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Zoisite

Big Photo

Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Zoisite Photos (41)
Formula:
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, purple, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6 - 7
Name:
Named after Siegmund Zois, Baron von Edelstein (1747-1819), Austrian scholar who financed mineral-collecting expeditions.
Dimorph of:Clinozoisite


Epidote Group. The orthorhombic dimorph of Clinozoisite.
The only orthorhombic member of the Epidote Group.

Classification of Zoisite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/C.23-100
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.BG.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
G : Sorosilicates with mixed SiO4 and Si2O7 groups; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:58.2.1b.1

58 : SOROSILICATES Insular, Mixed, Single, and Larger Tetrahedral Groups
2 : Insular, Mixed, Single, and Larger Tetrahedral Groups with cations in [6] and higher coordination; single and double groups (n = 1, 2)
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.9.8

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

Type Locality:Prickler Halt, Ladinger Spitze Mt. - Speikkogel Mt. area, Saualpe Mts, Carinthia, Austria
Year of Discovery:1805

Occurrences of Zoisite

Geological Setting:Medium grade regionally metamorphosed rocks, eclogites, blueschist facies metamorphic rocks.

Physical Properties of Zoisite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Pearly on cleavage {010}
Colour:Colourless, purple, greyish-white, grey, yellowish-brown, yellow, pink, green
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 7
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {010}
Imperfect on {100}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.15 - 3.36 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.35 g/cm3

Crystallography of Zoisite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 16.19Å, b = 5.54Å, c = 10.03Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.922 : 1 : 1.81
Unit Cell Volume:V 899.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Prismatic crystals, columnar to compact, massive
Crystal Atlas:
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Zoisite no.4 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Zoisite no.16 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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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 Zoisite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.696 - 1.700 nβ = 1.696 - 1.702 nγ = 1.702 - 1.718
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.006 - 0.018

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:relatively strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X= pale pink to red violet
Y= nearly colorless to bright pink or beep blue
Z= pale yellow to yellow-green

Chemical Properties of Zoisite

Formula:
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,Mg,Cr,Ti,Ca,Na,V,Sr,H2O

Relationship of Zoisite to other Species

Member of Group:
Epidote Group:
{A
 
2
}{M
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.BG.05Allanite-(Ce)
{CaCe}{Al
 
2
Fe
2+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Allanite-(La)
{CaLa}{Al
 
2
Fe
2+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Allanite-(Y)
{CaY}{Al
 
2
Fe
2+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Clinozoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Dissakisite-(Ce)
{CaCe}{Al
 
2
Mg}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Dollaseite-(Ce)
{CaCe}{MgAlMg}[F|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Epidote
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
2
Fe
3+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Epidote-(Pb)
{CaPb}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Khristovite-(Ce)
{CaCe}{MgAlMn
2+
 
}[F|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Mukhinite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
2
V
3+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Piemontite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
2
Mn
3+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Piemontite-(Sr)
{CaSr}{Al
 
2
Mn
3+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Manganiandrosite-(La)
{LaMn
2+
 
}{Mn
3+
 
AlMn
2+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Tawmawite
Ca
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
,Cr)
 
3
[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Manganipiemontite-(Sr)
{CaSr}{Mn
3+
 
AlMn
3+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Ferriallanite-(Ce)
{CaCe}{Fe
3+
 
AlFe
2+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Clinozoisite-(Sr)
CaSrAl
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
9.BG.05Ferriepidote
9.BG.05Manganiandrosite-(Ce)
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Ce,REE)Mn
3+
 
AlMn
2+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
9.BG.05Dissakisite-(La)
{CaLa}{Al
 
2
Mg}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Vanadoandrosite-(Ce)
{Mn
2+
 
Ce}{V
3+
 
AlMn
2+
 
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Androsite-(La)
9.BG.05Uedaite-(Ce)
Mn
2+
 
CeAl
 
2
Fe
2+
 
[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.05Epidote-(Sr)
CaSrAl
 
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
9.BG.15Macfallite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.15Sursassite
Mn
 
2
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.20Julgoldite-(Fe2+)
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Okhotskite
Ca
 
8
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(Mn
3+
 
,Al,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
12
O
 
56-n
(OH)
 
n
9.BG.20Pumpellyite-(Fe2+)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Pumpellyite-(Fe3+)
Ca
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH,O)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Pumpellyite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Pumpellyite-(Mn2+)
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)(Al,Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Shuiskite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Al)(Cr,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Julgoldite-(Fe3+)
Ca
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH,O)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Pumpellyite-(Al)
Ca
 
2
(Al,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[(OH,O)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Poppiite
Ca
 
2
(V
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Mg)(V
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH,O)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.20Julgoldite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BG.25Ganomalite
Pb
 
9
Ca
 
5
Mn[O|SiO
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
]
9.BG.30Rustumite
Ca
 
10
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
9.BG.35Vesuvianite
Ca
 
10
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
9
O
 
34
(OH)
 
4
9.BG.35Wiluite
Ca
 
19
(Al,Mg,Fe,Ti)
 
13
(B,Al,[ ])
 
5
Si
 
18
O
 
68
(O,OH)
 
10
9.BG.35Manganvesuvianite
Ca
 
19
Mn(Al,Mn,Fe)
 
19
(Mg,Mn)
 
2
Si
 
18
O
 
69
(OH)
 
9
9.BG.35Fluorvesuvianite
Ca
 
19
(Al,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
13
[(F,OH,O)
 
10
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
10
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
]
9.BG.40Vyuntspakhkite-(Y)
Y
 
4
Al
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
18
(OH)
 
5
9.BG.45Dellaite
Ca
 
6
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
9.BG.50Gatelite-(Ce)
CaCe
 
3
Al
 
2
(Al,Mg)(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Al)[(O,F)|(OH,O)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BG.55Västmanlandite-(Ce)
Ca(Ce,La)
 
3
Al
 
2
Mg
 
2
 [F|(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.9.1Gehlenite
Ca
 
2
Al[AlSiO
 
7
]
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
]
16.9.9Clinozoisite
{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 Zoisite

Synonyms:
IlluderiteOrthozoisiteUnionite
Other Languages:
Croatian:Zoisit
Dutch:Zoisiet
Finnish:Zoisiitti
French:Zoïsite
German:Zoisit
Illuderit
Orthozoisit
Saualpit
Sau-Alpit
Unionit
Hebrew:זואיסיט
Hungarian:Zoizit
Italian:Zoisite
Japanese:灰簾石
Lithuanian:Zoisitas
Polish:Zoisyt
Portuguese:Zoisite
Romanian:Zoisit
Russian:Цоизит
Simplified Chinese:黝簾石
Spanish:Zoisita
Illuderita
Orthozoisita
Saualpita
Unionita
Swedish:Zoisit
Varieties:
Chrome-ZoisitePseudozoisiteTanzaniteThulite

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 Zoisite

Reference List:Jameson R. (1804), A system of mineralogy, Edinburgh. 2, 597.

Klaproth, M.H. (1807): Untersuchung des Zoisits von der Saualpe, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Vierter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 179-185

American Mineralogist (1968): 53: 1882-1898.

Mineralogical Magazine (1985): 49: 97.

Schmidt, M.W. and Poli, S. (1994), The stability of lawsonite and zoisite at high pressures: experiments in CASH to 92 kbar and implications for the presence of hydrous phases in subducted lithosphere. Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 124: 105-118.

Holland, T.J.B., Redfern, S.A.T., and Pawley, A.R. (1996), Volume behavior of hydrous minerals at high pressure and temperature: II. Compressibilities of lawsonite, zoisite, clinozoisite and epidote. American Mineralogist: 81: 341-348.

Pawley, A.R., Redfern, S.A.T., and Holland, T.J.B. (1996), Volume behavior of hydrous minerals at high pressures and temperatures: 1. Thermal expansion of lawsonite, zoisite, clinozoisite, and diaspore. American Mineralogist: 81: 335-340.

Grevel, K.-D., Nowlan, E.U., Fasshauer, D.W., and Burchard, M. (2000), In situ X-ray diffraction investigation of lawsonite and zoisite at high pressures and temperatures American Mineralogist: 85: 206-216.

Internet Links for Zoisite

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    Localities for Zoisite

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