Sonolite
| Sonolite | |
|---|---|
Sonolite (in bottom left corner) with zincite and manganosite | |
| General | |
| Category | Silicate minerals |
| Formula | Mn9(SiO4)4(OH,F)2 |
| IMA symbol | Snl |
| Strunz classification | 9.AF.55 |
| Dana classification | 52.3.2d.3 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/b |
| Unit cell | a = 4.87 Å, b = 10.66 Å c = 14.28 Å β = 100.3°, Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Red-orange, pinkish brown to dark brown Colorless in thin section |
| Twinning | Common, singular or lamellar on {101} |
| Mohs scale hardness | 5.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous, dull |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
| Density | 3.82–4.00 (measured) |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (−) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.765 nβ = 1.778 nγ = 1.787 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.022 |
| 2V angle | 75° to 82° (measured) |
| Dispersion | r > v |
| References | |
Sonolite is a mineral with formula Mn9(SiO4)4(OH,F)2. The mineral was discovered in 1960 in the Sono mine in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. In 1963, it was identified as a new mineral and named after the Sono mine.