Cahnite (Cahnit in German, Cahnita in Spanish, Канит in Russian
/ref>) is a brittle white or colorless mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. ...
that has perfect cleavage and is usually transparent. It usually forms tetragonal-shaped crystals and it has a hardness of 3 mohs.[Mineral Data sheet for Cahnite.]
/ref>[Database entry from Mineral Collecting.]
/ref> Cahnite was discovered in the year 1921.[ It was named Cahnite to honor Lazard Cahn (1865–1940), who was a mineral collector and dealer.][ It is usually found in the Franklin Mine, in Franklin, New Jersey,]chemical formula
In chemistry, a chemical formula is a way of presenting information about the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound or molecule, using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also other symbols, ...
for cahnite is Ca2B sO4OH)4.[Database entry for Cahnite from Japanese database.]
/ref> It is made up of 26.91% calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar t ...
, 3.63% boron, 25.15% arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As and atomic number 33. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in combination with sulfur and metals, but also as a pure elemental crystal. Arsenic is a metalloid. It has various allotropes, bu ...
, 1.35% hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. Hydrogen is the lightest element. At standard conditions hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules having the formula . It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic ...
, and 42.96% oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as we ...
. It has a molecular weight of 297.91 grams.[ Cahnite is not radioactive.][ Cahnite is associated with these other minerals: ]willemite
Willemite is a zinc silicate mineral () and a minor ore of zinc. It is highly fluorescent (green) under shortwave ultraviolet light. It occurs in a variety of colors in daylight, in fibrous masses and apple-green gemmy masses. Troostite is a vari ...
, rhodonite
Rhodonite is a manganese inosilicate, (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3 and member of the pyroxenoid group of minerals, crystallizing in the triclinic system. It commonly occurs as cleavable to compact masses with a rose-red color (the name comes from the Gr ...
, pyrochroite, hedyphane, datolite
Datolite is a calcium boron hydroxide nesosilicate, Ca B Si O4(O H). It was first observed by Jens Esmark in 1806, and named by him from δατεῖσθαι, "to divide," and λίθος, "stone," in allusion to the granular structure
of the mass ...
, and baryte
Baryte, barite or barytes ( or ) is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate ( Ba S O4). Baryte is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of the element barium. The ''baryte group'' consists of baryte, celestine (strontium sulfate), ...
.[
]
References
Arsenate minerals
Calcium minerals
Borate minerals
Tetragonal minerals
Minerals in space group 82
Minerals described in 1921
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