Mineral K

KAEMMERERITE,

the chromium rich variety of clinochlore

 

VARIETY INFORMATION:

• VARIETY OF: clinochlore a chlorite, (Fe, Mg)3Fe3AlSi3O10(OH)8 Iron Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide.
• USES: Only as mineral specimens.
• COLOR: Bright lavender to deep crimson red.
• CRYSTAL SYSTEM: Monoclinic
• SPECIMENS

Kaemmererite, also spelled kammererite, is the chromium rich variety of clinochlore. Clinochlore is a member of a large group of minerals called chlorites. Most chlorites have a green color due to the iron and magnesium ions which are usually present. Kaemmererite however has small amounts of chromium in its structure and it is the chromium that colors the crystals of kaemmererite. Chromium is a very strong coloring agent and is responsible for strong colors in many different minerals. The lavender and the more common crimson red of kaemmererite are truly wonderful colors.

The crimson red color is similar to the slightly more purple color of erythrite which is colored by another strong coloring agent, cobalt. Erythrite's crystals are also similar to kaemmererite in that they are usually thin platy crystal aggregates. Erythrite's crystals are more pointed and have acute angles that are lacking on kaemmererite's crystals.

Kaemmererite is found at Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania and California, USA; Guleman, Turkey and elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

THE MINERAL KAOLINITE

 

• Chemistry: Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄, Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide
• Class: Silicates
• Subclass: phyllosilicates
• Groups: The Clays and The Kaolinite Group.
• Uses: In the production of ceramics, as a filler for paint, rubber and plastics and the largest use is in the paper industry to produce a glossy paper such as is used in most magazines.
• Specimens

Kaolinite, which is named for its type locality, Kao-Ling, Jianxi, China; is a common phyllosilicate mineral. It lends it name to the Kaolinite Group, members of which also belong to the larger general group known as the Clays. Kaolinite's structure is composed of silicate sheets (Si₂O₅) bonded to aluminum oxide/hydroxide layers (Al₂(OH)₄) called gibbsite layers. Gibbsite is an aluminum oxide mineral that has the same structure as these aluminum layers in kaolinite. The silicate and gibbsite layers are tightly bonded together with only weak bonding existing between these silicate/gibbsite paired layers (called s-g layers). The weak bonds between these s-g layers causes the cleavage and softness of this mineral. The structure is very similar to the Serpentine Group and at times the two groups are combined into a Kaolinite-serpentine Group.

Kaolinite shares the same chemistry as the minerals halloysite, dickite and nacrite. The four minerals are polymorphs; meaning they have the same chemistry, but different structures. All four minerals form from the alteration (mostly weathering) of aluminum rich silicate minerals such as feldspars. Kaolinite is by far the most common and most clay deposits contain at least some kaolinite. In fact, clay deposits will frequently be nearly 100% kaolinite pure!

Kaolinite is important to the production of ceramics and porcelain. It is also used as a filler for paint, rubber and plastics since it is relatively inert and is long lasting. But the greatest demand for kaolinite is in the paper industry to produce a glossy paper such as is used in most magazines.

 

 

 

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is usually white, colorless, greenish or yellow.
• Luster is earthy.
• Transparency: Crystals are translucent.
• Crystal System is triclinic; 1.
• Crystal Habits include foliated and earthy masses. Crystals of any size are quite rare, usually microscopic.
• Cleavage is perfect in one direction, basal.
• Fracture is earthy.
• Hardness is 1.5 - 2 (can leave marks on paper).
• Specific Gravity is 2.6 (average).
• Streak is white.
• Other Characteristics: Clay like properties when water is added.
• Associated Minerals include fluorite, microcline, pyrite, hemimorphite, augite, dickite, halloysite, montmorillonite, quartz, muscovite and other clays.
• Notable Occurrences are spread around the world including the type locality of Kao-Ling, Jianxi, China as well as Cornwall and Devon, England; Haute-Vienne, France; Near Dresden, Saxony, Germany; Donets Basin, Ukraine; Huberdeau, Quebec, and near Walton, Nova Scotia, Canada and in the United States at Macon, Georgia; Dixie Clay Company Mine, South Carolina; near Webster, North Carolina; Arkansas; Mesa Alta, New Mexico and Sterling Hill, New Jersey.
• Best Field Indicators are habit, softness, color, luster and clay like properties.

 

 

THE MINERAL KERMESITE

 

• Chemistry: Sb2OS2, Antimony Oxysulfide.
• Class: Sulfides
• Uses: A very minor ore of antimony and as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kermesite is an unusual sulfide mineral. A close look at the formula can confirm this. There is an oxygen nested between two antimonies and two sulfurs. Kermesite, it turns out, is an intermediate oxidation product between stibnite whose formula is Sb2S3, and various antimony oxides such as senarmontite, Sb2O3; valentinite, also Sb2O3; and stibiconite, Sb3O6(OH). Stibnite when exposed to oxygenated fluids under the right conditions will slowly transform into kermesite as the an oxygen replaces one of the sulfurs in the formula. Usually the oxidation is completed to the point that the sulfurs are completely replaced by oxygen, but in some rare cases the oxidation stops short and forms kermesite. This is fortunate for mineral collectors!

Kermesite is a truly colorful mineral. Its bright red color has been described as a cherry red and that is pretty accurate. The color is caused by the stibnite and is therefore inherent in the mineral. Alternate names or nick-names for kermesite have been used such as red antimony, purple blende and a non-colorful nick-name antimony blende.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is cherry red to red.
• Luster is adamantine.
• Transparency crystals are translucent to rarely transparent.
• Crystal System is triclinic, bar 1 (pseudo-monoclinic).
• Crystal Habits include sprays or tufts of aggregated prismatic crystals and as crusts.
• Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
• Hardness is 1.0 - 1.5
• Specific Gravity is approximately 4.5 - 4.8+ (heavy for translucent minerals)
• Streak is brownish red.
• Associated Minerals include stibnite and various antimony oxides such as senarmontite, valentinite and stibiconite.
• Notable Occurrences include Wolfe County, Quebec, Canada; Nova Scotia; Algeria and Sonora, Mexico.

      

THE MINERAL KERNITE

 

• Chemistry: Na2B4O6(OH)2-3H2O, Hydrated Sodium Borate Hydroxide
• Class: Carbonates
• Subclass: Borates
• Uses: an ore of boron and as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kernite, like other borates, is a structurally complex mineral. The basic structure of kernite contains chains of interlocking BO3(OH) tetrahedrons. The chains' basic unit has a formula of B4O6(OH)2 and a charge of negative two (-2). Connected to the chains are triangular BO3 groups with the sodiums and water molecules interspersed between the chains.

Kernite could be considered a metamorphic mineral as it is thought to form from the recrystallization of borax due to mild heat and pressure. The mineral borax is directly deposited in arid regions from the evaporation of water in intermittent lakes called playas. The playas form only in rainy seasons due to runoff from adjacent mountains. The runoff is rich in the element boron and is highly concentrated by evaporation in the arid climate. Eventually the concentration is so great that crystals of borax and other boron minerals form and accumulate to great thickness. Kernite is found at the bottom of these deposits in stratified units with some kernite crystal layers growing several feet thick.

Individual crystals can be quite transparent and appear similar to certain gypsum crystals. However, kernite is harder and forms splintery cleavage fragments. Specimens of kernite are interesting, and can make a good addition to one's collection.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is white or gray to colorless.
• Luster is vitreous to greasy.
• Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
• Crystal Habits include short prismatic crystals, but is more commonly found in parallel aggregates resembling vein minerals.
• Cleavage is perfect in two directions forming splintery fragments.
• Fracture is splintery due to cleavage.
• Hardness is 2.5 - 3 (harder than a fingernail)
• Specific Gravity is approximately 1.9+ (very low density)
• Streak is white.
• Associated Minerals are borax, ulexite, hydroboracite and other borate minerals.
• Other Characteristics: slightly soluable in water.
• Notable Occurrences include several localities in Kern Co., California, USA; Chile, and Turkey.
• Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, associations, locality, density, splintery cleavage, and hardness.

    

The Mineral KIDWELLITE

• Chemistry: NaFe9(PO4)6(OH)10 - 5H2O, Hydrated Sodium Iron Phosphate Hydroxide.
• Class: Phosphates
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kidwellite is a rare, typically yellow-green phosphate mineral. Its color is distinctive as well as its compact encrusting crystal habit. It is found in phosphate deposits with other rare phosphates from classic localities such as Cornwall, England.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is yellow-green, pale green or yellow.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency: Specimens are translucent to transparent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
• Crystal Habits include compact encrusting aggregates, also massive and fibrous.
• Cleavage is poor.
• Fracture is fibrous.
• Hardness is 3 - 4
• Specific Gravity is approximately 2.5 - 3.4 (average to slightly above average).
• Streak is green.
• Associated Minerals include strengite, beraunite, dufrenite, rockbridgeite and limonite.
• Notable Occurrences include Cornwall, England and Coon Creek Mine, Polk County, Arkansas, USA.
• Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, associations and streak.

 

 

 

  

THE MINERAL KIESERITE

 

• Chemistry: MgSO₄ - H₂O, Hydrated Magnesium Sulfate.
• Class: Sulfates
• Group: Kieserite
• Uses: As a minor source of magnesium and as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kieserite, which is named after D. G. Kieserr, forms in marine evaporite deposits where sea water has been concentrated and exposed to prolonged evaporation. Other marine evaporite minerals include calcite, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, halite, polyhalite, kainite, picromerite, carnallite and sylvite, among several others. Evaporite minerals are geologically important because they clearly are related to the environmental conditions that existed at the time of their deposition, namely coastal arid. They also can be easily recrystallized in laboratories in order to postulate their specific characteristics of formation. Specimens of kieserite must be stored in a closed container as they will absorb water from the air and convert to the mineral epsomite, MgSO₄ - 7H₂O. If later the mineral dehydrates, it will form the mineral hexahydrite, MgSO₄ - 6H₂O.

Kieserite lends its name to a group of sulfates called the Kieserite Group. These sulfates are all monoclinic, have medium sized cations and are mono-hydrated (one water molecule). The general formula of this group is ASO₄ - H₂O, where A can be either magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, nickel and/or zinc.

These are the members of the Kieserite Group:

• Dwornikite (Hydrated Nickel Iron Sulfate)
• Gunningite (Hydrated Zinc Manganese Sulfate)
• Kieserite (Hydrated Magnesium Sulfate)
• Poitevinite (Hydrated Copper Iron Zinc Sulfate)
• Szmikite (Hydrated Manganese Sulfate)
• Szomolnokite (Hydrated Iron Sulfate)

 

THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF KIESERITE:

• Color is white, colorless, gray or yellowish.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency: Crystals are translucent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.
• Crystal Habits include granular masses. Individual crystals are rare.
• Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
• Fracture is uneven.
• Hardness is 3.5
• Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 (average for translucent minerals).
• Streak is white.
• Associated Minerals include halite, polyhalite, carnallite, sylvite and other more rare evaporite minerals.
• Notable Occurrences include Strassfurt, Saxony, Germany; Poland; Sicily, Italy; Russia; Austria and Carlsbad, New Mexico and Western Texas, USA.
• Best Field Indicators are associations, cleavage, habit and environment of formation.

 

     

THE MINERAL KINOITE

 

• Chemistry: Ca2Cu2Si3O10 - 2H2O; Hydrated Calcium Copper Silicate
• Class: Silicates
• Subclass: Nesosilicates
• Uses: A very minor ore of copper and as an ornamental stone.
• Specimens

Kinoite is an attractive copper mineral. Its general light blue color is significantly different from other dark blue copper minerals such as azurite, linarite, papagoite, liroconite, connellite and others. In aggregate and encrusting specimens of kinoite the blue color is rather palish compared to these minerals, but that does not imply that it is unattractive. On the contrary kinoite's color is quite unique and a welcome addition to the mineral kingdom's color palette. The color could be described as a somewhat purer blue than that of common chrysocolla.

Kinoite is a somewhat scarce mineral. It is found in only a few localities around the world and most good specimens seem to come from the Christmas Mine in Gila County, Arizona. It is often associated and coated with small crystals of apophyllite which can give a specimen a nice sparkle. Micromountable specimens of kinoite, which have a deeper blue color, are also available and quite attractive and are similar in appearance to clusters of cavansite.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is a unique light blue for crusts and a deep blue in microcrystals.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency specimens are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic.
• Growth Habits include small acicular to thin prismatic crystals found as spherules or sprays of acicular radial crystal clusters. Other habits include massive and as crusts.
• Hardness is varies from 2 - 5 depending on whether in crusts or individual crystals.
• Specific Gravity is approximately 3.2 (above average for a non-metallic minerals)
• Streak is blue.
• Associated Minerals are apophyllite, stringhamite, copper, wollastonite, calcite, djurleite, bornite and chalcopyrite.
• Notable Occurrences are the Santa Rita Mountains in Pima County and the Christmas Mine, Gila County, Arizona, USA and a few other secondary copper deposits.
• Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, locality and associations.

 

 

 

THE MINERAL VOLBORTHITE

• Chemistry: Cu₃V₂O₇(OH)₂ - 2H₂O, Hydrated Copper Vanadate Hydroxide.
• Class: Phosphates
• Subclass: Vanadates
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Volborthite is a rare copper vanadate mineral that was named for a Russian paleontologist; Aleksandr Fedorovich van Volborth. It was first named knaufite which is still considered a synonym. Volborthite can form encrusting masses with a beautiful yellow green coloration and pearly luster.

Volborthite is not all that closely related to the mineral calciovolborthite except that both are vanadate hydroxides. Obviously, volborthite lacks the calcium, but also has water molecules in its structure. Volborthite's formula could be written as Cu₃(VO₄)₂ - 3H₂O. But this formula does not show the true cationic unit as a pyrovanadate group; V₂O₇. The basic structure of volborthite is a sheet-like structure with copper oxide/hydroxide layers that are held together by the pyrovanadate groups and then these layers are stacked by layers of water.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is yellow to green-yellow or light brown.
• Luster is vitreous, pearly or dull.
• Transparency: Specimens are translucent to opaque.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
• Crystal Habit is typically encrusting or rounded masses, also individual scales. Lamellar twinning is sometimes seem.
• Cleavage is imperfect.
• Hardness is 3.5
• Specific Gravity is approximately 3.4 - 3.5 (heavy for non-metallic minerals)
• Streak is pale green.
• Other Characteristics: Non-fluorescent.
• Notable Occurrences include the type localities of Sisersk and Nizhne Tagilsk, Ural Mts, Russia as well as numerous localities in Arizona; Carlin Gold Mine, Nevada USA; Mt. Vesuvius, Italy; Wheal Edward, Cornwall, England; Tugao, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan; Paull's Consolidated Mine, South Australia, Australia; Pribram, Czech Republic; Copiapo, Chile; Salzburg, Austria and Vancouver Island, Canada.
• Best Field Indicators are color, locality, non-fluorescence and density.

 

   

THE MINERAL KOLWEZITE

 

• Chemistry: (Cu, Co)2CO3(OH)2, Copper Cobalt Carbonate Hydroxide.
• Class: Carbonate
• Group: Rosasite
• Uses: A very minor ore of copper and cobalt, and as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kolwezite is a rare mineral that is a similar mineral to the much more common and well-known mineral malachite. Malachite's formula is Cu2CO3(OH)2. Kolwezite contains a significant percentage of cobalt in place of some of the copper in malachite.

Cobalt and copper are two very strong coloring agents. Unfortunately, kolwezite is perhaps too strongly colored and is commonly black. It was only identified in the past fifteen years making it a rather "young" mineral in the mineral world. It is named for the famous mines at Kolwezi, Shaba, Zaire from where it was first discovered and from where many new and rare minerals are found.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is black, green to brown.
• Luster is
• Transparency is translucent.
• Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
• Crystal Habits include prismatic to acicular crystal sprays and crusts.
• Hardness is 4.
• Specific Gravity is 4.0 (slightly heavy)
• Associated Minerals include malachite, siderite, cobaltian calcite and sphaerocobaltite.
• Notable Occurrences are limited to Kolwezi area of Shaba, Zaire.
• Best Field Indicators are color, locality, density and hardness.

 

 

THE MINERAL KORNERUPINE

 

• Chemistry: Mg4(Al, Fe)6(Si, Al, B)5O21(OH), Magnesium Aluminum Iron Boro-silicate Hydroxide.
• Class: Silicates
• Subclass: Nesosilicates
• Uses: As a gemstone and as mineral collection specimens.
• Specimens

Kornerupine is a rare gemstone and an equally rare mineral specimen. Its claim to fame is its wonderful emerald green color. This color can be very close to that of emerald's; it has a similar but higher index of refraction and it even comes with the characteristic inclusions that is a hallmark of emerald. To distinguish kornerupine from emerald look for the pleochroic colors of kornerupine. Pleochroic means that different colors can be seen from different viewing angles. For kornerupine, the colors change from a yellowish-green to a brownish-red as the crystal or gemstone is turned with respect to the viewer. Green is not the only color of kornerupine as it comes in attractive browns, yellows and pinks.

Kornerupine will never replace emerald and is not really a threat as a counterfeit due to its rarity. Not only is kornerupine itself rare, but the green color is also one of its rarer colors. Kornerupine is not really cut for general public purposes but is more of a collectors stone.

Kornerupine is often found in certain gem gravels such as the ones found in Sri Lanka. These deposits, called placers, form behind the rocks and bends of rivers and are enriched in heavy grains as lighter material is carried further down stream. Kornerupine has just enough density with a specific gravity of 3.3 to be deposited with other relatively dense minerals. Many of these minerals are gemstones as well, such as sphene, iolite, sapphire, chrysoberyl, ruby, topaz, garnets, andalusite, diopside, zircon, spinel and others. Kornerupine originates as a regional metamorphic mineral before being eroded downstream.

 

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is green, colorless, white, pink, yellow or brown.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m
• Crystal Habit is typically elongated prisms and as rounded grains in gem gravels.
• Hardness is 6 - 7
• Specific Gravity is 3.3+ (slightly heavier than average)
• Streak is white.
• Other Characteristics: Pleochroic yellowish-green to brownish-red and index of refraction is 1.66 and 1.69.
• Associated Minerals include quartz, orthoclase, sapphire, chrysoberyl, ruby, topaz, zircon, spinel and other gemstones found in placer deposits.
• Notable Occurrences is Ratnapura, Sri Lanka; Betroka, Madagascar; Harts Range, Australia; Kenya and the Nuuk area of Greenland.
• Best Field Indicators are color, locality, pleochroism and hardness.

 

 

 

 

THE MINERAL KOTTIGITE

 

• Chemistry: Zn3(AsO4)2-8(H2O) , Hydrated Zinc Arsenate
• Class: Phosphates
• Group: Vivianite
• Uses: A very minor ore of zinc and mineral specimens
• Specimens

Kottigite is a weathering product of zinc minerals such as sphalerite. Kottigite is isostructural with the minerals erythrite and annabergite. Isostructural means that the two minerals have the same structure but different chemistries. Annabergite, called "Nickel Bloom", is bright green. Erythrite, called "Cobalt Bloom". is bright red-purple. Kottigite is too rare to have nicknames like those of erythrite and annabergite. Those names were given to them by miners looking for cobalt and nickel minerals. Most kottigite, or as it is sometimes spelled, koettigite, is found at Mapimi, Mexico and Schneeburg, Germany.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is brown to reddish or white and gray.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
• Crystal Habits include flattened striated blades or radiating accicular crystals, but crystals are uncommon. More commonly as crusts or earthy masses.
• Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
• Fracture is uneven.
• Hardness is 2.5 - 3
• Specific Gravity is approximately 3.3 (average for translucent minerals)
• Streak is pale brown.
• Associated Minerals are limonite, smithsonite, adamite and other zinc minerals.
• Other Characteristics: Blades are somewhat flexible.
• Notable Occurrences include Mapimi, Durango, Mexico and Schneeberg, Germany.
• Best Field Indicators are color, associations and crystal habit.

 

 

THE MINERAL KOVDORSKITE

 

• Chemistry: Mg₅(PO₄)₂CO₃(OH)₂ - 4.5H₂O, Hydrated Magnesium Phosphate Carbonate Hydroxide
• Class: Phosphates
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kovdorskite is yet another entry in a long list of rare and obscure Kola Peninsula minerals. Kovdorskite, which is named after the Kovdor Massif on the Kola Peninsula in artic Russia, was first discovered in 1969. It is found in a rare type of rock called a carbonatite. A carbonatite is an igneous rock composed mostly of dolomite and calcite. This particular carbonatite contains unusual phosphate minerals such as collinsite, bonshtedtite, girvasite, juonniite, pseudomalachite, rimkorolgite and bobierrite as well as kovdorskite.

Kovdorskite's formula is sometimes written without the carbonate group ( CO₃) and is written as: Mg₂PO₄(OH) - 3H₂O. This is the older version of the formula, but the carbonate group should be included to give a more accurate expression of the mineral's chemistry.

From the time of kovdorskite's discovery it was almost completely unknown to the mineral community . . . at least until recent discoveries of this rare mineral. Excellent crystals are just now available to collectors. This is a very good thing as kovdorskite is a very hansome mineral. Althought the color is often pale or absent, crystals are still usually well formed and striking. Their monoclinic, blocky to prismatic habit is similar to some feldspars with angular faces forming complex terminations. This is a rare mineral with unusual chemistry, origin, occurrence and assortment of associated minerals. Its beauty is just a great bonus.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is a pale blue, greenish blue and colorless; more rarely pink to pale rose. Some individual crystals show color variance from blue to colorless to pink in the same crystal.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.
• Crystal Habits include blocky to prismatic crystals with angular termination faces.
• Cleavage: is absent.
• Fracture: Conchoidal.
• Hardness is 4.
• Specific Gravity is approximately 2.60 (slightly below average).
• Streak is white.
• Associated Minerals include dolomite, magnesite, hydrotalcite, pyrite, collinsite, bobierrite and manasseite.
• Notable Occurrence is limited to the Kovdor Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.
• Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, locality, associations, low density and color.

 

  

 THE MINERAL KTENASITE

 

• Chemistry: (Cu, Zn)₅(SO₄)₂(OH)₆ - 6H₂O, Hydrated Copper Zinc Sulfate Hydroxide.
• Class: Sulfates.
• Uses: As a very minor ore of copper and zinc and as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Ktenasite is a rare mineral from the classic mineral site at Laurium, Attiki, Greece. Ktenasite is a colorful mineral. It is often associated with other colorful minerals such as serpierite, glaucocerinite and smithsonite. Ktenasite forms crusts of lovely blue-green aggregates and tiny crystal rosettes adorning other minerals. Ktenasite forms as the result of the oxidation of copper and zinc sulfide minerals.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is blue-green to green.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency: Specimens are translucent to transparent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic.
• Crystal Habits include small tabular crystals that can form rosettes and encrusting masses.
• Cleavage is poor but discernible.
• Fracture is uneven.
• Hardness is 2 - 2.5
• Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 - 3.0 (average for non-metallic minerals).
• Streak is pale green.
• Associated Minerals include serpierite, glaucocerinite, smithsonite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and gypsum.
• Notable Occurrences include the Kamaresa Mine, Laurium, Attiki, Greece; Norway and in the USA at sites in Colorado as well as at Bisbee and the 79 Mine of Arizona.
• Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, associations and locality.

 

 

 

 

THE MINERAL KULANITE

 

• Chemistry: Ba(Fe, Mn, Mg)2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3, Barium Iron Manganese Magnesium Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide.
• Class: Phosphates
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kulandite is a very rare barium phosphate mineral. It is one of the rare minerals that are making their way out of the Yukon Territory and into the mineral market.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is green to blue.
• Luster is vitreous.
• Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
• Crystal Habits include flattened striated blades or radiating accicular crystals, but crystals are uncommon. More commonly as crusts or earthy masses.
• Hardness is 4
• Specific Gravity is approximately 3.9 (above average for translucent minerals)
• Streak is white.
• Notable Occurrences include Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada.
• Best Field Indicators are color, locality, density and crystal habit.

 

 

 KUNZITE,

the pink variety of spodumene

VARIETY INFORMATION:

• VARIETY OF: Spodumene , LiAlSi2 O6, Lithium Aluminum Silicate .
• USES: Gemstone and ornamental stone.
• COLOR: various shades of pink, deeper along the crystal axis.
• INDEX OF REFRACTION: 1.66
• BIREFRINGENCE: is weak
• HARDNESS: 6.5-7
• CLEAVAGE: perfect in two directions
• CRYSTAL SYSTEM: monoclinic
• SPECIMENS

Kunzite is the pink variety of spodumene and is one of two gemstone varieties. The other variety is green and is called Hiddenite. Kunzite is strongly pleochroic, meaning there is a color intensity variation when a crystal is viewed from the top or bottom then from other directions. The top and bottom of the crystal reveal the deepest colors and knowleagable gem cutters take advantage of its effects. Due to kunzite's cleavage, splintery fracture and strong pleochroism it is considered a real gem cutters challenge. However, its lovely pink color makes kunzite an attractive and desirable gemstone.

 

 

 

  

THE MINERAL KUPLETSKITE

 

• Chemistry: (K, Na)3(Mn, Fe)7(Ti, Nb)2(SiO3)8(O, OH)7, Potassium Sodium Manganese Iron Titanium Niobium Silicate Hydroxide.
• Class: Silicates
• Subclass: Inosilicates
• Group: Astrophyllite
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kupletskite is a very rare manganese, titanium mineral found in some unusual rock assemblages called agpaitic pegmatites. It forms two solid solution series with the minerals astrophyllite and cesium-kupletskite. A solid solution series is where two or more minerals share the same structure, but vary their chemistry by specific limits. In these cases, astrophyllite and kupletskite vary in the amount of manganese and iron. Kupletskite is the manganese rich end member of the series and astrophyllite is the iron rich end member. Except for the minor change in chemistry, their structures are the same.

The mineral astrophyllite is the namesake of the mineral group to which all three minerals, kupletskite, astrophyllite and cesium-kupletskite belong; the Astrophyllite Group of minerals. The solid solution series between kupletskite and cesium-kupletskite involves the enrichment of the series with the element cesium in the potassium/sodium site of the structure. Cesium-kupletskite's formula is thus written as Cs3(Mn, Fe)7(Ti, Nb)2(SiO3)8(O, OH)7.

 

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is bronze yellow or dark brown to black.
• Luster is vitreous or submetallic to metallic, can be pearly on cleavage surfaces.
• Transparency: crystals are translucent to opaque.
• Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
• Crystal Habits include small tabular, acicular or bladed crystals. Also found in lamellar, micaceous or fibrous masses.
• Cleavage is perfect in one direction, poor in another.
• Fracture is uneven.
• Hardness is 3.
• Specific Gravity is 3.2 - 3.4
• Streak is pale brown.
• Associated Minerals are quartz, nepheline, microcline, albite, calcite, natrolite, fluorite, eudialyte, ancylite, arfvedsonite, micas and aegirine.
• Notable Occurrences include the Kola Peninsula, Russia and Mt St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.
• Best Field Indicators: brittleness, cleavage, color, luster and localities.

           

KUTNOHORITE

 

• Chemistry: Ca(Mn, Mg, Fe)(CO3)2, Calcium Magnesium Carbonate.
• Class: Carbonates
• Group: Dolomite
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens
• Specimens

Kutnohorite, or also spelled as kutnahorite, is a rare carbonate mineral. It is a member of the dolomite group and is difficult to distinguish from dolomite except for the increased density in kutnohorite. Kutnohorite is named after it type locality which is near Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is often pink or pinkish.
• Luster is pearly to vitreous to dull.
• Transparency crystals are translucent.
• Crystal System is trigonal; bar 3
• Crystal Habits include simple rhombs with curved faces, also massive and granular.
• Cleavage is perfect in three directions forming rhombs.
• Fracture is conchoidal.
• Hardness is 3.5-4
• Specific Gravity is 4.6 (above average for translucent minerals)
• Streak is white to pale pink.
• Notable Occurrences include Tuscany, Italy and Kank, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
• Best Field Indicators are pink color, crystal habit and density.

 

 

THE MINERAL KYANITE

 

• Chemistry: Al2 SiO5, Aluminum Silicate
• Class: Silicates
• Subclass: Nesosilicates
• Uses: in the manufacture of spark plugs etc and as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

Kyanite is a polymorph with two other minerals; andalusite and sillimanite. A polymorph is a mineral that shares the same chemistry but a different crystal structure with another, or other, minerals. Kyanite is an attractive mineral that has a near sapphire like blue color in some especially nice specimens. Kyanite has a unique characteristic in that it has a wide variation in hardness, in the same crystal. The hardness of kyanite is approximately 4.5 when scratched parallel to the long axis of the crystal and approximately 6.5 when scratched perpendicular to or across the long axis. Other minerals usually have variable hardness on different crystal faces due to a different concentration and oreintation of the atoms in the structure. Diamond is one such mineral, a fact gem cutters take advantage of often.

 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is blue usually but also can be white, gray or green. Color is often not consistent throughout the crystal and can be blochy or in streaks.
• Luster is vitreous to almost pearly.
• Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
• Crystal System is Triclinic; bar 1
• Crystal Habits include flat, pinacoid dominated, prismatic crystals often embedded in metamorphic rocks and quartz veins.
• Cleavage is good in one direction parallel to the flat pinacoid face.
• Fracture is splintery.
• Hardness is approximately 4.5 when scratched parallel to the long axis of the crystal and approximately 6.5 when scratched perpendicular to or across the long axis.
• Specific Gravity is approximately 3.58+ (above average)
• Streak is white.
• Associated Minerals are biotite, staurolite, garnets, quartz, andalusite and sillimanite.
• Other Characteristics: Sometimes intergrown with staurolite.
• Notable Occurrences include Brazil; North Carolina and Georgia, USA; Switzerland; Russia; Serbia; India and Kenya.
• Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, luster and unusual hardness.