Dark Green Epidote stone specimen from Africa

Weight - 119.4 gram (597 carat)

Dimension: 64x35x43 mm

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Epidote

Formula: Ca2(Al2Fe3+)(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)2 Monoclinic

Calcium Aluminum Iron Silicate Hydroxide

Epidote is a common mineral formed during low grades of metamorphism and hydrothermal activity. It is particular common in metamorphosed basalts and gabbros where it replaces plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine. It can also be found in schists and marbles. It is frequently found as vug or vein fillings in these rocks. It is commonly associated with chlorite, actinolite and quartz. Epidote occurs frequently in igneous and metamorphic rocks. When it occurs as green radiating crystals with quartz in veins or filling amygdules it can make attractive specimens.

Epidote is a rock-forming mineral. Many regionally-metamorphosed rocks contain small amounts of epidote. Two rock types that contain significant amounts of epidote are epidosite and unakite. Locations where these rocks can be found are rare, but at those locations significant amounts of these rocks can be present.
Epidosite is a metamorphic rock composed mainly of epidote with small amounts of quartz. It forms when basalts in sheeted dikes and ophiolites are transformed by hydrothermal activity or metasomatism.

Epidote has no significant use as an industrial mineral and has only minor use as a gemstone. High-quality transparent crystals are sometimes cut into faceted stones.

Epidote is one of the most outstanding display minerals. The finest and most desirable form of this mineral is in delicate elongated crystals that are extremely lustrous and often interconnected. This form is highly treasured by collectors and creates one of the finest mineral showpieces. The color of Epidote is almost invariably green, in all different shades and tones, with a pistachio color habit being very typical. - See more at: https://www.minerals.net/mineral/epidote.aspx#sthash.DMrFrnee.dpuf

Dark, chisel-shaped crystals associated with Prehnite are abundant in the Kayes Region, Mali; and large sharp crystals came from an undisclosed location in Northeastern Kenya. Small crystals and fan-shaped aggregates are from Imilchil, in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco; and sharp crystal clusters from Rehoboth, Hardap Region, Namibia. - See more at: https://www.minerals.net/mineral/epidote.aspx#sthash.DMrFrnee.dpuf

·  Color is "pistachio" green to yellowish or brownish green, also brown to black.

·  Class: Silicates

·  Subclass: Sorosilicates

·  Group: Epidote

·  Uses: mineral specimens

·  Luster is vitreous.

·  Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.

·  Crystal System monoclinic; 2/m

·  Crystal Habits include long, somewhat prismatic or tabular crystals with a typically dominant pinacoid that the crystal is often flattened against. The terminations are wedge shaped or tappered pyramids. Many clusters show grooved slender crystals or acicular sprays. Also massive, fiberous or granular.

·  Cleavage good in one direction lengthwise.

·  Fracture is uneven to conchoidal.

·  Hardness is 6-7

·  Specific Gravity is 3.3-3.5

·  Streak white to gray

·  Associated Minerals calcite, biotite, hornblende, actinolite, andradite garnet and other metamorphic minerals.