Celadonite (incl.)

Celadonite is named from the word that is french, for sea green, referring to its typical color. Celadonite is a known user for the Mica Group of minerals that also includes Lepidolite, Muscovite, Phlogopite and Polylithionite. Celadonite is usually a massive, fairly unattractive, mineral except when it’s included in other minerals. One example is zeolites being indian such as Heulandite, colored green by Celadonite inclusions. Possibly many example that is beautiful Celadonite included Quartz from Madagascar (as seen in the picture towards the top of this page). Quartz gems cut to show Celadonite phantom inclusions are particularily beautiful.

Massive Celadonite can be acquired from many localities global but gemmy types of Celadonite included Quartz are only known from Madagascar.

Chemical Formula: K(Mg,Fe2+)(Fe3+,Al)Si4O10(OH)2
Potassium Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide
Molecular Weight: 429.02 gm
Composition: Potassium 9.11 % K 10.98 % K2O
Magnesium 4.53 % Mg 7.52 % MgO
Aluminum 0.63 % Al 1.19 % Al2O3
Iron 14.32 % Fe 3.35 % FeO / 16.75% Fe2O3
Silicon 26.19 % Si 56.02 % SiO2
Hydrogen 0.47 % H 4.20 % H2O
Oxygen 44.75 % O
  100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

 

Crystallography: Monoclinic – Prismatic
Crystal Habit: Minute micaceous scales or earthy aggregates.
Twinning: None

 

Cleavage: Perfect on {001}
Fracture: Clay-like fractures with no visible crystalline affinities
Tenacity: Fragile; Friable to Unctuous
Moh’s Hardness: ~2.0
Density: 2.95 – 3.05 (g/cm3)
Luminescence: None
Radioactivity: Barely Detectable; GRapi = 130.24 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
   

 

Color: Blue-Green, Olive-Green, Apple-Green
Transparency: Translucent to Opaque
Luster: Earthy (Dull)
Refractive Index: 1.606 – 1.662  Biaxial ( – )
Birefringence: 0.0270
Dispersion: Moderate; r < v
Pleochroism: Visible; yellow-green, blue-green