EAKERITE

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Cyclosilicates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Ca2SnAl2Si6O18(OH)2 2H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Eakerite is a very rare tin silicate known in two localities in the world : a spodumene pegmatite and inclusions in the andratites of a skarn. It was named in honor of Jack Eaker, a mineral collector who discovered the mineral at Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Eakerite forms small white prismatic crystals of 5 mm sometimes on bavenite needles.

Main photo : Eakerite of Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA © Jason B. Smith

Eakerite from Foote Mine, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA © Jason B. Smith
Eakerite on bavenite from Foote, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA © Luigi Chiappino
Eakerite from Foote Mine, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA © Jason B. Smith
Eakerite on bavenite from Foote, Kings Mountain, North Carolina, USA © Chris Emproto

Eakerite in the World

The most beautiful eakerite crystals are centimeter-sized and come from its type locality : Foote, near Kings Mountain (North Carolina). It is also known in a tin skarn near Pitkyaranta (Russia).

Eakerite in France

Eakerite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

Potential cross- and V-shaped interpenetration twins are known at Foote (see photos).

Fakes and treatments

No fake listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 5.5
Density : 2.93
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.584 to 1.600
Birefringence : 0.016
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -


Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None