What is cyanite?
cyanite, also known as aluminum silicate, is bluish to colorless mineral, which usually occurs in metamorphic rocks. This mineral is used commercially in the production of some ceramics and is also sometimes cut for use as a gem. Mineral is often used in ceramic mixtures used to make boards, spark plugs, toilets and many other household goods. The main stacks of cyanite in the world come from the Ural mountains in Russia, as well as sources in Italy, Switzerland and the American northeast; Mineral can also be found in other deposits around the world.
composition
classified among alinosilicate minerals, this mineral consists mainly of aluminum, oxygen and silicon; In accordance with this, it tends to appear in places that are rich in aluminum. It is also considered to be polymorph of Andalusite and Sillimanite, which means that these minerals share identical chemical composition, but their crystalline matrix is different. Ttvorba crystal is influenced by factors such as heat andpressure, so these minerals can sometimes be used as geological history indicators when they are found. It is a brittle material, so if it is used for cutting gems, it must be carefully cut.
shape
several things make Kyanite characteristic; The first is the shape of the crystals that tend to form in extended columns. The second is that the mineral is anisotropic, which means that the hardness changes to the direction of the crystals. People can try the anisotropic properties of cyanite for themselves by scratching different crystal surfaces on the sample of this mineral; This test is often used in the field to positively identify cyanite.
Color
The name of this mineral comes from Greek kyanos , which means "blue". Some specimens have an incredibly rich blue color, so the theme of excellent candidates for cutting gems. While some specimens are blue, most patternThe cyanite leather is transparent, with a slightly pearl shine. Mineral can also be striped with white or other colors, depending on the dirt in the mineral and is often connected to other minerals such as grenades, quartz and various mica. Mineralogues often maintain samples of unprocessed cyanite around because it is an interesting mineral and some collectors also maintain it, especially when they find richly colored samples.