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Silicate

Pargasite

NaCa₂(Mg₄Al)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂(OH)₂
Hardness5–6
Crystal systemMonoclinic
ClassSilicate
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Pargasite specimen

crystals of pargasite, crystals of calcite : Luc Yen Mine, Luc Yen, Yenbai (Yen Bai) Province, Vietnam — Photo: Parent Géry · CC BY-SA 3.0

Pargasite

A complex sodium-calcium amphibole named in 1814 for Pargas, Finland — a common dark-green member of the hornblende family.

Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Pargasite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula NaCa₂(Mg₄Al)(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 3.04–3.17; typically green or brown or black; white streak; [Vitreous.] luster; refractive index 1.64; optically biaxial.

IMA symbol Prg, IMA status: approved, named in 1815.

A common component of \hornblendes" in skarns metamorphosed from siliceous limestones; schists and amphibolites; also from andesitic volcanic and altered ultramafic rocks.

It is found associated with Diopside, phlogopite, corundum, spinel, calcite (skarn); \hypersthene, " augite, plagioclase (metabasalts and andesitic volcanics).

The name is derived from the locality at Parainen (Pargas), Finland.

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