The mineral MINASGERAISITE - (Y)

• Chemistry: CaY₂Be₂Si₂O₁₀ , Calcium Yttrium Beryllium Silicate.
• Class: Silicates
• Subclass: Nesosilicates
• Group: Datolite
• Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
• Specimens

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Minasgeraisite is a rare yttrium beryllium silicate. It has a nice color, pale lavender to purple, that is rather attractive. Minasgeraisite is named for the most famous of mineral localities, namely Minas Gerais, Brazil. The name means "mining region" and is the source for not only this rare silicate but for literally hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of fine mineral specimens. It is very fitting that this region has a mineral named for it!

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Color is lavender to pale purple.
• Luster is vitreous to dull.
• Transparency crystals are generally translucent.
• Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
• Crystal Habits include druses and aggregates that form wheat sheaves-like clusters.
• Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
• Hardness is 6 - 7
• Specific Gravity is approximately 4.3 (above average)
• Streak is purplish white.
• Notable Occurrence is limited to the type locality from the Jacuaracu Pegmatite at the Jose Pinto Mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• Best Field Indicators are locality, color, streak, hardness and density.