Cafetite
| Cafetite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | oxide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (Ca,Mg)(Ti,Al)2O4(OH)2 |
| Strunz classification | 4.FL.75 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic, pseudo-orthorhombic |
| Space group | Monoclinic prismatic H-M symbol: (2/m) Space group: P 21/n |
| Unit cell | a = 31.34 Å, b = 12.14 Å, c = 4.97 Å; β= 90°; Z=12[1] |
| Identification | |
| Color | Pale yellow to colorless |
| Crystal habit | Elongated columnar to acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates |
| Cleavage | Prismatic |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 4-5 |
| Luster | Adamantine |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Semitransparent |
| Specific gravity | 3.28 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (–), 2V=58°, Dispersion very strong, r > v |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.95, nβ = 2.08, nγ = 2.11 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.16 |
| Pleochroism | none |
| 2V angle | Measured: 38° |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Cafetite is a rare titanium oxide mineral with formula (Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)2Ti4O12·4(H2O). It is named for its composition, Ca-Fe-Ti.[3]
It was first described in 1959 for an occurrence in the Afrikanda Massif, Afrikanda, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia.[2][1] It is also reported from the Khibiny and Kovdor massifs of the Kola Peninsula and from Meagher County, Montana, US.[2]
It occurs in pegmatites in a pyroxenite intrusion as crystals in miarolitic cavities. It occurs associated with ilmenite, titaniferous magnetite, titanite, anatase, perovskite, baddeleyite, phlogopite, clinochlore and kassite.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ a b c Mindat.org
- ^ a b Webmineral.com