Dinite

Formula:

System:

Orthorhombic

Lustre:

Waxy

Hardness:

Name:

The name "Dinite" was chosen by Prof. G. Meneghini in honour of Prof. Olinto Dini (1802-1866), (Italian teacher and professor of physics, University of Pisa), who found the mineral.
This naming of dinite was reported by Petri (1852).

This page provides mineralogical data about Dinite.

Classification of Dinite

IMA status:

Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"

Strunz 8th edition ID:

9/B.02-55

Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:

10.BA.15

10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
B : Hydrocarbons
A : Hydrocarbons

Dana 8th edition ID:

50.3.5.1

50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
3 : Hydrocarbons

mindat.org URL:

http://www.mindat.org/min-6904.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Dinite

Type Locality:

Lignite deposits, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Garfagnana, Lucca Province, Tuscany, Italy

General Appearance of Type Material:

It has an "icy" appearance; it is transparent and very brittle.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Museo di Storia Naturale e del Territorio, University of Pisa. No. 8875.

Year of Discovery:

1852

Geological Setting of type material:

It is found in the bituminous fossil woods occurin under the alluvial deposits of Garfagnana, along the Serchio Valley.

Physical Properties of Dinite

Lustre:

Waxy

Diaphaneity (Transparency):

Transparent

Hardness (Mohs):

Tenacity:

Very brittle

Density (measured):

1 - 1.02 g/cm³

Density (calculated):

1.02 g/cm³

Crystallography of Dinite

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

2 2 2 - Disphenoidal

Space Group:

P2₁ 2₁ 2₁

X-Ray Powder Diffraction:

d-spacing		Intensity
8.92		(ms)
8.32		(ms)
7.00		(s)
6.36		(mw)
6.14		(w)
5.76		(vw)
5.53		(vs)
5.06		(vs)
4.80		(mw)
4.44		(w)
4.16		(vw)
4.02		(ms)
3.870		(m)
3.793		(m)
3.706		(mw)
3.502		(mw)
3.412		(w)
3.303		(mw)
3.235		(mw)
3.066		(mw)
2.982		(m)
2.900		(w)
2.835		(w)
2.745		(mw)
2.696		(m)
2.494		(w)
2.432		(m)
2.301		(m)
2.251		(mw)
2.173		(m)
2.143		(mw)
2.094		(m)
2.025		(w)
1.994		(mw)
1.966		(mw)
1.923		(mw)
1.849		(w)
1.748		(mw)
1.667		(w)

Chemical Properties of Dinite

Formula:

Essential elements:

C, H

All elements listed in formula:

C, H

Analytical Data:

Chemical analysis using a Carlo Erba 1104 elemental micro-analyser.

C (86.77)
H (13.44)

Empirical Formula:

·91

Relationship of Dinite to other Species

10.BA.05

10.BA.10

10.BA.20

10.BA.25

10.BA.30

10.BA.30

10.BA.35

10.BA.40

10.BA.45

10.BA.50

Other Names for Dinite

Other Languages:

German:	Dinit
Russian:	Динит
Spanish:	Dinita

Other Information

IR Spectrum:

The IR spectrum was obtained with a Perkin-Elmer FTIR 1600 spectrometer using a solution of dinite in "Nujol". The spectrum presents the typical features of a saturated hydrocarbon.

Thermal Behaviour:

The fusion point was measured at 33-34° C, using Kopffler apparatus.

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 Dinite

Reference List:

-Petri G., 1852. Sulla dinite, nuovo minerale di origine organica. Gazz. Med. Ital., Toscana, ser. II, 4: 233-234.
-Franzini L., Pasero M., Perchiazzi N.(1991): Re-discovery and re-definition of dinite, C20H36, a forgotten organic mineral from Garfagnana, northern Tuscany, Italy. Eur. J. Mineral., 3, 855-861.