Vesuvianite (Idocrase)
mineral · common
Quick facts
- Formula
- Ca10(Mg,Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4
- Hardness
- 6–6.5
- Luster
- vitreous to resinous
- Colors
- green to yellow‑green, brown, honey, reddish‑brown; rarely colorless or purple
Vesuvianite, also known as idocrase, is a calcium aluminum silicate found in skarns and contact‑metamorphosed limestones. It forms short to long prisms and masses, commonly in shades of pistachio green to honey brown.
Look for stout tetragonal prisms with square cross‑sections, bright vitreous to slightly resinous luster, white streak, hardness just under quartz, and generally poor cleavage compared with epidote or diopside.
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