Jun 11 2014
Cesanite was named after the place of its discovery: near Cesano, Italy.
Properties of Cesanite
The following are the key properties of cesanite:
- Cell Data
- Space group: P63/m
- a = 9.446(1)
- b = 6.895(1)
- Z = 2
- Crystal Data
- Hexagonal
- Point group: 6/m
- As rare, striated subhedral hexagonal prismatic crystals, to 1.5mm, exhibiting {1010}, {0111}, {0001}
- Commonly granular
- Twinning: On {1010}, uncommon
- X-ray powder pattern: 2.727 (100), 3.448 (87), 1.844 (71), 3.896 (66), 2.822 (60), 2.636 (49), 2.269 (47)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
| SO3 |
52.6 |
| Na2O |
23.3 |
| CaO |
18.9 |
| H2O |
2.91 |
| SrO |
0.72 |
| Cl |
0.44 |
| F |
0.25 |
| K2O |
0.21 |
| -O = (F, Cl)2 |
0.21 |
| Total |
99.12 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical class: Uniaxial (-)
- ω = 1.570(2)
- ε = 1.564(2)
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 2.77 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of cesanite = 2.79 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PE Cesanite = 3.26 barns/electron
U = PE Cesanite x ρ electron density = 9.04 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.0020291221
Boson index = 0.9979708779 |
Radioactivity
|
Cesanite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Cesanite
Cesanite can be identified in the field by its white color. It is sometimes colorless. Its transparent form has a white streak.
The density of cesanite is 2.786 g/cm3, with a hardness of 2 to 3 - between gypsum and calcite.
Global Distribution
Cesanite is distributed mainly in Italy, from a drill core at the edge of the Baccano caldera, Cesano geothermal field, east of Lake Bracciano, Lazio.
Occurrence of Cesanite and Useful Mineral Association
Cesanite occurs as vein and cavity fillings in brecciated rock in an active geothermal field.
It is often associated with minerals such as gorgeyite, glauberite, gypsum, pyrite, anhydrite, aphthitalite, and kalistrontite.
References