STICHTITE

    Class : Carbonates, nitrates, borates
    Subclass : Hydrated carbonates
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : Mg6Cr2(CO3)(OH)16 4H2O
    Rarity : Uncommon to rare

Stichtite is a rare, attractive pink-purple mineral that forms coatings, veinlets of fibres or tangled lamellae in the cracks of peridotites and chrome serpentinites. It was named after Robert Sticht, General Manager of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company in Tasmania, where the mineral was discovered. Stichtite never forms visible crystals, but forms pink to purple masses in green serpentine, making it a popular ornamental stone.

Main photo : Stichtite from Dundas, Tasmania, Australia © John Sobolewski

Stichtite cabochon from Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
Stichtite cabochon from Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
Stichtite cabochon from Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
Stichtite cabochon from Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

Stichtite in the World

The most beautiful specimens of stichtite come from the asbestos and chromite deposits of Keepsehoop (South Africa): green rock dark is furrowed with pink veinlets of stichtite up to 20 cm thick. Excellent samples come from Dundas (Tasmania, Australia) which provides most of the rough today. Stichtite is also known in the superficial zones of the chrome deposits of Morocco (Bou-Azzer) and Russia (Tyungur) as well as in Brazil, Canada and several other localities.

Photo on the right : Polished stichtite from Dundas, Tasmania, Australia © Luciana Barbosa

Stichtite in France

Stichtite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No twinning known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species.


Hardness : 1.5 to 2
Density : 2.16
Fracture : Undertermined
Streak : White to pink

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.516 to 1.542
Birefringence : 0.026
Optical character : Uniaxial +
Pleochroism : Low
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Hydrochloric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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