Pyrophyllite
Pyrophyllite is named from Greek pyr - fire, plus phyllon - a leaf, alluding to its exfoliation when strongly heated.
Pyrophyllite forms white, pale blue, yellow, green, brown, translucent or opaque, compact spherulitic aggregates of acicular radiating crystals or foliated laminae.
Pyrophyllite is used for ornamental carvings. The similarity to Soapstone increases ornamental interest in pyrophyllite.
Pyrophyllite forms white, pale blue, yellow, green, brown, translucent or opaque, compact spherulitic aggregates of acicular radiating crystals or foliated laminae.
Pyrophyllite is used for ornamental carvings. The similarity to Soapstone increases ornamental interest in pyrophyllite.
| General Information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Photos of natural/un-cut material from mindat.org | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Physical Properties of Pyrophyllite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 1 to 2, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 2.65 to 2.90, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenacity | Flexible, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) Flexible but inelastic | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Perfect, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Splintery, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Pyrophyllite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.534 to 1.601, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) RI for the alpha, beta and gamma rays is 1.534–1.556, 1.586–1.589, 1.596–1.601More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.050, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Nil, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | Nil, Gemstones (2009) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | White or pale shades of blue, yellow or green, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Translucent,Opaque, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Pearly,Greasy, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Pyrophyllite | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Monoclinic,Triclinic, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Spherulitic aggregates of acicular radiating crystals or foliated laminae, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Pyrophyllite occurs in hydrothermal veins and in deposits of schistose rocks., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Pyrophyllite information at mindat.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||||||||||||||||
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