General Information:
Chemical Formula:
BaCuSi4O10
Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 473.21 gm)
Barium 29.02 % Ba
Copper 13.43 % Cu
Silicon 23.74 % Si
Oxygen 33.81 % O
Empirical Formula:
BaCuSi4O10
Environment:
In a matrix consisting primarily of braunite, sugilite, and hausmannite, cut by pectolite veinlets. Ba-analog to cuprorivaite and Cu-analog to gillespite.
IMA Status:
Approved IMA
Locality:
Central-eastern orebody of the Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, NW Cape Province, Republic of South Africa.
Name Origin:
Named after Dr. Herta S. Effenberger, mineralogist and crystallograper of the University of Vienna.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
[001] Perfect, [110] Poor
Color:
blue.
Density:
3.57 - 3.52, Average = 3.54
Diaphaniety:
Transparent
Habits:
Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas)., ,
Hardness:
4-5 - Fluorite-Apatite
Luminescence:
Non-fluorescent.
Luster:
Vitreous - Resinous
Streak:
pale blue
More details...