Rhodizite - Encyclopedia

    Class : Carbonates, Nitrates, Borates
    Subclass : Borates
    Crystal System : Cubic
    Chemistry : (K, Cs)Al₄Be₄(B, Be)₁₂O₂₈
    Rarity : Rare

Rhodizite is a rare borate in sodium pegmatites, where it occurs alongside elbaite, spodumene, apatite and lepidolite. Its relatively loose crystalline structure provides large cavities in which large ions can be housed : cesium, but also rubidium, lithium, potassium or sodium. Rhodizite is practically the only cesium mineral. Its name comes from the Greek rhodizein (to be pink), because when heated with a blowtorch the flame turns pink-red. Its crystals are yellow, greyish or white, frequently dodecahedral, sometimes tetrahedral and rarely exceed one centimeter. Rhodizite is translucent to transparent, vitreous to adamantine luster. It has a very limited use as a gem.

Main photo : Rhodizite from Ifasina, Sahatsiho Ambohimanjaka, Ambositra, Amoron'i Mania, Madagascar

A very rare twin is known on {111}.

No fake identify for this mineral species.