Stichtite is a secondary mineral from the hydrotalcite group, formed during the hydrothermal alteration of serpentinites. It was first discovered on the island of Tasmania.
You can see stichtite stone for sale and buy it in the Minerals of Russia online store.
General | |
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Category | Carbonate minerals |
Formula (repeating unit) |
Mg6Cr2CO3(OH)16·4H2O |
IMA symbol | Stt |
Strunz classification | 5.DA.50 |
Crystal system | Trigonal |
Crystal class | Hexagonal scalenohedral (3m) H-M symbol: (3 2/m) |
Space group | R3m |
Unit cell | a = 6.19, c = 46.47 [Å]; Z = 3 |
Identification | |
Colour | Lilac to rose-pink |
Crystal habit | Fibrous to platy aggregates |
Cleavage | Perfect on {0001} |
Tenacity | flexible, not elastic |
Mohs scale hardness | 1.5 - 2 |
Lustre | Waxy to resinous |
Streak | Very pale lilac to white |
Diaphaneity | Transparent |
Specific gravity | 2.16 |
Optical properties | Uniaxial (+) |
Refractive index | nω = 1.516 nε = 1.542 |
Birefringence | δ = 0.026 |
Pleochroism | Weak; O = dark rose-pink to lilac E = light rose-pink to lilac |