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Silicate

Hastingsite

NaCa₂(Fe²⁺₄Fe³⁺)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂
Hardness5–6
Crystal systemMonoclinic
ClassSilicate
Hastingsite specimen

The sample is a rock fragment (7 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm), composed mainly of intergrowths and radial-radiant aggregates of dark green, almost black potassic-hastingsi — Photo: Kaneva, Ekaterina and Radomskaya, Tatiana and Shendrik, Roman and Chubarov, Victor and Danilovsky, Victoria · CC BY 4.0

Hastingsite

Hastingsite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula NaCa₂(Fe²⁺₄Fe³⁺)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂.

It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/m). It is a member of the Amphibole structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 5–6; specific gravity 3.35–3.5; typically green or black or brown; white streak; [Vitreous.] luster; optically biaxial.

IMA symbol Hst, IMA status: approved, named in 1896.

Found in nepheline syenite and granite; in schists, gneisses, tactites, and amphibolites.

It is found associated with Scapolite, apatite, magnetite, spinel (gneiss); garnet, epidote, hedenbergite, quartz (tactite).

The name refers to a locality in Hastings Co., Ontario, Canada.

Collections: Collector Favorites.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more H minerals or help write this entry.