Clinozoisite

Clinozoisite
Clinozoisite
General
Category	Mineral
Chemical formula	{Ca2}{Al3}[O|OH|SiO4|Si2O7]
Crystal symmetry	2/m - Prismatic
Identification
Color	colorless, green, gray, light green, yellow green
Crystal system	monoclinic
Cleavage	perfect on {001}
Fracture	irregular/uneven
Mohs scale hardness	7
Luster	vitreous
Streak	grayish white
Diaphaneity	transparent, translucent
Specific gravity	3.3 - 3.4

Clinozoisite is a mineral, a complex sorosilicate of calcium and aluminium and is usually a grey green colour.

Its formula is Ca₂Al₃[O|OH|SiO₄|Si₂O₇].

It was originally discovered in 1896 in Tyrol, Austria, and is so-named because of its resemblance to zoisite.

Forms a continuous solid solution series with substitution of Fe(|||) for Al(|||). Only the m3 site accepts Fe(III) readily.

References

• Mineral Handbook
• Mindat
• Webmineral data
• Nesse, William D., "Introduction to Mineralogy," (c)2000 Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-510691-1