KINOITE

    Class : Silicates
    Subclass : Sorosilicates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Ca2Cu2Si3O8(OH)4
    Rarity : Very rare

Kinoite is a very rare silicate found in copper deposits ; it is found in particular in copper skarns and in the cavities of certain basalt flows. It was named in honor of the Jesuit Eusébio Kino, explorer and pioneer of the American southwest, particularly Arizona and California as well as Sonora (Mexico). Kinoite appears in beautiful small elongated tabular crystals of 1.5 mm maximum, or in massive veinlets, of a magnificent deep blue.

Main photo : Kinoite and apophyllite from Christmas Mine, Arizona, USA © Ko-Chun Huang

Kinoite and apophyllite from Christmas Mine, Arizona, USA © Elmar Lackner
Kinoite from Christmas Mine, Arizona, USA © Henry Minot
Kinoite and apophyllite from Christmas Mine, Arizona, USA © Stephan Wolfsried
Kinoite and calcite from Laurium Mine, Michigan, USA © Larry Maltby

Kinoite in the World

Kinoite is only reported in American deposits : geodes and veinlets with apophyllite and copper minerals in the Helvetia skarns, near Tucson (Arizona), with quartz and calcite in the Kearsage and Laurium mines, near Calumet (Michigan), with apophyllite in the copper mine of Christmas (Arizona) and Bawana (Utah).

Kinoite in France

Kinoite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2.5
Density : 3.13 to 3.19
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Blue

TP : Transparent
RI : 1.638 to 1.676
Birefringence : 0.038
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : Strong
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Hydrochloric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None