Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Ohn Gaing, Mogok, Myanamar, Burma
SIZE : 1 x 0.8 et 1.3 x 1 cm

This inventory number brings together two crystals of sernedibite. They are black, striated and opaque, their shape is more or less rhombus. They measure 1 x 0.8 et 1.3 x 1 cm

These samples come from Mogok area in Burma. They have been acquired thanks to support from Total. It is kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Serendibite

HISTORY : Name derived from Ancient Arab "serendib" meaning Ceylan, old name of Sri Lanka

Species described in 1902 by George Prior (1862-1936), English mineralogist and Ananda Coomaraswamy (1877-1947), geologist and botanist Sri Lankais

Type-locality: Gangapitija, Ambakotte, Sri Lanka

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Ca2 (Mg,Al)6 (Si,Al,B)6 O20
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Blue-green to intense blue, green, brown
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to opaque
LUSTER : Vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Aggregates, seldomly small tabular crystals
HARDNESS : 6,5-7,0
DENSITY : 3,47

CHEMICAL CLASS : VIII - Silicates
GROUP : Aenigmatite-saphirine
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 8/F.14-60
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 9.DH.40

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Serendibite

Serendibite

MNHN N°206.243

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