benitoite

Name:

benitoite

A photo of the mineral benitoite

Class:

Silicates

Chemistry:

BaTi Si3O9 barium titanium silicate

Color(s):

blue, purple, pink, white, clear streak: uncolored

Hardness:

6 - 6.5

SpecGrav:

3.6

Fracture:

conchoidal

Cleavage:

indistinct

Crystal:

trigonal (pyramidal or tabular, usually flattened on c-axis and somewhat triangular in shape)

Envronment:

Two Locals San Benito Co. Calif. and Mont. St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

Association:

neptunite, joaquinite, natrolite

Locals:

| Calif., Texas (sand grains) , USA | Belgium (sand grains) |

Misc:

Blue fluorescence under short wave UV. Strongly dichroic. Named after the local (San Benito County) where it was first found (1907). This is the only site on earth where it has been found in place.

Photos
& Locals:

1.) San Benito Co., Calif.
2.) San Benito Co., Calif. (Closeup)

3.) San Benito Co., Calif.

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Name:	benitoite
Class:	Silicates
Chemistry:	BaTi Si3O9 barium titanium silicate
Color(s):	blue, purple, pink, white, clear streak: uncolored
Hardness:	6 - 6.5	SpecGrav:	3.6
Fracture:	conchoidal	Cleavage:	indistinct
Crystal:	trigonal (pyramidal or tabular, usually flattened on c-axis and somewhat triangular in shape)
Envronment:	Two Locals San Benito Co. Calif. and Mont. St. Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
Association:	neptunite, joaquinite, natrolite
Locals:	\| Calif., Texas (sand grains) , USA \| Belgium (sand grains) \|
Misc:	Blue fluorescence under short wave UV. Strongly dichroic. Named after the local (San Benito County) where it was first found (1907). This is the only site on earth where it has been found in place.

	Photos & Locals:
		1.) San Benito Co., Calif. 2.) San Benito Co., Calif. (Closeup)		3.) San Benito Co., Calif.

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