May 8 2013
Amarillite is named after the Tierra Amarilla locality in Chile where it was first discovered in 1933.
Properties of Amarillite
The key physical properties of Amarillite are as below:
- Cell Data
- Space group: C2/c
- a = 8.419(61)
- b=10.840(40)
- c=12.4171(50)
- Z = 4
- Crystal Data
- Monoclinic
- Point group: 2/m
- Crystals – equant , complexly faceted crystals, thick tabular or rarely prismatic II [001], with common forms {001}, {100}, {110}, {101} and {111}; as groupings of parallel individuals, to 2mm.
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| SO3 |
43.59 |
42.24 |
| Fe2O3 |
21.39 |
21.06 |
| Na2O |
7.14 |
8.18 |
| H2O |
28.45 |
28.52 |
- Optical Properties
- Transparent
- Optical class- Biaxial (+)
- Lustre – Vitreous to adamantine
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density)= 2.26 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Amarillite = 2.22 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEAmarillite = 5.42 barns/electron
U=PEAmarillite x ρelectron density= 12.24 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.004
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Amarillite is not radioactive |
How to Identify Amarillite
The colour of amarillite varies from pale yellow to yellow with a greenish tint. It is soluble in water and gives an astringent taste. Its lustre is vitreous to adamantine and hardness varies from 2.5 to 3.
Global Distribution
Amarillite is found in the following locations:
- Chile – from Tierra Amarilla, Atacama
- China – from Xitieshan Pb-Zn mine, Quinghai province.
Occurrence of Amarillite and Useful Mineral Association
Amarillite occurs in the oxidation zones of sulfide deposits. It is associated with minerals like coquimbite and other sulphates.
References