Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Mont Malosa, District de Zomba, Malawi
SIZE : 13 x 4.5 x 4 cm

This is an isolated crystal of aegirine. The crystal is dark green nearly black. It is clearly terminated and measures 13 x 4.5 x 4 cm.

This aegirine comes from Malosa Mountain in Malawi and was acquired by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle thanks to support from Total.

It is kept today in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Aegirine

HISTORY : Name inspired by Aegir, god of the Sea in the Scandinavian mythology. The first samples discovered come from Norway.

Species first described in 1835 by Jöns Jacob Berzélius (1179-1848), Swedish chemist

Type-locality: Rundemyr, Buskerud, Norvège et Skadön, Larvik, Norway

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Na (Fe3+) Si2O6
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Deep to redish brown, black
DIAPHANIETY : Translucent to opaque
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : Yellowish gray
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals
HARDNESS : 6
DENSITY : 3,576

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Pyroxen
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/F.1-140
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.DA.25

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Aegirine

Aegirine

MNHN N°206.78

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