This sample of datolite is white and transparent. It is associated with small gray crystals of chalcopyrite.
This sample comes from Charcas mines in Mexico. This specimen was offered to the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle by Pierre-Jacques Chiappero, who brought it back himself in November 1987.
It is kept in the reserves of the collections of the Muséum (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).
HISTORY : Name inspired from the Greek [dateishai] meaning "divide" and "λιθοσ" [lithos] meaning "stone" in reference to its fragile reaction to shock
Species described in 1806 by Jens Esmark (1763-1839), Norvegian professor of Mineralogy
Locality-type: Arendal, Norway
CHEMICAL FORMULA : Ca B SiO4 (OH) CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic COLOR : Colorless to white DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent LUSTER : Vitreous STREAK : White MORPHOLOGY : Small prismatic crystals HARDNESS : 5,0-5,5 DENSITY : 3
CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates GROUP : Datolite STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/B.29-10 STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.AJ.20
