Chrome chalcedony
Chrome chalcedony is a green variety of the mineral chalcedony, colored by small quantities of chromium. Its name is derived from Mutorashanga, a small ferrochrome mining town in Zimbabwe where the mineral was discovered in the 1950s.
| Chrome chalcedony | |
|---|---|
Zimbabwean chrome chalcedony (known locally as mtorolite). Scale is in centimetres. | |
| General | |
| Category | Oxide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Silica (SiO2) |
| Crystal system | Trigonal or monoclinic |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 60 g/mol |
| Color | Emerald green |
| Cleavage | Absent |
| Fracture | Uneven, splintery, conchoidal |
| Mohs scale hardness | 6–7 |
| Luster | Vitreous, dull, greasy, silky |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent |
| Specific gravity | Usually 2.60, sometimes greater than 2.62 |
It is most commonly found in Zimbabwe, where it is known as Mtorolite, Mtorodite, or Matorolite. It is also marketed using the trade name, Aquaprase.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.