Chesterite

Chesterite
Chesterite structure
General
Category Inosilicates (multiple chains)
Formula
(repeating unit)		 (Mg,Fe)17Si20O54(OH)6
Strunz classification 9.DF.05
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Crystal class Pyramidal (mm2)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group A21ma
Unit cell a = 18.61 Å, b = 45.3 Å,
c = 5.29 Å, V = 4,459.64 Å3; Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass 2,074.96 g/mol
Color Colorless, pink, brown
Cleavage (110) perfect
Mohs scale hardness 2-2.5
Luster Silky - pearly
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 3.23
Optical properties Biaxial negative
Refractive index α=1.617, β=1.632, γ=1.64
Birefringence δ = 0.023
Pleochroism weak, pink-brown
2V angle 70°
References [1][2][3][4]

Chesterite ((Mg,Fe)17Si20O54(OH)6) is a rare silicate mineral that can be compared to amphiboles, micas, and jimthompsonite.[2] Chesterite is named after Chester, Vermont, where it was first described in 1977.[5] The specific geologic setting within its origin is the Carleton talc quarry in Chester, Vermont.[3]

Chesterite has an orthorhombic crystal structure, which means it has three crystallographic axes of unequal length. All of the axes are perpendicular to each other. The stacking sequence for chesterite, which is found in micas, is very similar to orthopyroxenes and orthoamphiboles.[4][6] Chesterite is an anisotropic mineral; therefore, it allows light to travel through it at different velocities when viewed at different angles.[3] Chesterite is usually found in thin sheets within ultramafic rocks.[3]

A polytype of chesterite could be anthophyllite, which has a similar crystal structure.[6] Chesterite is used for research on stacking formations and symmetry point groups that could be possible polymorphs or polysomes of the amphibole-anthophyllite groups.[4] Chesterite has no direct usage, but some geologists or scientists generally classify it under the amphibole-anthophyllite group.

References

  1. ↑ Mineralienatlas
  2. 1 2 Ralph, Joylon and Ida, Chau. "Chesterite." http://www.mindat.org/min-997.html.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Chesterite Mineral Data." http://webmineral.com/data/Chesterite.shtml. Accessed 3 November 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Veblen, D.R. and Burnham, C.W. (1978) New biopyriboles from Chester, Vermont: II. The crystal chemistry of jimthompsonite, clinojimthompsonite, and Chesterite, and the amphibole-mica reaction. American Mineralogist, 63, 1053-1073.
  5. ↑ Konishi, Hiromi, Reijo, Alviola, and Buseck, Peter R. (2004) 2111 biopyribole intermediate between pyroxene and amphibole: Artifact or natural product? American Mineralogist, 89, 15-19.
  6. 1 2 Wyckoff, R.W.G. (1968) Crystal Structures (Second edition). 310-314 p. University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
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