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Formula: Ca2Al(SiAl)O7
Sorosilicate (Si2O7 groups),
melilite group
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 2.9 to 3.06
Hardness: 5 to 6
Streak: white, greyish white
Colour: colourless, greenish grey, yellowish brown
Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in hydrochloric acid forming an insoluble silica gel
Common impurities: Ti,Fe,Mg,Mn,Na,K
Environments:
Gehlenite is a contact metamorphic mineral in
limestone; it is a mineral
of the granulite facies. It also occurs in
calcium-rich ultramafic volcanic rocks. Associated minerals
include dolomite, calcite,
augite, olivine,
nepheline, leucite,
merwinite, spurrite,
diopside, ferroan spinel,
phlogopite, pyrope,
grossular, antigorite,
pyroxenes, apatite and
vesuvianite
(HOM).
Localities
The type locality is the Monzoni Mountains, Trento Province, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.
Alteration
grossular to anorthite, gehlenite and
wollastonite
2Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 ⇌ CaAl2Si2O8 +
Ca2Al2SiO7 + 3CaSiO3
The equilibrium temperature for this reaction at 5 kbar pressure is 1,110oC
(granulite facies), with the equilibrium to
the right at higher temperatures, and to the left at lower temperatures
(SERC).
grossular and corundum to
anorthite and gehlenite
2Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 + Al2O3 ⇌
CaAl2Si2O8 + Ca2Al2SiO7
The equilibrium temperature for this reaction at 5 kbar pressure is about 950oC
(granulite facies), with the equilibrium to
the right at higher temperatures, and to the left at lower temperatures
(SERC).
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