Babingtonite 2792444 202098772 2008-03-30T18:05:14Z Talkstosocks 75094 added link for commonwealth of massachusetts {{Infobox mineral | name = Babingtonite | category = [[:Category:Calcium minerals|Calcium minerals]]<br>[[:Category:Manganese minerals|Manganese minerals]]<br>[[:Category:Iron minerals|Iron minerals]]<br>[[:Category:Hydroxide minerals|Hydroxide minerals]]<br>[[:Category:Inosilicates|Inosilicates]] | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Babingtonite - Baveno, Piemonte, Italia 01.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Babingtonite from [[Baveno]], [[Piemonte]], [[Italy]] | formula = [[calcium|Ca]]<sub>2</sub>([[iron|Fe]],[[manganese|Mn]])Fe[[silicon|Si]]<sub>5</sub>[[oxygen|O]]<sub>14</sub>(O[[hydrogen|H]]) | molweight = | color = Dark green to black | habit = Prismatic crystals | system = Triclinic | twinning = | cleavage = Perfect on {001}, Good on {010} and {100} | fracture = Irregular/uneven | tenacity = Brittle | mohs = 5.5 to 6 | luster = Vitreous | polish = | refractive = n<sub>α</sub>= 1.700 n<sub>β</sub>= 1.710 n<sub>γ</sub>= 1.725 | opticalprop = | birefringence = δ = 0.025 | dispersion = r > v strong | pleochroism = Visible | fluorescence= | absorption = | streak = | gravity = 3.3 | density = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | diaphaneity = Translucent on thin edges, opaque | other = | references =[http://www.mindat.org/min-478.html Babingtonite at Mindat.org] }} '''Babingtonite''' is a [[calcium]] [[iron]] [[manganese]] [[Silicate minerals|inosilicate]] mineral with the formula [[calcium|Ca]]<sub>2</sub>([[iron|Fe]],[[manganese|Mn]])Fe[[silicon|Si]]<sub>5</sub>[[oxygen|O]]<sub>14</sub>(O[[hydrogen|H]]). It is unusual in that iron(III) completely replaces the aluminium so typical of silicate minerals. It is a very dark green to black translucent (in thin crystals or splinters) mineral crystallizing in the [[triclinic]] system with typically radial short prismatic clusters and druzy coatings. It occurs with [[zeolite]] minerals in cavities in [[volcanic rock]]s. Babingtonite contains both iron(II) and iron(III) and shows weak [[magnetism]]. It has a [[Mohs hardness]] of 5.5 to 6 and a [[specific gravity]] of 3.3. It was first described in 1824 from samples from [[Arendal]], [[Aust-Agder]], [[Norway]] (which is its [[Type locality (geology)|type locality]]) and was named after the [[Ireland|Irish]] [[physician]] and [[mineralogist]] [[William Babington (physician)|William Babington]] (1757-1833). It is the official mineral (mineral emblem) of the [[List of Massachusetts state symbols|Commonwealth of Massachusetts]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/2-18.htm General Laws of Massachusetts, Part I. Administration of the Government, Title I. Jurisdiction and Emblems of the Commonwealth, The General Court, Statutes and Public Documents, Chapter 2. Arms, Great Seal and other Emblems of the Commonwealth, Chapter 2: Section 18. Mineral or mineral emblem of commonwealth]</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} *[http://www.mindat.org/min-478.html Mindat with location data] *[http://webmineral.com/data/Babingtonite.shtml Webmineral] *[http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/babingto/babingto.htm Mineral galleries] {{refend}} [[Category:Calcium minerals]] [[Category:Manganese minerals]] [[Category:Iron minerals]] [[Category:Hydroxide minerals]] [[Category:Inosilicates]] [[fr:Babingtonite]] [[it:Babingtonite]] [[nl:Babingtoniet]] {{mineral-stub}} {{Manganese minerals}}