Carpholite (Weight: 63.8 g) – Place of discovery: Wippra, Harz, Germany — Photo: Raimond Spekking · CC BY-SA 4.0
Carpholite
A manganese-aluminium silicate forming yellow clusters of slender needles; its group includes ferro- and magnesio- variants.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Carpholite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Mn²⁺Al₂Si₂O₆(OH)₄.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Ccca). It is a member of the Carpholite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5.5–6; specific gravity 2.94–3.03; Silky, glistening luster; refractive index 1.623; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Car, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1817.
Found in low-grade metamorphosed shales.
It is found associated with Sudoite, manganoan garnet, chlorotoid, fluorite.
Its name comes from the Greek for straw, in allusion to its color.