Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Environs de Linopolis, Minas-Gerais, Brazil
SIZE : 17 x 8 x 5 cm

This sample of brazilianite is remarkable by its distribution of green crystals of centimetric size on an orthoclase white twinned according to the rule of Baveno.

If the crystals are not the largest known for this species, assemblage on an orthoclase twinned makes it an association of great quality,of which the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle acquired the most beautiful specimen.

It is a relatively recent discovery for this mineral. It comes from the Corrego Frio mine, close to Linopolis in the Minas Gerais province of Brazil. This mineral was acquired in 2008 and cannot be currently exposed.

Thanks to the 3D view, one can observe all the sides of this twinned orthoclase monocrystal and the many crystals of brazilianite.

Photography and 3D view: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Brazilianite

HISTORY : Named in honour of the country of its type-locality : Brazil

Species first described in 1945 by Pough and Henderson, American mineralogists

Type-locality: Conselheiro Pena, Minas Gerais, Brasil

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Na Al3 (PO4)2 (OH)4
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Yellow
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Isolated crystals or well-developped crystal aggregates, sometimes as spherules or rounded aggregates
HARDNESS : 5,5
DENSITY : 2,98

CHEMICAL CLASS : VII - Phosphates, arsenat
GROUP : Brazilianite - viitaniemite series
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 7/B.12
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 8.BK.05

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