Serendibite Mineral Data

Serendibite Mineral Data +

General Serendibite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ca2(Mg,Al)6(Si,Al,B)6O20

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 706.15 gm

Calcium 11.35 % Ca 15.88 % CaO

Magnesium 15.49 % Mg 25.68 % MgO

Aluminum 12.61 % Al 23.82 % Al₂O₃

Silicon 14.32 % Si 30.63 % SiO₂

Boron 0.92 % B 2.96 % B₂O₃

Oxygen 45.31 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 98.98 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Ca₂Mg_4.5Al_1.5Si_3.6Al_1.8B_0.6O₂₀

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1903

Locality:

Gangapitiya near Ambakotte, Ceylon. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Synonym:

ICSD 72936

PDF 29-343

Serendibite Image

Images:

Serendibite Phlogopite

Comments: Blue serendibite, with golden colored phlogopite, in white marble.
Location: Near Johnsberg, Warren County, New York, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Serendibite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.963:1:0.8306

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.043, b = 10.428, c = 8.662, Z = 2; alpha = 106.37°, beta = 96.02°, gamma = 124.4° V = 714.20 Den(Calc)= 3.28

Crystal System:

Triclinic - PinacoidalH-M Symbol ( 1) Space Group: P1

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.53(1), 2.56(0.8), 2.9(0.8),

Crystal Structure:

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Van Derveer D G , Swihart G H , Sen Gupta P K , Grew E S , American Mineralogist , 78 (1993) p.195-203, Cation occupancies in serendibite: A crystal structure study, Sample from Johnsburg, New York, Displacement parameters obtained from ICSD

Physical Properties of Serendibite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Blue, Blue green, Gray blue, Light yellow, Dark blue.

Density:

3.4

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to translucent

Habit:

Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.

Habit:

Twinning Common - Crystals are usually twinned.

Hardness:

6-7 - Orthoclase-Quartz

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Serendibite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.013 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.051 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2144,KPDmeas= 0.2069,KC= 0.2041

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.701, b=1.703, g=1.706, bire=0.0050, 2V(Calc)=80, 2V(Meas)=80. Dispersion strong, r < v.

Pleochroism (x):

yellow or green.

Pleochroism (y):

yellow or green.

Pleochroism (z):

blue or blue.

Calculated Properties of Serendibite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.37 gm/cc
note: r_Serendibite=3.40 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.02437
Boson Index = 0.97563

Photoelectric:

PE_Serendibite= 2.67 barns/electron
U=PE_Serendibite x r_electron= 9.01 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Serendibite is Not Radioactive

Serendibite Classification

Dana Class:

69.2.1a.6 (69)Inosilicate Chains with Side Branches or Loops

(69.2)with P>2

(69.2.1a)Aenigmatite and related species (Aenigmatite subgroup)

69.2.1a.1 Aenigmatite Na2Fe5TiSi6O20 P1 1

69.2.1a.2 Dorrite Ca2Mg2Fe4(Al,Fe)4Si2O20 P1,P 1 Tri

69.2.1a.3 Hogtuvaite (Ca,Na)2(Fe,Fe,Ti,Mg,Mn)6(Si,Be,Al)6O20 P1 1

69.2.1a.4 Krinovite NaMg2CrSi3O10 P1 1

69.2.1a.5 Rhonite Ca2(Mg,Fe,Fe,Ti)6(Si,Al)6O20 P1 1

69.2.1a.6 Serendibite Ca2(Mg,Al)6(Si,Al,B)6O20 P1 1

69.2.1a.7 Welshite Ca2Mg4(Mn,Fe)Sb2O2[Si3Be2O18] P1 1

69.2.1a.8 Wilkinsonite Na2Fe4Fe2Si6O20 P1 1

69.2.1a.9 IMA2002-009a! Ca2Fe4FeTiSi4BeAlO20 P1 1

Strunz Class:

VIII/F.14-60 VIII - Silicates

VIII/F - Inosilicates (chain and band) modified double chains

VIII/F.14 - Aenigmatite group

VIII/F.14-10 Krinovite NaMg2CrSi3O10 P1 1

VIII/F.14-20 Aenigmatite Na2Fe5TiSi6O20 P1 1

VIII/F.14-30 Wilkinsonite Na2Fe4Fe2Si6O20 P1 1

VIII/F.14-35 Hogtuvaite (Ca,Na)2(Fe,Fe,Ti,Mg,Mn)6(Si,Be,Al)6O20 P1 1

VIII/F.14-40 Dorrite Ca2Mg2Fe4(Al,Fe)4Si2O20 P1,P 1 Tri

VIII/F.14-50 Rhonite Ca2(Mg,Fe,Fe,Ti)6(Si,Al)6O20 P1 1

VIII/F.14-60 Serendibite Ca2(Mg,Al)6(Si,Al,B)6O20 P1 1

VIII/F.14-70 Welshite Ca2Mg4(Mn,Fe)Sb2O2[Si3Be2O18] P1 1

Other Serendibite Information

References:

NAME( Ford32) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Ford32)

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Serendibite

Ca2(Mg,Al)6(Si,Al,B)6O20
Dana No: 69.2.1a.6 Strunz No: VIII/F.14-60
Locality:

Notes: