Rhodizite

rhodizite

Images

Formula: KBe₄Al₄(B₁₁Be)O₂₈
Anhydrous megaborate, rhodizite group, forms a series with londonite, beryllium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 3.305 to 3.38 measured, 3.24 calculated
Hardness: 8
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, white, greyish, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light
Luminescence: Very weak to moderate yellowish green fluorescence under short wave UV. Usually no fluorescence with long wave UV, but occasionally very weak to weak yellowish green (Mindat)
Solubility: Insoluble in acids
Electrical: Pyroelectric and piezoelectric (Dana)
Common impurities: Rb,Na,K
Environments

Pegmatites

Rhodizite occurs as a rare late-stage accessory mineral in alkali-rich granite pegmatites. Associated minerals include londonite, elbaite, spodumene, beryl, béhierite, albite, microcline and quartz (HOM).

Localities

At the Ampasogona pegmatite, Tetezantsio-Andoabatokely Pegmatite Field, Andrembesoa, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascar, rhodizite has been found (Mindat photo).
Rhodisite from the Ampasogona pegmatite - Image

There are two co-type localities, the Ministerskaya Yama Pit, Sarapulka, Beryozovsky, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, and Mor's Pit, Shaitanka District, Rezhevsky District, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia.

At the type localities, rhodizite is associated with tourmaline (Mindat).

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