Baghdadite

Formula:  Ca3(Zr,Ti)Si2O9

Origin of name:  After locality; Baghdad, Iraq

 

Crystal system:  Monoclinic

Crystal class:  2/m

Twinning: Contact twins, individuals having [010] in common

Unit cell: a = 7.36 Å, b = 10.177 Å, c = 10.451 Å, b = 90.87° (some report a as c and c as a)

 

Colour:  Colourless

Diaphaneity: Transparent

Luster:  Vitreous

Habit:  Microscopic grains, stumpy prismatic

Hardness:  6

Specific gravity:  3.46 to 3.48

Cleavage:  None

Tenacity:

Streak:

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments:  Slowly soluble in concentrated HCl. Shows dull gray with greenish tint cathodeluminescence. Found in melilite skarns in contact with diorite, in roof pendant xenoliths of calc-silicate marbles and hornfels.

 

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