E P I D O T E
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EpidoteCa2(Fe,Al)3(SiO4)3(OH)
Class: Silicate Subclass: Sorosilicate Hardness: 6 - 7 Density: 3.4 - 3.5 Streak: White Lustre: Vitreous Habit: Aggregate of small grains, striated faces, small but visible crystals Colours: Greeny, yellow-green, black | | Crystal System: Monoclinic Cleavage: Perfect Fracture: Uneven Magnetism: None Reaction with HCl: None | Identification in hand sample: Slight colour difference between this mineral and olivine, but only under magnification (where details in the crystals can be seen). Also indicitive is the presence of a cleavage plane. Associations: Common accessory mineral in many regional and contact metamorphed rocks, particularly in more iron-rich rocks. Industrial / ecomonic uses: Semiprecious gemstone |