Jun 5 2014
Aerinite was named after the Greek word for sky blue, due to the mineral’s distinctive color.
Properties of Aerinite
The following are the key properties of aerinite:
- Cell Data
- a = 14.690(15)
- b = 16.872(15)
- c = 5.170(15)
- β = 94° 45’
- Z = [2]
- Crystal Data
- Monoclinic
- As masses of cryptocrystalline fibers
- Earthy, compact
- X-ray powder pattern: 14.65 (100), 4.050 (80), 2.721 (75), 2.812 (50), 3.798 (35), 3.651 (35), 2.135 (35)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| SiO2 |
36.91 |
37.87 |
| H2O |
17.79 |
15.45 |
| Al2O3 |
17.20 |
18.64 |
| CaO |
12.03 |
11.93 |
| Fe2O3 |
7.31 |
- |
| FeO |
3.47 |
7.00 |
| MgO |
3.15 |
6.00 |
| CO2 |
2.30 |
- |
| Na2O |
0.27 |
2.70 |
| P2O5 |
0.71 |
- |
| K2O |
0.04 |
0.12 |
| MnO |
0.10 |
- |
| TiO2 |
trace |
- |
| Total |
101.28 |
99.71 |
- Optical Properties
- Semi-transparent
- Optical class: Biaxial (-)
- Pleochroism: Intense; X = bright blue; Z = pale beige
- α = 1.510(5) ; β = 1.560(5) ; γ = 1.580(5)
- 2V(calc.) =63°
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 2.50 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Aerinite = 2.48 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEAerinite = 4.27 barns/electron
U = PEAerinite x ρ electron density = 10.69 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.01
Boson index = 0.99 |
| Radioactivity |
Aerinite is not radioactive |
How to Identify Aerinite
Aerinite can be identified in the field by its color variations, such as blue, blue-green, and sky-blue. It is translucent and fibrous. This mineral has a metallic luster with shining black streak.
The density of aerinite is 2.48 g/cm3, with a hardness of 3 – approximate to calcite.
Global Distribution
Aerinite is distributed in the following places:
- Spain - At Caserras, Juseu, and Estopinan, Huesca Province; Tartaren, Lerida Province
- Morocco - At Ourika
- France - From Saint-Pandelon, Landes
- USA - From the Gunsight Mountains, Pima Co. Arizona
Occurrence of Aerinite and Useful Mineral Association
Aerinite occurs in a hydrothermal mineral of the zeolite facies, formed at relatively low temperature, in fractures cutting macigneous rocks.
It is often associated with minerals such as prehnite, scolecite, and mesolite.
References