons. Biaxial (-), 2V= 0-25o .
What is the streak of biotite?
Biotite Physical Properties
| Chemical Classification | Dark mica |
|---|---|
| Color | Black, dark green, dark brown |
| Streak | White to gray, flakes often produced |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Diaphaneity | Thin sheets are transparent to translucent, books are opaque. |
What is the hardness of spodumene?
6.5 – 7Spodumene / Hardness (Mohs hardness scale)
What is the difference between spodumene and lithium?
Spodumene is a lithium mineral derived from pegmatite rock. Known for its high lithium content, spodumene is the most widely exploited mineral source of lithium. Other lithium-bearing pegmatite silicates include lepidolite and petalite.
What is the crystal structure of spodumene?
Monoclinic crystal systemSpodumene / Crystal system
What are the optical properties of mica?
Biotite Optical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Twinning | None |
| Optic Orientation | Y=b Z^a = 0 – 9o X^c = 0 – 9o optic plane (010) |
| Refractive Indices alpha = beta = gamma = | 1.522-1.625 1.548-1.672 1.549-1.696 |
| Max Birefringence | 0.03-0.07 |
What is the texture of biotite?
This rock is mostly composed of creamy-white feldspar and quartz, together with dark minerals, of which the most abundant is the dark mica biotite. The dark minerals are arranged in a streaky banding, giving the rock a gneissic texture.
What physical properties distinguish biotite from muscovite?
What is the major difference between biotite and muscovite?
The key difference between muscovite and biotite is that muscovite contains mainly potassium and aluminium, while biotite mainly contains potassium and magnesium. Muscovite and biotite are phyllosilicate minerals.
What is the cleavage of biotite?
| Physical Properties of Biotite | |
|---|---|
| Chemical Classification | Dark mica |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Diaphaneity | Thin sheets are transparent to translucent, books are opaque. |
| Cleavage | Basal, perfect |
What is the crystal system of biotite?
Biotite–K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(OH)2–is a dark, iron-rich mica that has a monoclinic crystal system. The octahedral layer is entirely occupied by Mg2+ and Fe2+ and the mineral is therefore trioctahedral, since all octahedra are occupied.
