Phenakite

Formula: Be2SiO4

Origin of name: from Greek for deceiver

 

Crystal system: hexagonal

Crystal class: -3

Twinning: about [0001] axis, penetration

Unit cell: a = 12.47 Å, c = 8.25 Å

 

Colour: colourless, yellow, pink, pinkish red, brown, bluish

Diaphaneity: 

Luster: vitreous

Habit: crystals rhombohedral, prismatic or sometimes long prismatic to acicular, granular, acicular columnar aggregates

Hardness: 7.5 to 8

Specific gravity: 2.93 to 3.0

Cleavage: 2; {11-20} distinct, {10-11} imperfect

Tenacity: conchoidal, brittle

Streak: 

 

Synonyms/varieties: phenacite

 

Comments: 

 

Back to Alphabetical list Colour photos Thin sections SEM images TEM images vibrational spectra description IR spectra Raman spectra N-IR spectra F-IR spectra IES spectra