Smoky Quartz and Spessartine

UNB-2017-0235Minerals » Silicates

Description

Four samples, one is missing. The Three samples present are of orange/red euhedral/subhedral dodecahedron Spessartine crystals. Lustre is vitreous. One sample has three prismatic euhedral Smokey Quartz crystals that are terminated by double rhombohedrons with visible striations. Vitreous lustre. Largest Quartz crystal: 3.7 cm x 0.5 cm x 0.6 cm. Largest Spessartine crystal size: 0.7 cm x 0.7 cm x 0.5 cm. Spessartine (Mn3Al2Si3O12) is an aluminum silicate Garnet that can be brownish red, orange-red or hyacinth-red. Lustre is vitreous and streak is colourless. Hardness is 6 1/2 to 7 1/2. Garnet tends to occur as dodecahedrons or trapezohedrons but can also be granular, lamellar, compact or disseminated. Quartz (SiO2) can come in a variety of colours and when it is pale brown to black it is known as Smoky Quartz. Lustre is vitreous or greasy and hardness is 7. Quartz is usually prismatic, long or short, crystals that are terminated by double rhombohedrons and can have striations crosswise. Quartz can also be granular, massive or disseminated.

Specifications

Object nameSmoky Quartz and Spessartine
IDUNB-2017-0235
Legal statusPermanent collection
CategoryMineral
Classification
Mineral group:
Silicates
Composition
  • Ca2(Al,Fe)3(SiO4)3(OH)
  • (Al,Fe2+,Fe3+Li,Mg,Mn,Ni)5−6(Al,Fe3+,Si)4(O,OH)18
  • K(Fe,Mg)3AlSi3O10(OH)2
  • BaTiSi3O9
  • (Mg,Fe)2Al3(Si5AlO18)
  • (Ca,Fe,Mg)3Al2BO3Si4O12(OH)
  • Be3Al2(Si6O18)
  • MgSiO3
  • (Mg,Fe2+)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
  • Na2Fe2+5[Si12O30]
  • (Na,Ca)Fe3+Si2O6
  • NaFe3+Si2O6
  • NaFe3+Si2O6
  • A0-1B2C5T8O22(OH,F,Cl)2
  • (Al,Fe)SiO4
  • Various (e.g., Muscovite - KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2)
  • Al2Si2O5(OH)4
  • Be3Al2(Si6O18)
  • K(Li,Al)3(Al,Si,Rb)4O10(F,OH)2
  • NaAlSi2O6
  • Mg2Si2O6
  • Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4
  • Na15Ca6(Fe2+,Mn2+)3Zr3Si25O733(CO3)
  • CaMgSi2O6
  • CaFeSi2O6
  • Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH)
  • CaSiO3
  • Ca2(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)5(Si,Al)8O22(OH)2
  • (Ca,Na)19(Al,Mg,Fe)13(SiO4)10(Si2O7)4(OH,F,O)10
  • Na2AlSi3O8·H2O
  • Ca2(Mg5.0-4.5Fe2+0.0-0.5)Si8O22(OH)2
  • (Na,Ca)(Fe,Mg,Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3(Si6O18)(OH)4
  • Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH)
  • LiAlSi2O6
  • MnSiO3
  • (Mn,Fe)SiO3
  • ADSi2O6
  • Ca2Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)2·H2O
  • (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe)Si2O6
  • NaCa2Si3O8(OH)2H2O
  • LiAlSi4O10
  • NaAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
  • Mg2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2
  • D3[Si2O5](OH)4
  • Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
  • Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆
  • A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
  • (Mg,Al)8(Al,Si)6O20
  • SiO2 with variable amounts of water
  • KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2
  • Al2(SiO4)O
OriginUnknown
Pieces3
PartialNo
Measurements
  • 2cm x 4.2cm x 5cm
  • 1cm x 5cm x 4.2cm
  • 1cm x 11cm x 4.5cm
  • 1cm x 7.5cm x 6.7cm

Publications

  • Chesterman, C.W. 1979. Audubon Society, Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals. Knopf.