tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30284224909821544772011-11-27T15:14:45.306-08:00Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14850796892102152975noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3028422490982154477.post-47052229739928441562007-03-15T07:51:00.000-07:002007-03-15T07:52:00.360-07:00<p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Astrophyllite is a rare titanium mineral found in some unusual granites and syenites. It produces a variable luster that can be nearly metallic in one specimen to vitreous in another. Its name translated means star sheets and probably is in allusion to the intergrown starlike aggregates that it can form. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong><u>PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:</u> </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Color is usually golden yellow or yellowish brown, but also greenish brown specimens are found. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Luster is vitreous or submetallic to metallic, can be pearly on cleavage surfaces. Transparency: crystals are translucent to opaque. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Crystal System is triclinic; </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Crystal Habits include small tabular or bladed crystals often grouped in starlike aggregates. Also found in lamellar massives. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Cleavage is perfect in one direction. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Fracture is uneven. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Hardness is 3. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Specific Gravity is 3.3 - 3.4 </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Streak is yellowish white. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Associated Minerals are quartz, feldspars, nepheline, micas and aegirine. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Other Characteristics: color is often patchy or heterogenous in distribution. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Notable Occurrences include Kola Penensula, Khibina, Russia; Colorado, USA and Mt St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. </strong> </span></em></span></strong></p><p><strong><span><em><span style="color:blue;"><strong>Best Field Indicators brittleness, cleavage, color, luster and localities. </strong></span></em></span></strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3028422490982154477-4705222973992844156?l=astrophyllite-casket-box.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Ivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14850796892102152975noreply@blogger.com0