Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Goias State, Brazil
SIZE : 3.3 x 2.5 x 2 cm ; 3.5 x 2.5 x 1cm; 4.5 x 1.4 x 0.7 cm

These are 3 terminated plane-parallel crystals of kyanite (old name: disthen). They are blueish green and present one blue vertical line in the centre. They measure 3.3 x 2.5 x 2 cm; 3.5 x 2.5 x 1 cm and 4.5 x 1.4 x 0.7 cm.

They come from Gois State in Brazil. Acquired thanks to support from Total, they are currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle

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

SPECIE : Kyanite

HISTORY : Name derived by Greek "κυανοσ" [kyanos] meaning "blue", in reference to its most usual colour

Species described in 1789 by Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749-1817), German geologist from the Freiberg Mining Academy

Type-locality: unknown
ANCIENT NAME : Disthène

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Al2 [O,SiO4]
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Triclinic
COLOR : Blue, white, green, yellow or rose
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous to pearly
STREAK : Colourless
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic crystals, flattened
HARDNESS : 5,5-7,0
DENSITY : 3,67

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Sillimanite-andalousite-kyanite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/B.02-40
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.AF.05

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Kyanite

Kyanite MHNH N°195.34

MHNH N°195.34

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