General Information:
Chemical Formula:
CaBSiO4(OH)
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 159.98 gm)
Calcium 25.05 % Ca
Silicon 17.56 % Si
Boron 6.76 % B
Hydrogen 0.63 % H
Oxygen 50.00 % O
Empirical Formula:
CaB(SiO4)(OH)
Environment:
Secondary mineral in basic igneous rocks.
Locality:
Diabases of the Connecticut River valley, USA.
Name Origin:
From the Greek, dateisthai, meaning "to divide," because granular aggregates crumble readily.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
None
Color:
brown, colorless, yellow, white, or light green.
Density:
2.8 - 3, Average = 2.9
Diaphaniety:
Transparent to translucent
Habits:
Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline)., Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix., Porcelainous - Fine-grained, translucent massive material like broken china
Hardness:
5.5 - Knife Blade
Luminescence:
None.
Luster:
Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak:
white
More details...