Kyanite






General


CategoryMineral


Chemical formulaAl2SiO5 
 (aluminum silicate)


Identification





ColorBlue; also green, white, grey, black


Crystal habitColumnar; fibrous


Crystal systemTriclinic





Cleavage[100] Perfect, [010] Imperfect


FractureBrittle


Mohs Scale hardness4.5-5 parallel to one axis 
 6.5-7 perpendicular to that axis


LusterVitreous; Pearly


Refractive index1.71 - 1.75








PleochroismTrichroic, colorless to pale blue to blue


StreakWhite


Specific gravity3.56 - 3.67














SolubilityNone


DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent













Kyanite is a member of the aluminosilicate subgroup of silicate minerals. It is typically blue, but its color may vary. It is used in porcelain plumbing fixtures, dinnerware, electrical insulators, and abrasives. It has also been used as a gemstone, and it is a collector's mineral.

Contents

1 Etymology and alternative names
2 Occurrence
3 Characteristics

3.1 Identifying traits


4 Associated minerals
5 Uses of kyanite
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
9 Credits



Etymology and alternative names
The name kyanite derives from the Greek word kyanos, meaning blue. This mineral is also known by several alternative names, including disthene, munkrudite, and cyanite. White-gray kyanite is also called rhaeticite.

Occurrence
Kyanite is commonly found in aluminum-rich metamorphic pegmatites and sedimentary rocks. It is a diagnostic mineral of the Blueschist Facies of metamorphic rocks.

Characteristics
Kyanite has two polymorphs: andalusite and sillimanite. Kyanite and its polymorphs have the same chemical formula, Al2SiO5, but they differ in crystalline structure.
An interesting property of kyanite is that it undergoes irreversible expansion when fired at high temperature. In addition, this mineral is strongly anisotropic, in that its hardness varies depending on its crystallographic direction.

Identifying traits
Kyanite's elongated, columnar crystals are usually a good first indication of the mineral, as well as its color (when the specimen is blue). Associated minerals are useful as well, especially the presence of the polymorphs or staurolite, which occur frequently with kyanite. However, the most useful characteristic in identifying kyanite is its anisotropism. If one suspects a specimen to be kyanite, verifying that it has two distinctly different values of hardness on perpendicular axes is a key to identification.

Associated minerals
Kyanite is usually found in association with its polymorphs and other silicate minerals. They include:

andalusite, Al2SiO5
sillimanite, Al2SiO5
quartz, SiO2
staurolite, Fe2Al9Si4O22(OH)2
micas, AB2-3(X, Si)4O10(O,F,OH)2
garnets, A3B2(SiO4)3
Uses of kyanite
 In Buckingham County, Virginia kyanite from the mine at Mt. Willis is transported by train on the Buckingham Branch Railroad.
Kyanite is used primarily in refractory and ceramic products, including porcelain plumbing fixtures and dinnerware. It is also used in electrical insulators and abrasives. Kyanite has also been used as a gemstone, though this use is limited by its anisotropism and perfect cleavage. Finally, as with most minerals, kyanite is a collector's mineral.

See also
Garnet
Mica
Quartz
Silicate
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
Deer, W.A., R.A. Howie, and J. Zussman. 1996. An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0582300940
Farndon, John. 2006. The Practical Encyclopedia of Rocks & Minerals: How to Find, Identify, Collect and Maintain the World's best Specimens, with over 1000 Photographs and Artworks. London: Lorenz Books. ISBN 0754815412
Klein, Cornelis, and Barbara Dutrow. 2007. Manual of Mineral Science. 23rd ed. New York: John Wiley. ISBN 978-0471721574
Pellant, Chris. 2002. Rocks and Minerals. Smithsonian Handbooks. New York: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0789491060
Schumann, Walter. 2006. Gemstones of the World. 3rd ed. New York: Sterling. ISBN 1402740166
Shaffer, Paul R., Herbert S. Zim, and Raymond Perlman. 2001. Rocks, Gems and Minerals. Rev. ed. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 1582381321
External links
All links retrieved June 16, 2018.

Kyanite Mineral Data Webmineral.com.
Kyanite Mindat.org.

Credits
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