Virgilite

Formula: LiAlSi2O6

Origin of name: for Virgil Everett Barnes (1903-1998), professor of mineralogy, University of Texas, Austin, U.S.A.

 

Crystal system: Hexagonal

Crystal class: 622

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 5.132, c = 5.454

 

Colour: Colourless

Diaphaneity: Transparent

Luster: Vitreous

Habit: Rarely crystals hexagonal prisms with bipyramidal terminations, to 50 micron. As irregular rosette-shaped fibrous overgrowths on other minerals.

Hardness: 5.5 to 6

Specific gravity: 2.39 to 2.46

Cleavage: None

Tenacity: 

Streak: White

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments: 

 

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