Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Cordierite

Big Photo

Wannenköpfe, Ochtendung, Polch, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Fred Kruijen

Show Cordierite Photos (80)
Formula:
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
System:OrthorhombicColour:Grey, blue, blue-violet, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:7 - 7½
Name:
After Pierre Louis A. Cordier (1777-1861), French mining engineer and geologist, who first studied this species.
Dimorph of:Indialite


The Mg analogue of Sekaninaite. Cordierite-Sekaninaite Series.

The hexagonal high-temperature dimorph of cordierite is indialite.

Classification of Cordierite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.12-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CJ.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
J : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered single rings (sechser-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
Dana 8th edition ID:61.2.1.1

61 : CYCLOSILICATES Six-Membered Rings
2 : Six-Membered Rings with Al substituted rings
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.19.2

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
19 : Aluminosilicates of Fe and Mg
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1128.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Cordierite

Type Locality:Großer Arber Mt., Bayerisch Eisenstein, Zwiesel, Bavarian Forest, Lower Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany
Year of Discovery:1813

Occurrences of Cordierite

Geological Setting:Thermally metamorphosed argillaceous sedimentary rocks; high-grade regionally metamorphosed schists, gneisses and granulites; also in mafic igneous rocks and granites.

Physical Properties of Cordierite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Grey, blue, blue-violet, greenish, yellowish brown; colourless to very light blue in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):7 - 7½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
On {100}, fair; On {001} and {010}, poor.
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.6 - 2.66 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.505 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cordierite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Cccm {C2/c 2/c 2/m}
Space Group Setting:Cccm
Cell Parameters:a = 17.079(3) Å, b = 9.730(2) Å, c = 9.356(2) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.755 : 1 : 0.962
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,554.77 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals short prismatic, striated parallel to [001]. Commonly granular to compact, massive.
Twinning:Common on {110} and {130}, simple, lamellar, and cyclical.
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Cordierite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cordierite no.30 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

You may need to scroll this box using your mouse to view the full instructions.

The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3
Structure
  Reference
Gibbs G V (1966) The polymorphism of cordierite I: The crystal structure of low cordierite. American Mineralogist 51:1068-1087.

Show
Unit Cell | Structure | Polyhedra

Style
Black Background | White Background

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Label Atoms | Off

More Crystal Structures
Click here to view more crystal structures at the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Cordierite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.527 - 1.560 nβ = 1.532 - 1.574 nγ = 1.538 - 1.578
2V:Measured: 75° to 89°, Calculated: 54° to 86°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011 - 0.018

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r < v, weak to marked
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:X = c = Pale yellow, green
Y = a = Violet, blue-violet
Z = b = Light blue

Chemical Properties of Cordierite

Formula:
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
Essential elements:Al, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Fe, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Mn,Fe,Ti,Ca,Na,K

Relationship of Cordierite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Sekaninaite (see here)
Common Associates:
SpinelSillimaniteMuscoviteK FeldsparGarnet Group
CorundumBiotiteAndalusite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.CJ.05Bazzite
Be
 
3
Sc
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
9.CJ.05Beryl
Be
 
3
Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
9.CJ.05Indialite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
9.CJ.05Stoppaniite
(Na,[ ])
 
2
(Fe,Al,Mg)
 
4
[Be
 
6
Si
 
12
O
 
36
]·2H2O
9.CJ.10Sekaninaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
9.CJ.15aCombeite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
9
9.CJ.15bImandrite
Na
 
12
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
 
2
9.CJ.15aKazakovite
Na
 
6
Ti[Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
]
9.CJ.15cKoashvite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn)(Ti,Fe)Si
 
6
O
 
18
·H
 
2
O
9.CJ.15aLovozerite
Na
 
2
Ca(Zr,Ti)[Si
 
6
O
 
12
(OH,O)
 
6
]*H
 
2
O
9.CJ.15aTisinalite
Na
 
3
H
 
3
(Mn,Ca,Fe)TiSi
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
9.CJ.15aZirsinalite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Zr[Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.CJ.15aLitvinskite
Na
 
2
([],Na,Mn)ZrSi
 
6
O
 
12
(OH,O)
 
6
9.CJ.15aKapustinite
Na
 
5
(Na,Mn
2+
 
)
 
<1
Zr[Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
]
9.CJ.25Baratovite
KCa
 
7
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
36
F
 
2
9.CJ.25Katayamalite
KCa
 
7
Ti
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
9.CJ.25Aleksandrovite
KCa
 
7
Sn
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
F
 
2
9.CJ.30Dioptase
Cu
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)·6H
 
2
O
9.CJ.35Kostylevite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
9.CJ.40Petarasite
Na
 
5
Zr
 
2
[(OH,Cl)|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]·2H
 
2
O
9.CJ.45Gerenite-(Y)
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Y,REE)
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
9.CJ.50Odintsovite
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
3
Ti
 
2
Be
 
4
Si
 
12
O
 
38
9.CJ.55Mathewrogersite
Pb
 
7
(Fe
2+
 
,Cu)Al
 
3
Ge[(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
6
|(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
4
]
9.CJ.60Pezzottaite
Cs(Be
 
2
Li)Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.19.1Indialite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
16.19.3Sekaninaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
18
16.19.4Ferrogedrite
☐[Fe
2+
2
][Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
]
16.19.5Staurolite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Zn)
 
1.5-2
Al
 
9
[O
 
6
|(OH,O)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
16.19.6Chloritoid
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
2
[O|(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
16.19.7Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AlSiO
 
5
]
16.19.8Corundophilite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
16.19.9Yoderite
Mg(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O|OH|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
16.19.10Delessite
(Mg,Fe,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(O,OH)
 
8
16.19.11Ferrocarpholite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.19.12Magnesiocarpholite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.19.13Chamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.19.14Orthochamosite
(Fe,Mg,Fe)
 
5
Al(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH,O)
 
8
16.19.15Berthierine
(Fe,Fe,Mg)
 
2-3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
16.19.16Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
16.19.17Clinochlore
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.19.18Gedrite
☐[Mg
 
2
][Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
]
16.19.19Magnesiogedrite
16.19.20Diabantite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
16.19.21Sudoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.19.22Vermiculite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
16.19.23Corrensite
(Mg,Fe)
 
9
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
10
·nH
 
2
O

Other Names for Cordierite

Synonyms:
DichroiteHard FahluniteIoliteJoliteLazulith (of von Schlotheim)
LuchsapphirLuchssaphirPeliomSpanish LazuliteSteinheilite
TanoliteWater Sapphire
Other Languages:
Basque:Kordierita
Dutch:Cordieriet
Finnish:Kordieriitti
French:Cordiérite
German:Cordierit
Cerasit
Dichroit
Iolit
Jolit
Lazulith (of van Schlotheim)
Steinheilit
Hebrew:קורדיאריט
Italian:Cordierite
Japanese:菫青石
Persian:کوردیریت
Polish:Kordieryt
Russian:Кордиерит
Spanish:Cerasita
Cordierita
Dichroita
Iolita
Jolita
Steinheilita
Turkish:İyolit
Ukrainian:Кордієрит
Varieties:
Cerasite (of Kikuchi)

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Cordierite

Reference List:Venkatesh, V. (1952) Development and growth of cordierite in para-lavas. American Mineralogist: 37: 831-847.

Miyashiro, A., T. Iiyama, M. Yamasaki, and T. Miyashiro (1955) The polymorphism of cordierite and indialite. American Journal of Science: 253: 185-208.

Richet, P. and Bottinga, Y. (1984) Anorthite, andesine, wollastonite, diopside, cordierite, and pyrope thermodynamics of melting, glass transitions, and properties of the amorphous phases. Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 67: 415-432.

Putnis, A., Fyfe, C.A., and Gobbi, G.C. (1985) Aluminum-silicon ordering in cordierite using "magic angle spinning" NMR. I. Silicon-29 spectra of synthetic cordierite. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 12: 211-216.

Putnis, A. and Angel, R.J. (1985) Aluminum-silicon ordering in cordierite using "magic angle spinning" NMR. II: models of aluminum-silicon order from NMR data. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 12: 217-222.

American Mineralogist (1986): 71: 746-757.

Putnis, A., Salje, E., Redfern, S.A.T., Fyfe, C.A., and Strobl, H. (1987), Structural states of Mg-cordierite I: order parameters from synchrotron X-ray and NMR data. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 14: 446-454.

Schreyer, W., Maresch, W.V., Daniels, P., Wolfsdorff, P. (1990): Potassic cordierites: characteristic minerals for high-temparature, very low-pressure environmnets, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 105, 162-172.

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 140: 344-352.

Bertoldi, C., Proyer, A., Garbe-Schönberg, D., Behrens, ., and Dachs, E. (2004) Comprehensive chemical analyses of natural cordierites: implications for exchange mechanisms. Lithos: 78: 389-409.

Yakubovich, O. V., Massa, V., Pekov, I. V., Gavrilenko, P. G. & Chukanov, N. V. (2004): Crystal structure of the Na-, Ca-, Be-cordierite and crystallochemical regularities in the cordierite-sekaninaite series. Crystallography Reports 49, 953-963.

Articles/Blogs about Cordierite

Article entries:
The minerals of monte SassettoDiDomenico Dario

Internet Links for Cordierite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Cordierite on Google
  • Look for Cordierite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Cordierite on Webmineral
  • Look for Cordierite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Cordierite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Cordierite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Cordierite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Cordierite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Find Cordierite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Search for - Cordierite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Cordierite

    Show Locality List (587 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 14th Nov 2009 15:58:03