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www.mineralgallery.co.za Minerals A-E |
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Diaspore |
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Name
Diaspore
Chemistry
AlO(OH)
Uses
A source of aluminium.
Colour-
Colourless to white, sometimes green or brownish.
Hardness
6.5-7.
Specific gravity
3.3 -3.7.
Crystal system:
Orthorhombic
Accompanied by:
With corundum in emery deposits and in limestones
Fracture
Conchoidal fracture, brittle
Luster
.Vitreous, pearly on cleavages
Cleavage
Perfect{010} cleavage.
Streak
White
Similar to:
Ephesite
Diaspore formed attractive pink to red crystals at the Lohathla, Gloucester and Paling mines in the Postmasburg, South Africa manganese fields. Vugs contained platy terminated crystals up to 2 cm, but some cleavage fragments of single crystals up to 15 cm also excist. These crystals are unique because of their size and color. This is the only place where manganese stained the crystals red to pink.
