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Stichtite

Hydrotalcite group mineral


Hydrotalcite group mineral

FieldValue
boxbgcolor#d177dfname = Stichtite
boxtextcolor#fff
imageStichtite- Lizardite.jpg
captionStichtite on serpentine, Dundas, Tasmania
categoryCarbonate minerals
formulaMg6Cr2CO3(OH)16·4H2O
IMAsymbolStt
strunz5.DA.50
systemTrigonal
classHexagonal scalenohedral (m)
H-M symbol: ( 2/m)
symmetry*R*m
unit cella = 6.19, c = 46.47 [Å]; Z = 3
colourLilac to rose-pink
habitFibrous to platy aggregates
cleavagePerfect on {0001}
tenacityflexible, not elastic
mohs1.5–2
lustreWaxy to resinous
streakVery pale lilac to white
diaphaneityTransparent
gravity2.16
opticalpropUniaxial (+)
refractivenω = 1.516 nε = 1.542
birefringenceδ = 0.026
pleochroismWeak; O = dark rose-pink to lilac E = light rose-pink to lilac
references

H-M symbol: ( 2/m) | length fast/slow =

Stichtite is a mineral, a carbonate of chromium and magnesium; formula Mg6Cr2CO3(OH)16·4H2O. Its colour ranges from pink through lilac to a rich purple colour. It is formed as an alteration product of chromite-containing serpentine. It occurs in association with barbertonite (the hexagonal polymorph of Mg6Cr2CO3(OH)16·4H2O), chromite and antigorite.

Discovered in 1910 on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia, it was first recognised by A.S. Wesley a former chief chemist with the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, it was named after Robert Carl Sticht the manager of the mine.

It is observed in combination with green serpentine at Stichtite Hill near the Dundas Extended Mine, Dundas – east of Zeehan, as well as on the southern shore of Macquarie Harbour. It is exhibited in the West Coast Pioneers Museum in Zeehan. The only commercial mine for stichtite serpentine is located on Stichtite Hill. Stichtite has also been reported from the Barberton District, Transvaal; Darwendale, Zimbabwe; near Bou Azzer, Morocco; Cunningsburgh, the Shetland Islands of Scotland; Langban, Varmland, Sweden; the Altai Mountains, Russia; Langmuir Township, Ontario and the Megantic, Quebec; Bahia, Brazil; and the Keonjhar district, Orissa, India.

It is sometimes used as a gemstone.

File:Stichtite on serpentine Basic hydrous magnesium chromate and carbonate New Amianthus Mine Transvaal South Africa 1623.jpg|Stichtite on serpentine, New Amianthus Mine, Transvaal South Africa

References

References

  1. Warr, L.N.. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine.
  2. [http://rruff.info/doclib/hom/stichtite.pdf Stichtite data in the Handbook of Mineralogy]
  3. [http://www.mindat.org/min-3784.html Stichtite on Mindat.org]
  4. [http://webmineral.com/data/Stichtite.shtml#.U590bfldXfI Stichtite data on Webmineral.com]
  5. Tasmania Department of Mines, Geological Survey Record Number 9 ''Catalogue of the Minerals of Tasmania''. Revised edition 1970, page 96
  6. "Stichtite gemstone information".
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