Pezzottaite

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Pezzotaite
Chemical composition Cesium Beryllium Lithium Aluminium Silicate Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18
Crystal system Trigonal
Habit subhedral-to-euhedral hexagonal tabular
Cleavage imperfect (basal)
Fracture conchoidal to irregular
Hardness 8
Optic nature uniaxial -
Refractive index 1.601-1.620
Birefringence 0.011
Dispersion unknown
Specific gravity 3.04-3.14
Lustre vitreous
Pleochroism moderate to strong
Faceted Pezzottaite
Photo courtesty of The Gem Trader

Pezzottaite is a raspberry-red to pink member of the Beryl Group named after Dr. Federico Pezzotta. Discovered in Madagascar and IMA approved in 2003 as a new mineral.

Although related to Beryl it is not a variety of Beryl, it is a gem quality member of the Beryl Group to which also Beryl belongs.

Occurence

Geological Occurence: Granitic pegmatites having Li, Cs, Ta and other rare Earth elements. Mainly crystallized from the fluids in the cavities as late stage crystals.

Geographical Occurence: Sakavalana pegmatite in Madagascar; little in Afghanistan too and sometimes in other granitic pegmatites.

Crystallography

Hexagonal system but trigonal symmetry. Pezzottaite with Cs and Li is not icostructural with beryl but the arrangement is close. Pinacoid, prism, pyramid are common forms. Etching and corrosion is seen.

Chemical composition

Composition with trace elements: Pezzottaite is Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18 ; i.e. Cs, Li rich beryl. In Beryl three Be atoms as in formula occupy three symmetrical positions but in pezzottaite, the three positions are occupied in ordered patterrn by Be2Li rather than Be3. Thus these positions are not related by symmetry and changes to 3-fold symmetry rather than hexagonal and larger unit cells. This increase has an effect on the properties to a great extent. Other important traces include Rb, Na, Mn, K, Sc, Ti, Fe also.

Beryl: Be3Al2Si6O18
Pezzottaite: Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18

Diagnostics

Color

Due to radiation induced colour center involving Mn3+; Purplish pink, sometimes orangish tinge present (Madagascar).

Magnification

Inclusions: Growth tubes, fractures, fingererprint and fluid inclusions with phase. Transparent near colourless crystals. Also transparent green crystals of tourmaline. Rarely color zoning.

Phenomena

Cat's eye

Cat's Eye Pezzottaite
Photo courtesy of The Gem Trader

Treatments

Fracture filling with oil or resin.
Heat may lighten color and irradiation darken it.

Simulants

  • Morganite (lower heft, lower R.I)
  • Tourmaline (Doubling of inclusions & Back facet edges, Higher birefringence)
  • Tourmaline cats eye is very close to pezzottaite cats eye (Birefringence blink and inclusions)

Sources

  • Gems and Gemology 2003 - GIA
  • Journal of Gemmology - Gem-A

External links