Kämmererite
Kämmererite was discovered in 1851 and is named after the A. Kämmer, the mining director at St. Petersburg.
Kämmererite is a chromium-bearing variety of
Clinochlore with bright purple to a deep crimson red colour.
Fashioning of Kämmererite is very difficult because the crystals are usually thin, micaceous with a perfect cleavage.
| General Information |
|---|
| A variety or type of: | Clinochlore |
|---|
| Other Names/Trade Names: | |
|---|
| Chemical Formula | | (Mg,Al) | | (Al,Cr)(Si,Al) | | O | | (OH) |
Gemdat.org, Management Team (2012) |
|---|
| Photos of natural/un-cut material from mindat.org |
|---|
|
| Physical Properties of Kämmererite |
|---|
| Mohs Hardness | 2 to 2.5Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Specific Gravity | 2.60 to 2.64Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Cleavage Quality | PerfectMichael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Optical Properties of Kämmererite |
|---|
| Refractive Index | 1.571 to 1.597Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Optical Character | Biaxial/+,-Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Birefringence | 0.003Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Pleochroism | Pleochroism is notable, violet to hyacinth-red.Michael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Colour |
|---|
| Colour (General) | Lilac to purpleGemdat.org, Management Team (2012) |
|---|
| Transparency | Transparent,TranslucentAnthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) |
|---|
| Lustre | Pearly,Greasy,Dull (Earthy)Anthony et al, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) |
|---|
| Crystallography of Kämmererite |
|---|
| Crystal System | MonoclinicMichael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Habit | Thin to thick pseudohexagonal crystalsMichael O’Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) |
|---|
| Further Information |
|---|
| Mineral information: | Kämmererite information at mindat.org |
|---|
| Significant Gem Localities |
|---|
| Turkey | | |
| Gems, Sixth Edition, Michael O’Donoghue, 2006, p. 420 |
|
|
