Clinozoisite
Clinozoisite is just a member that is rare of Epidote band of minerals that includes Allanite, Clinozoisite, Epidote, Piemontite, Tanzanite, Thulite and Zoisite. Clinozoisite is present in a few places through the entire global world but treasure quality crystals are rare. Most likely the best source that is current the Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan. Crystals using this supply are tiny and usually greatly included, but have actually beautiful olive green, greenish yellow to golden colors which can be yellow. Gems are also often small and reasonably included.
Distribution: a mineral that is widespread. Typical occurrences for good crystals include: from Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan. At the Goslarwand, near Prägraten, Tirol, Austria. From Vernirovice, Czech Republic. At Kälviä, Finland. From Arendal, Norway. At Camaderry Mountain, County Wicklow, Ireland. From Amborompotsy, Madagascar. At Sittampundi, Madras, India. In america, from the Belvidere Mountain quarries, Lowell, Orleans County, Vermont; in northern Spade Spring Canyon, Los Angeles County, California; in the Nightingale district, Pershing County, Nevada. In Mexico, from the Juarez district, Baja California, and at Alamos, Sonora. In Canada, from Timmins, Ontario.
| Category: | Sorosilicates |
| Epidote group | |
| Chemical Formula: | Ca2Al3Si3O12(OH) |
| Calcium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide | |
| Molecular Weight: | 454.36 gm |
| Composition: | Calcium | 17.64 % | Ca | 24.68 % | CaO |
| Aluminum | 17.82 % | Al | 33.66 % | Al2O3 | |
| Silicon | 18.54 % | Si | 39.67 % | SiO2 | |
| Hydrogen | 0.22 % | H | 1.98 % | H2O | |
| Oxygen | 45.78 % | O | |||
| 100.00 % | 100.00 % | = TOTAL OXIDE |
| Crystallography: | Monoclinic – Prismatic |
| Crystal Habit: | Crystals prismatic, typically elongated and striated; commonly coarse to fine granular; also fibrous. Twinning: Lamellar, uncommon. |
| Twinning: | Lamellar on {100}, uncommon |
| Cleavage: | Perfect on {001} |
| Fracture: | Irregular/Uneven |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 6.5 |
| Density: | 3.21 – 3.38 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | Not Fluorescent |
| Radioactivity: | Not Radioactive |
| Color: | Colorless, pale Yellow to Golden Yellow, Yellowish Green, Green, Gray, Pink, Red; Colorless in thin section |
| Transparency: | Transparent to Translucent |
| Luster: | Vitreous (glassy) |
| Refractive Index: | 1.670 – 1.735 Biaxial ( + ) |
| Birefringence: | 0.006 – 0.011 |
| Dispersion: | r > v or r < v |
| Pleochroism: | None |
