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Gehlenite

Big Photo

Monzoni Mts, Fassa Valley, Trento Province, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
© D.Respino

Show Gehlenite Photos (17)
Formula:
Ca
 
2
Al[AlSiO
 
7
]
System:TetragonalColour:yellow-brown, ...
Hardness:5 - 6


Melilite Group.
Gehlenite-Åkermanite Series.

Classification of Gehlenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/C.02-15
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.BB.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
B : Si2O7 groups, without non-tetrahedral anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:55.4.1.2

55 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups,Generally with no Additional Anions
4 : Si2O7 Groups, Generally with No Additional Anions with cations in [8] and lower coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.9.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca
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Type Occurrence of Gehlenite

Type Locality:Monzoni Mts, Fassa Valley, Trento Province, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Year of Discovery:1815

Physical Properties of Gehlenite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy
Colour:yellow-brown, colourless, greenish grey
Streak:white, grey-white
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6
Cleavage:Distinct/Good

Crystallography of Gehlenite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4 2m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:P4 21m
Cell Parameters:a = 7.6850(4) Å, c = 5.0636(3) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.659
Unit Cell Volume:V 299.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Comment:Synthetic material.

Optical Data of Gehlenite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.670 nε = 1.660
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Gehlenite

Formula:
Ca
 
2
Al[AlSiO
 
7
]
Essential elements:Al, Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Fe,Mg,Mn,Na,K

Relationship of Gehlenite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Åkermanite (see here)
Member of Group:
Melilite:
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Al,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[(Al,Si)SiO
 
7
]
Melilite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.BB.10Åkermanite
Ca
 
2
Mg[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BB.10Cebollite
Ca
 
5
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
 or near
9.BB.10Gugiaite
Ca
 
2
Be[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BB.10Hardystonite
Ca
 
2
Zn[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BB.10Jeffreyite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)]
9.BB.10Okayamalite
Ca
 
2
B[BSiO
 
7
]
9.BB.10IMA2008-049
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Al,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
9.BB.15Barylite
BaBe
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BB.15Clinobarylite
BaBe
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
9.BB.20Andrémeyerite
BaFe
2+
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.9.2Anorthite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.3Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
16.9.4Svyatoslavite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.5Dmisteinbergite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.6Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
16.9.7Vuagnatite
CaAl[OH|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.8Zoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.9Clinozoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.10Prehnite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
16.9.11Kamaishilite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.12Bicchulite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.13Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.9.14Chantalite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.15Cebollite
Ca
 
5
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
 or near
16.9.17Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
16.9.18Lawsonite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
16.9.19Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
16.9.20Wairakite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.9.21Vertumnite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
24
·3H
 
2
O
16.9.22Scolecite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
16.9.23Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.24Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.25Gismondine-Ca
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.26Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·5H
 
2
O
16.9.27Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
16.9.28Cowlesite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·6H
 
2
O
16.9.30Stellerite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
16.9.31Strätlingite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
7
·8H
 
2
O
16.9.32Amstallite
CaAl(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
4
·(H
 
2
O,Cl)

Other Names for Gehlenite

Synonyms:
Velardenite
Other Languages:
German:Adiaphanspat
Gehlenit
Russian:Геленит
Spanish:Gehlenita

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 Gehlenite

Reference List:Christie, O.H.J. (1961) On sub-solidus relations of silicates; IV. The system åkermanite-sodium-gehlenite and gehlenite-sodium-gehlenite. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift: 42: 31-44.

Louisnathan, S.J. (1971), Refinement of the crystal structure of a natural gehlenite, Ca2Al(Al,Si)2O7: Canadian Mineralogist: 10: 822-837.

Hemingway, B.S. and Robie, R.A. (1984) Heat capacity and thermodynamic functions for gehlenite and staurolite: with comments on the Schottky anomaly in the heat capacity of staurolite. American Mineralogist: 69: 307-318.

Bouhifd, M.A., Gruener, G., Mysen, B.O., and Richet, P. (2002) Premelting and calcium mobility in gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7) and parawollastonite (CaSiO3). Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 29: 655-662.

Internet Links for Gehlenite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Gehlenite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Austria
     
    • Burgenland
      • Oberpullendorf
        • Kobersdorf
          • Pauliberg Mt.
    		U. Kolitsch, W. Postl, H.-P. Bojar and W. Trattner (2009): Die Mineralvorkommen im Basalt des Pauliberges. In: Autorenkollektiv (Red. M. A. Götzinger und P. Huber) (2009): Die Mineralien des Burgenlandes - Geologie, Mineralogie und mineralische Rohstoffe. – Wissenschaftliche Arbeiten aus dem Burgenland, Band 126, Amt der Burgenländischen Landesregierung, Abteilung 7 - Landesmuseum, Eisenstadt, 83-99.
    • Styria
      • Bad Radkersburg
        • Klöch
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    China
     
    • Anhui Province
      • Huaibei Prefecture
        • Suixi Co.
          • Sanpu ore field
    		Yiming Zhao, Yinan Zhang, and Chengsi Bi (1999): Ore Geology Reviews 14, 227-249.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Ústí Region
        • Duchcov (Dux)
    		Žáček V., Skála R., Chlupáčová M., Dvořák Z. 2005: Ca-Fe3+-rich, Si-undersaturated buchite from Želénky, North-Bohemian Brown Coal Basin, Czech Republic. Eur. J. Mineral., 17, 623-633
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Bad Harzburg
    		No reference listed
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Daun
          • Üdersdorf
    		Schüller, W., Betz, V., Die Mineralien vom Emmelberg, Lapis 12/1986
        • Laach lake volcanic complex
          • Wassenach
    		Hentschel, G., (1987): Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag, München (second edition)
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
            • Bellerberg volcano
              • Ettringer Bellerberg Mt. (Bellberg Mt.; Bellenberg Mt.; Billenberg Mt.; Boilenberg Mt.)
    		Hentschel, G. (1987): Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise (München), 2. Auflage
              • Southern lava flow
                • Mayener Feld
    		Fischer, R.X. Tillmanns, E. (1983): Die Kristallstrukturen von natürlichem Na2Ca2Si3O9 vom Mt. Shaheru (Zaire) und aus dem Mayener Feld (Eifel), N. Jb. Mineral. Mh. 49-59
              • Western lava flow
    		Hentschel, G. (1961): Seltene Mineralneubildungen in einem Kalksteineinschluß der Lava des Ettringer Bellerberges, Fortschritte Mineralogie, Vol. 39, 345
        • Mendig
          • Niedermendig
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1983
        • Polch
          • Ochtendung
    		Blass, G., Graf , HW., Die Wannenköpfe bei Ochtendung in der Vulkaneifel und ihre Mineralien, MW 6/1999
    Hungary
     
    • Pest Co.
      • Pilis Mts.
        • Pomáz
    		Fehér, B. (2000): Gehlenitic xenoliths from the Klanác Hill, Pomáz, Visegrád Mountains, Hungary. Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica (Szeged), XLI, Suppl., 39.
    Iran
     
    • East Azarbaijan Province
      • Ahar
    		Mollai, H., Sharma, R., and Pe-Piper, G. (2009): Ore Geology Reviews 35, 401-414.
    Israel
     
    • Negev desert
    		Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		[Lapis 1994:5 p.13-23,58]
            • Pollena - Trocchia area
    		Russo, M. & Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio. AMI, Ed., Cremona, Italy, 320 pp.
    • Latium
      • Rome Province
        • Bracciano Lake
    		Schingaro, E. et al. (2001): Crystal chemistry of Kimzeyite from Anguillara, Mts. Sabatini, Italy, European Journal of Mineralogy, Vol. 13, 749-759
        • Magliano Romano
    		Stoppani, F.S. & Curti, E. (1982): I minerali del Lazio. Editoriale Olimpia, Firenze, 291 pp.
        • Rome
          • Valleranello
      • Viterbo Province
        • Montalto di Castro
          • Pietra Massa Locality
    		Passaglia, E. & Turconi, B. (1982): Silicati ed altri minerali di Montalto di Castro - VT. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/1982, 97-110.
    Lapis 28(12), 19-28 (2003)
    • Piedmont
      • Torino Province
        • Canavese District
          • Chiusella Valley
            • Traversella
    		Piccoli, G.C., Maletto, G., Bosio, P., Lombardo, B. (2007). Minerali del Piemonte e della Valle d'Aosta. Associazione Amici del Museo "F. Eusebio" Alba, Ed., Alba (Cuneo) 607 pp.
    • Sardinia
      • Medio Campidano Province
        • Arbus
    		Preite, D., & Zuanel, A. (2007). Montevecchio: storia, miniere e minerali. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 31 (4), 230-246.
    • Trentino-Alto Adige
      • Trento Province
        • Fassa Valley
    		J. N. Fuchs (1815) J. Phys. Chem. (Schweigger), 15, 377
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    Exel, R. (1987): Guida mineralogica del Trentino e del Sudtirolo. Athesia, Bolzano, 204 pp.
        • Fiemme Valley
          • Predazzo
    		De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    • Tuscany
      • Grosseto Province
        • Pitigliano
    		Liotti L., 1991. I minerali dei vulcani laziali a Pitigliano (Grosseto). Riv. Mineral. Ital., 15: 121-139.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chugoku Region
        • Okayama Prefecture
          • Takahashi
            • Bitchu-cho (Bicchu-cho)
    		Mineralogical Record: 27: 304.; Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences Vol. 99 (2004) , No. 2 April 67-71
      • Tohoku Region
        • Fukushima Prefecture
    		Matsuyama, F. (2001)
    Mexico
     
    • Coahuila
      • Mun. de Sierra Mojada
        • Sierra Mojada
    		Mineralogical Magazine 1964 33 : 841-852
    • Durango
      • Mun. de Cuencamé
        • Velardeña District
          • Velardeña
    		Panczner (1987): 206.
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Northland
        • Kaipara
    		Mason, B. (1957): Larnite, scawtite, and hydrogrossular from Tokatoka, New Zealand. American Mineralogist 42, 379-392.
    Romania
     
    • Brașov Co.
    		Szakáll, S., Almási, E., Köllı, A., Sajó, I., Vezzalini, G. (2006): New data about the minerals of the copper ore deposit at Balan (East Carpathians) and of limestone xenolithes from basalt at Racosu de Jos (Persani Mts.), Romania. Acta Mineral.-Petrogr., Abstr. Ser. 5, p. 112. [http://www.mineral.hermuz.hu/acta_05/pdf/szakalls1.pdf]
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Canadian Mineralogist: 39: 1435-1453.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lake Baikal area
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    Solar System
     
    Gornitz, V. (2007) Hot & cold origins: the mineralogy of a comet. Mineral News, 23, #1, 1-4.
    Sweden
     
    • Medelpad
      • Sundsvall
    		No reference listed
    Uganda
     
    • Kabarole District
    		Barker, D.S. and Nixon, P.H. (1989) High-Ca, low-alkali carbonatite volcanism at Fort Portal, Uganda. Contributions to Minralogy and Petrology.: 103: 166-177.
    UK
     
    • Northern Ireland
      • Co. Antrim
        • Glenoe
        • Larne
    		American Mineralogist: 33: 786
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Inverness-shire)
        • Isle of Muck
    		Tilley, C.E. (1947) The gabbro-limestone contact zone of Camas Mor, Muck, Inverness-shire. Comptes Rendus de la Société geologique de Finlande, No. 140, 97–105.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Darwin District
    		Am Min (1962) 47:1003-1005
        • Death Valley
          • Death Valley National Monument
            • Panamint Mts (Panamint Range)
              • Ubehebe District
    		Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 259.
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
          • Crestmore quarries
            • Sky Blue Hill
    		Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmorre, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmore, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmorre, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    • Colorado
      • Gunnison Co.
        • White Earth District (Powderhorn District)
    • New Mexico
      • Luna Co.
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd rev. ed., 1996
    • Texas
      • Culberson Co.
        • Apache Peak area
    		Rocks & Minerals: 66(3): 196-224.
      • Uvalde Co.
    • Virginia
      • Highland Co.
    		Minerals of Virginia, 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    • Wyoming
      • Campbell Co.
        • Reno Junction
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 73, pages 1440-1448, 1988
    Mineral and/or Locality
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