Kinoite
| Kinoite | |
|---|---|
|
Dark-blue Kinoite from the Christmas Mine, Banner District, Gila County, Arizona USA. Size: 7.6x70x3.5 cm. | |
| General | |
| Category | Sorosilicate |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Ca2Cu2Si3O8(OH)4 |
| Strunz classification | 09.BH.10 |
| Crystal symmetry | 2/m - Prismatic |
| Unit cell |
a = 6.99Å, b = 12.88Å, c = 5.65Å β = 96.18° |
| Identification | |
| Color | Transparent deep blue |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Cleavage | excellent {010}, distinct {001} and {100} |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2½ |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 3.13 - 3.19 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (-) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.638 nβ = 1.665 nγ = 1.676 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.038 |
| Pleochroism | Strong |
| 2V angle | Measured: 68° , calculated: 64° |
| Dispersion | relatively weak |
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Kinoite (Ca2Cu2Si3O8(OH)4[1][2] or Ca2Cu2Si3O10·2H2O[3]) is a light blue copper silicate mineral. It is somewhat scarce. It has a monoclinic crystal system, vitreous luster, and is transparent to translucent. It can be found in the Santa Rita Mountains, the Christmas Mine at Christmas, Arizona and a few other copper mines. Kinoite is popular with mineral collectors. Kinoite was named upon its discovery in 1970 after the pioneer Jesuit missionary Padre Eusebio Kino who worked in Arizona, Sonora and Baja California.
References
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