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Formula: KAl11O17
Oxide, epitaxially replaced and overgrown by hibonite
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 3.40 calculated
Hardness: 6 to 7
Streak: Light brown
Colour: Light brown, yellow-brown, light orange
Environments
Kahlenbergite is a new mineral, approved in 2019.
Localities
At the type locality, the Kahlenbergite occurrence, Har Parsa, Hatrurim Basin, Tamar Regional Council, Southern District,
Israel, kahlenbergite occurs in pyrometamorphic rocks as platy, light brown crystals, epitaxially replaced and
overgrown by hibonite. Associated minerals include
wollastonite, spinel,
pseudobrookite, hematite,
gehlenite, dorrite
and corundum
(Mindat).
Kahlenbergite is found in small hematite segregations enriched by
hibonite within
wollastonite–gehlenite
hornfels. It is a high-temperature mineral that occurs together with
hibonite, corundum,
hematite, dorrite and other anhydrous
minerals. Kahlenbergite and associated minerals crystallise at temperatures of not less than 1000oC
under strongly oxidising conditions.
This is the largest occurrence of pyrometamorphic rocks in the Dead Sea rift area. Occasionally, the
hornfels shows a vesicular texture, which is an indicator for partial
melting. The main minerals of the hornfels are
wollastonite, gehlenite,
esseneite-diopside,
andradite and anorthite. Sometimes,
minerals of the levantite–latiumite
series and celsian appear in substantial amounts. Minerals of the
spinel–magnesioferrite series,
hematite, baryte and
silicon-bearing apatite are accessory minerals. Vesicular spaces are filled with
zeolites, calcium hydrosilicates, and occasionally
calcite and ettringite. Moreover,
spinel, corundum and
pseudobrookite are present in association with kahlenbergite.
Dorrite was detected at the boundary of the
hematite segregation with
hornfels. The new mineral
gorerite is observed in spinel
exsolutions
(EJM 33.4.341-355).
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