Andalusite Archives - Cochise College Geology

Andalusite

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Chemical Group: Silicate

Chemical Formula: Al₂SiO₅

Color: Variable, white, gray rose-red, brown

Luster: Vitreous to dull Transparency: Translucent

Hardness: 7.5 Specific Gravity: 3.15 Streak: White

Cleavage: One direction

Crystal Forms and Habits: Orthorhombic system. Crystals are commonly prismatic with nearly square cross sections. Crystals are often rounded. Cross sections of crystals have carbonaceous inclusions in a cross-patter: variety chiastolite.

Mineral Associations: Found in contact metamorphic shales

Uses: Used in the manufacture of spark plugs.

USA occurrences:
California: Dalton, Madera County, White Mountain, Mono County
Massachusetts: Lancaster
New Hampshire: Mt. washington.

WORLD-WIDE occurrences:
South Africa
China
Brazil: Arrasuai, Minas Gerais
Australia: Broken Hill

Toxicity: When-swallowed: low When-inhaled: high

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Photos

Andalusite 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

andalusite-chiastolite-broken crystal — Andalusite – Chiastolite - Broken Crystal

Andalusite – Chiastolite - Polished Crystals with Cross Patterns

andalusite-chiastolite-gray crystal — Andalusite – Chiastolite - Gray Crystal

andalusite-chiastolite-brown crystal — Andalusite – Chiastolite - Brown Crystal

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