Fichtelite

Organic mineral
(repeating unit)C19H34IMA symbolFic[1]Strunz classification10.BA.05
HydrocarbonsDana classification50.03.04.01Crystal systemMonoclinicCrystal classSphenoidal (2)
(same H-M symbol)Space groupP21IdentificationColorColorless, white, pale yellowCrystal habitElongated tabular crystalsCleavageGood on {001} and {100}Mohs scale hardness1LusterGreasyStreakWhiteDiaphaneityTransparentSpecific gravity0.631 calculated[2] 1.032[3]Optical propertiesBiaxialMelting point44.2 °C – 45.0 °CReferences[2][3][4]

Fichtelite is a rare white mineral found in fossilized wood from Bavaria. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system. It is a cyclic hydrocarbon: dimethyl-isopropyl-perhydrophenanthrene, C19H34. It is very soft with a Mohs hardness of 1, the same as talc. Its specific gravity is very low at 1.032, just slightly denser than water.

It was first described in 1841 and named for the location, Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria, Germany.[4] It has been reported from fossilized pine wood from a peat bog and in organic-rich modern marine sediments.[2]

References

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b c http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/fichtelite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. ^ a b http://webmineral.com/data/Fichtelite.shtml Webmineral data
  4. ^ a b http://www.mindat.org/min-1545.html Mindat.org


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