zinnwaldite

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zinnwaldite A member of the mica group of 2:1 phyllosilicates (sheet silicates) with formula K2(Fe2+ 2−1,Li2−3,Al2)[Si6−7 Al2−1O20](F,OH)4; sp. gr. 2.9–3.2; hardness 2–3; monoclinic; grey, brown, or even dark green; vitreous to pearly lustre; forms thick, tabular crystals; cleavage well marked; occurs in granites and pegmatites in association with scheelite, wolframite, cassiterite, and fluorite. It is pneumatolytic in origin (see PNEUMATOLYSIS). It is named after Zinnwald, Saxony, Germany.

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