MINEROLOGY

MONTICELLITE CaMgSiO4

• Nesosilicates
• Optically Negative (ꜫ > ω)
• Crystallizes in Orthorhombic symmetry
• The structure of monticellite is essentially the same as that of the
(Mg,Fe)-olivines, with an expanded unit cell due to the replacement
of half of the (Mg,Fe) by Ca.
• Members
• Monticellite CaMgSiO4
• Kirschsteinite CaFeSiO4
MONTICELLITE CaMgSiO4
• Monticellite is commonly found in nature. However, kisrchstinite
• is only produced in laboratory.
• Mg- rich kirschstinite is described from melilite nephlinite lava.

• Physical and optical properties

• Monticellite resemble in properties with olivine but
• Low in bireferengence (ρ).
• Also resembles with diopside (CaMgSi2O6) but
• Monticellite are optically negative and have large 2V angle.
MONTICELLITE CaMgSiO4
• Kirschstinite having Fe, possesses high Refractive index and high
birefringence, but low 2V angle.
• Color: colorless – grey;
• Colorless in thinsection
• Paragenesis:
• They are produced in metamorphosed and metasomatised siliceous
dolomitic limestone.
• Dolomitic limestine intruded by siliceous melt
Metasomatism Skarns Monticellites.
• Also found in ultabasic rocks (Kimberlites).
HUMITE GROUP
• Nesosilicate
• Biaxial Mineral
• Optically positive
• Orthorhombic and Monoclinic Symmetry
• Members:
• Similar in composition with Forsterite
• Norbergite: Mg(OH)2. Mg2SiO4 Orthorhombic
• Chondrodrite: Mg(OH)2. 2Mg2SiO4 Monoclinic
• Humite: Mg(OH)2. 3Mg2SiO4 Orthorhombic
• Clino-Humite: Mg(OH)2. 3Mg2SiO4 Monoclinic
HUMITE GROUP
• Fero-magnesium replacement is very rare
• Fe Al (very Rare)
• In monoclinic varieties TiO2 can be present up to 5.6 wt.% Titanium
Chondrodite.
• Unusuall high amount of Mn is also present
• Alleghanite Mn analogue of Chondrodite
• Leucophonicite Mn analogue of Humite
• Sonolite Mn analogue of clino-humite.
HUMITE GROUP
• Physical and Optical properties:
• Refrective indices and densites increases from humite to Clino-
humite, due to increasing atoms.
• Colorless- Faintly colored
• Color may be mistaken by olivine but olivine is highly birefringent.

• Paragenesis:
• Mainly related with metamorphism
• Formed by metamorphism/ Metasomatisam of carbonate rocks.
• Also found in skarns around acidic plutons.
GARNET GROUP
• Neso-silicate
• All the members are cubic and isotropic (that
have the same properties in all directions).
• General Formula:
X3 Y2 Z3 O12
X= Divalent (Mg+2 , Fe+2 , Mn+2 )
Y=Trivalent (Al, Fe+2 , Mn+3 )
Z= Mostly Si, but sometime P.
Garnet may be divided into two series;

A. Pyralspite: B. Ugrandite:

• Pyrope: • Grasular:
Mg3 Al2 Si3 O12 Ca3 Al2 Si3 O12
• Almandine: • Andradite:
Fe3 Al2 Si3 O12
Ca3 Fe2 Si3 O12
• Spesertine:
• Uvarovite :
Mn3 Al2 Si3 O12
Ca3 Cr2 Si3 O12
 Chemistry of Garnet
• Theoretically Garnet group must contain 16
end members, but they have not been found
yet.
• Only those listed above are known.
PYROPE:
• Contain 75 to 80 % of Mg3 Al2 Si3 O12
• Chromium content is generally low i-e Cr3 O3 =
3-8 w.t% called chrome pyrope.
Alteration products: Hornblende, Plagioclase,
Magnetite
Chemistry of Garnet
ALMANDINE:
Most common in term of
occurrence.
Fe3 Al2 Si3 O12 – Also
contain Pyrope and
Spesertine.
It also show zoning But
difficult to recognized.
Alteration Product:
Green Chlorite
Chemistry of Garnet
SPESERTINE:
Mn3 Al2 Si3 O12 – 97% Pure
3% - Almandine + Grasular
Yittrium can also be present in
Spesertine
Y2O3 (yittrium Oxide): 2W.t%
Ogrinal color is Pink but due to
surface altraion mineral show black
coating ( MgO or Mg(OH)2 ).
Chemistry of Garnet
UGRANDITE:
GRASULAR: Ca3 Al2 Si3 O12
• Fairly pure , contain some andradite and
spesertine.
• No intermediate member between
grassular and hydrograssular.
• Chromian grassular give green color;
mistaken as uvarovite.
Chemistry of Garnet
• ANDRADITE: Ca3 Fe2 Si3 O12
• 90% pure, contain Grassular and spersetine.
• Formed by metamsomatic processes in skarns
• Also occurs in alkaline igneous rocks, where it contain
Titanium.
• Ti subsitiute for Fe+3
• TiO2 = 1 to 5% Melanite
• TiO2 = 20% Schorlomite
• zirconium bearing variety of andradite (Ca3 Zr2 Al2 Si3 O12 )
Kimzeyite.
• Vanadiferous (containing Vandium) variety is also reported
called Goldmanite.
Chemistry of Garnet
• UVAROVITE: Ca3 Cr2 Si3 O12
• Occurance is associated with grassular and andradite.
• Rare garnet due to presence of chromium.
HYDROGRASSULAR:
Hydrograssular is derived as ;
Grassula 3CaO.Al 2O3.3SiO2
Hibschite 3CaO.Al 2O3.6H2O
Hydrograssular 3CaO.Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O

Generally
Ca3 Al2(SiO4)3-m (OH)4-m
Where; 1 ≤ m > 0
Physical and Optical Properties
• Garnet group is thought to be isotropic, but
its not so for all the members
• pyrope + Almandine – isotropic
• Spesertine – weakly Anisotropic
• Ugrandites – anisotropic; Particularly the
larger crystals.
• zoning and twinning is also present in
ugrandites
• Andradite forming in metamorphic skarns
depoistes particularly show zoning.
• Color is variable due to variable composition.
Physical and Optical Properties
• PYROPE: pinkish color in hand specimen.
• ALMANDINE: Deep red – brownish black in hand
specimen.
Colorless to pinkish in thin section.
• SPESERTINE: black, red, brown, in hand specimen
Pink/orange in thin section.
• GRASSULAR: Cr-bearing, vivd green color.
• Andradite: black brown in hand specimen
• Two Gem varieties;
• Demtoid: yellow-Green
• Topazolite: Honey yellow
• UVAROVITE: dark green in hand specimen
• Green in thin section.
Physical and Optical Properties
PARAGENESIS
• Garnet is especially characteristic of metamorphic rocks as well as found in
garnets, pigmatites and acidic volcanic rocks.
• As it is resistant to abrasion and chemical attack; therefore found in detrital
sediments.
PYROPE:
• Occurs in ultamafic rocks such as kimberlites and associated serpentinites.
• Sand and gravels derived from these ultabasic rocks.
• In kimberlites, it occurs as rounded, isolated megacryst or xenoiths.
• Also occurs in garnet peridotites, garnet pyroxinites.
• In eclogites, garnet vary in composition.
• Chrome-pyrope is the original mineral of kimberlites also occurs as intrusion in
diamond representing high pressure of formation.
PARAGENESIS
ALMANDINE:
Produced by metamorphism of argillaceous rocks.
It also show zoning in regions of progressive metamorphism
With increasing grade of metamorphism.
Chlorite Almandine
Break down of micas Almandine + K-feldspar
Staurolite + quartz Almandine + Kayanite/silliminte

its is also found in high grade metamorphic rocks call Granulite as Almandine Pyrope.
Almandine also occurs in contact aureoles containing white micas.
It is also reported from igneious rocks as pigmatites ( coarse particles) of Aplites ( in Ash).
In igneous rocks it may occurs as late stage mineral, xenocryst or primary equilibrium
mineral.
PARAGENESIS
• SPESERTINE:
• It is a rare garnet because
manganese is a trace element.
• Only the yttrium bearing garnet
Tephroite
( soesertine) is found in granatic
pigmatites as spesertine –
almandine garnet; thus vary rare
in nature.
• It also occurs in some skarn
Compact
deposits massive or
• Spesertine is also found in Mn-rich crystalline
dark green
assemblages, Tephroite and ephroite
rhodonite. with red
Rhodonite
.
PARAGENESIS
• GRASSULAR:
• Thermal/ Regional metamorphism if impure calcareous rocks ( calcareous
shale/ Marls).
• Metamorphism of amygdoloidal basalts. (visicles filled by other elements
are called amgydales; basalts having amygdales are called amygdoidal
basalts).
• It is a calcium rich silicate, may be found in Rhodingite, Jade ( Nephrite and
Jadite)
• Also occurs in association with serpentine, possibly resulting from the
alteration of anorthite.
PARAGENESIS
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26273
3024_Geological_controls_of_copper_gold_and_
silver_in_the_Serra_Geral_Group_Realeza_regio
n_Parana_Brazil/figures?lo=1
PARAGENESIS

These are small vesicles, only a millimeter or so across.The

greenish brown crystals are olivine. They should appear
olivine green, but it is difficult to get the color of the
olivine to photograph properly.
Jade is a commercial term encompassing green, white, black or yellow-brown material that consists either of Na-rich pyroxene
(jadeite) or prismatic to acicular amphiboles of the tremolite-actinolite series that form bundles that are randomly oriented
and interlocked (nephrite).
Read more at http://www.geologyin.com/2016/12/the-giant-nephrite-jade-road-in-canada.html#zZZkClEDxiUfSQvy.99
 Rhodonite with its characteristic matrix and fracture-filling of
Bright red Rhodonite crystals to 5mm in Galena
manganese oxide. This specimen from Humboldt County.

Rhodingite: a metasomatic rock; when an ulrabasic rock is intruded by a

basic dykes and basic dykes is made much more calci by ultration; the
product is rhodingite and grassular.
PARAGENESIS
• Andradite:
• Thermal/contact metamorphism of impure limestone calcareous rocks
and associated metasomatism.
• This involves the addation of Fe2O3 and SiO2
3CaCO3 + Fe2O3 + 3SiO2 → Ca3Fe2Si3O12 + 3CO2↑
If FeO also is introduced, hedenbergite may form from addation to andradite
and if insufficient silica is available, magnetite may result.
3CaCO3 + 2Fe2O3 + 2FeO + 5SiO2 → Ca3Fe2Si3O12 + CaFeSi2O6 + Fe3O4 +
4CO2↑
• (Ca3Fe2Si3O12 (Andradite) - CaFeSi2O6 (hedenbergite) - Fe3O4 (magnetite
skarn).
PARAGENESIS
• Andradite:
• It may aslo from by metasomatism associated with thermally
metamorphosed calcic igneous rocks e.g. Adesite
• The two gem varieties of andradite ; Demotoid and topazolite occurs in
serpentinite and chlorite schist.
• Ti rich andradite occurs in alkaline igneous rocks such as Nephline – syenite
and Ijolite (plutonic equivalent of the volcanic nephelinites) and Phonolite
(fine-grained volcanic igneous rock composed of alkali feldspars and
nepheline) and nephlinite ( volcanic).
• They are also known from skarns.
PARAGENESIS
UVAROVITE:
Least common garnet due to chromium.
Found in serpentinites associated with chromite.
Reported from metamosmatised carbonate rocks.

HYDROGRASSULAR:
Found in skarns and altered gabbros.
Also found in rhodingites.
 ALUMINO SILICATES
• Sillimanite – orthorhombic (+)
• Andalusite – orthorhombic (-)
• Kyanite – triclinic (-)
• Nesosilicates
• These three minerals are commonly used as index minerals in
metamorphic rocks. Each of these minerals occurs under different
temperature-pressure regimes, and they are therefore rarely found
together in the same rock. Because of this, the three minerals are a useful
tool in identifying the pressure-temperature paths of the host rock in
which they are found.
• The triple point of these three polymorphs is located at a temperature of
500 °C and a pressure of 0.4 GPa.
Chemistry of Alumino silicates
• SILLIMANITE
• Composition is close to Al2SiO5
• Common replacement ;
• Fe+3 ↔ Al
• Water is also reported where
sillimanite is found in fibrous mass
(entrapped water).
• The alteration product of sillimanite
are sricite, pyrophillite, kaolinite,
montmorillonite.
ALUMINO SILICATES
• Andalosite:
• Relatively pure Al2SiO5
• Fe+3, Mn ↔ Al+3
• Fe2O3 content ≈ 2w.t %
• A green variety of andalusite, viridine contains;
• Fe2O3 – 4.8 w.t%
• Mn2O3 - 19.6 w.t %
• if manganese replacement is too much, kanonite variety may form Al2SiO5 →
MnAlSiO5
• Andalusite alters to sericite, especially chiastolite variety, which contain
carbonaceous inclusion in which fluids can enter.
 CHIASTOLITE
ANDALUSITE WITH EPIDOTE

ANDALUSITE
KYANITE
like other alumino silicate it is close to
Al2SiO5
Fe+3 ↔ Al (very limited replacement)
Chromium is sometime present in
moderate amount
• Small amounts if Ti is aslo reported
due to inclusions of rutile (TiO2 )
• Kyanite may to the alteration product
of silliminite.
Physical and optical properties
SILLIMANITE
• White in hand specimen, colorless in thin section.
• High relief, high Birefringence.
• Positive elongation
ANDALUSITE:
• Squarish crystal in thin section.
• Fe variety is Pink and Mn variety is Green.
• Pleochroism similar to orthopyroxene but Orthopyroxine has high
birefringence and positive elongation.
Physical and optical properties
KYANITE:
• High relief than other two
• Blue – bluish white in hand specimen
• Colorless – Pale blue in thin section.
• Variable hardness (5.5 at one face and 7 at other face).
PARAGENESIS:
Silimanite:
• Found in high grade thermally/regionally metamorphosed peletic ( argellecious) rocks.
• Usually formed by the break down of micas.
• Relatively, temperature of formation of sillimanite in contact metamorphism is less than
that of regional metamorphism.
PARAGENESIS:
Adnalusite:
• Found commonly in peletic rocks in contact aureoles around igneous
intrusion.
• In regional metamorphism it occurs as andalusite cordierite schist ( fresh
formed schist or conversion of kyanite / sillimanite to that).
• May also formed in metamorphosed Mn-rich peletic rocks.
• Andalustie is fairly common detrital mineral in some sandstone.
• Andalusite rarely occurs in granites.
• Pseudomorphs of andalusite occurs in quartz veins in pigmatites; this
suggest the hydrothermal nature of andalusite.
PARAGENESIS:
KYANITE
• Formed as a result of metamorphism of peletic rocks; rarely Psammitic rocks
(a metamorphosed sedimentary rock with a dominantly sandstone protolith).
• Peletic : argelliceous
• Psammitic : Arenaceous
• Also found in eclogite and kyanite amphibolites
• Also found in “pegmatitic veins” which is probably quartz – kyanite
segregation ( because veins are hydrothermal which do not form at such high
temperatures).
• Kyanite is also common detrital grain/mineral in sedimentary rocks.