May 24 2014
Hibschite is a member of the garnet group of minerals. It was first discovered in Marienberg, near Aussig, in Bohemia of Czechoslovakia.
The mineral was named after Professor Josef Emanuel Hibsch, of the German Agricultural Academy, in Tetschen, Czech Republic.
Properties of Hibschite
The following are the key properties of Hibschite:
- Cell Data
- Space Group: [Ia3d]
- a = 12.02-12.22
- Z = [8]
- Crystal Data
- Cubic
- Point Group: [4=m 3 2=m]
- As shells (up to 60μm thick) replacing andradite or other minerals
- X-ray Powder Pattern: 2.736 (s), 3.045 (ms), 2.227 (m), 1.984 (m), 3.263 (mw), 1.634 (mw), 4.994 (w)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| CaO |
37.00 |
39.83 |
| SiO2 |
27.30 |
21.24 |
| Al2O3 |
23.97 |
19.38 |
| H2O+ |
9.20 |
- |
| MgO |
2.01 |
0.92 |
| Fe2O3 |
0.30 |
4.08 |
| H2O- |
0.20 |
- |
| MnO |
0.19 |
- |
| H2O |
- |
[11.41] |
| SO3 |
- |
3.14 |
- Optical Properties
- Semi-transparent
- Color: Colorless or pale yellow
- Optical Class: Isotropic; may be anomalously biaxial
- n = 1.670-1.677
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 3.14 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Hibschite = 3.13 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEHibschite = 4.33 barns/electron
U = PEHibschite x ρElectron density = 13.61 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.0067
Boson index = 0.9932 |
Radioactivity
|
Hibschite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Hibschite
Hibschite is colorless or occurs in different colors - including pink, brown, pale gray, and white. It has vitreous luster, a transparent to translucent appearance, and white streak. Its fractures are conchoidal and are characterized by smooth curved surfaces. It can be formed as well-formed fine sized crystals.
The mineral has a density of 3.13 g/cm3 and a hardness of 6.5.
Global Distribution
Hibschite is distributed in the following places:
- Marianska Hora (Marienberg), near Usti nad Labem (Aussig), Czech Republic
- Aubenas, Ardeche, France
- Hatrurim Formation, Israel
- Nikortzminda, Caucasus Mountains, Georgia
- Bug River, locality not further specified, in Russia
- Crestmore, Riverside Co. California, USA
- Velardena, Durango, Mexico
- Tokatoka district, about 150km north of Auckland, New Zealand
Occurrence of Hibschite and Useful Mineral Association
Hibschite occurs in calcareous marls, low-grade metamorphosed marls, and zeolite-calcite rocks.
Afwillite, jennite, tobermorite, ettringite, portlandite, vaterite, aragonite, calcite, gypsum, tremolite, and quartz are the minerals that are closely related to hibschite.
References