Kassite 447914 100353380 2007-01-13T01:44:34Z Vsmith 84417 expand {{otheruses4|the mineral|the ancient people|Kassites}} '''Kassite''' is a rare mineral with formula CaTi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub>. It crystallizes in the [[orthorhombic]] [[crystal system]] and forms radiating rosettes and pseudo-hexagonal tabular crystals which are commonly [[Crystal twinning|twinned]]. Crystals are brownish pink to pale yellow and are translucent with an adamantine luster. Cleavage is distinct and the crystals are very brittle. [[Mohs hardness]] is 5 and the [[specific gravity]] is 3.42. The mineral is biaxial negative with [[Refractive index|refractive indices]] of nα = 1.950, nβ = 2.130 and nγ = 2.210. It was first described in 1965 from the Afrikanda [[pyroxenite]] [[massif]], [[Kola Peninsula]], [[Russia]] and was named for Nikolai Grigor’evich Kassin (1885–1949), Russian geologist. It occurs as [[miarolitic|miarolytic]] cavity fillings of alkalic [[pegmatite]]s in the Kola occurrence and in [[nepheline syenite]] in the [[Magnet Cove igneous complex]] of [[Arkansas]], USA. Its mineral association includes: [[cafetite]], [[perovskite]], [[titanite]], [[rutile]] and [[ilmenite]]. It is polymorphous with cafetite. == References == *[http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/kassite.pdf Mineral Data Publishing] *[http://www.mindat.org/min-2166.html Mindat with location data] *[http://webmineral.com/data/Kassite.shtml Webmineral data] [[Category:Oxide minerals]]