Fichtelite
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.
| Fichtelite | |
|---|---|
 Chemical structure of fichtelite | |
| General | |
| Category | Organic mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | C19H34 |
| IMA symbol | Fic[1] |
| Strunz classification | 10.BA.05 Hydrocarbons |
| Dana classification | 50.03.04.01 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Sphenoidal (2) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless, white, pale yellow |
| Crystal habit | Elongated tabular crystals |
| Cleavage | Good on {001} and {100} |
| Mohs scale hardness | 1 |
| Luster | Greasy |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Specific gravity | 0.631 calculated[2] 1.032[3] |
| Optical properties | Biaxial |
| Melting point | 44.2 °C – 45.0 °C |
| References | [2][3][4] |
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
- 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.
- http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/fichtelite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
- http://webmineral.com/data/Fichtelite.shtml Webmineral data
- http://www.mindat.org/min-1545.html Mindat.org
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