Gehlenite | |
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General | |
Category | Sorosilicates |
Formula (repeating unit) | Ca2Al[AlSiO7] |
IMA symbol | Gh[1] |
Strunz classification | 9.BB.10 |
Crystal system | Tetragonal |
Crystal class | Scalenohedral (42m) H-M symbol: (4 2m) |
Space group | P421m |
Identification | |
Colour | yellow-brown, green-grey, colourless |
Cleavage | Distinct/good |
Mohs scale hardness | 5–6 |
Lustre | vitreous, greasy |
Streak | white, grey-white |
Birefringence | δ = 0.010 |
Gehlenite, (Ca2Al[AlSiO7]), is a sorosilicate, Al-rich endmember of the melilite complete solid solution series with akermanite.[2][3] The type locality is in the Monzoni Mountains, Fassa Valley in Trentino in Italy,[3] and is named after the Adolf Ferdinand Gehlen (1775–1815) by A.J. Fuchs in 1815.[4]