Mineral description : Vesuvianite

Vesuvianite crystal from Snösjön.

Vesuvianite crystal from Snösjön.

Mineral class	Silicates : Sorosilicates : Epidote - Vesuvianite group
Chemical formula	Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4
Crystal system	Tetragonal.
Habitus	Short striated prismatic crystals with a square cross section. Terminated by a foursided pyramide, often truncated by a pinacoide surface dominating the pyramide. Also common as massive aggregates.
Cleavage	Indistinct along the crystal, fracture uneven to conchoidal.
Hardness	6.5
Density	3.27-3.45
Color	Green to dark brow. Also exists in yellow, blue and purple. Translucent to transparent.
Streak	White
Luster	Vitreous.
Description
Occurance	In metamorphic limestones.
Associates	Grossular, Diopside, Wollastonite
Notes	Slightly pleocroic. Partly soluble in hydrochloric acid. Other names : Idocrase, Cyprine, Californite. Type locality : Mount Vesuvios, Italy.
Locations	A mineral with a number of localities in Sweden. Tennberget limestone quarry, Ludvika. Commonly as brownish black crystals. Hönsarvberget limestone quarry, Borlänge. Commonly as brownish black crystals. Torsbo mine, Finnmossen, Värmland. As druses of yellow crystals with magnetite crystals. Snösjön limestone quarry, Dalarna. As dark brownish green crystals with grossular, calcite and wollastonite.

To silicate index.

Mineral group index.

Main index.

If you have some questions, suggestions or comments you are welcome to write me a line or two.