Minerals Again

My favorite minerals, now with formulas and crystal systems. At some point I might write in their space groups also.

Olivines (Nesosilicate)
forsterite: orthorhombic Mg2SiO4
fayalite: orthorhombic Fe2SiO4

olivine: orthorhombic (Mg, Fe)2SiO4

Garnets (Nesosilicate)

andradite: cubic Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3
almandine: cubic Fe3Al2(SiO4)3

grossular: cubic Ca3Al2(SiO4)3

majorite: cubic Mg3(MgSi)(SiO4)3
pyrope: cubic Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
spessartine: cubic Mn3Al2(SiO4)3
uvarovite: cubic Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3

Spinel-group silicate minerals (Nesosilicate):
ferro-ringwoodite: cubic Fe2SiO4

ringwoodite: cubic Mg2SiO4

Silicate perovskites (Nesosilicate):
bridgmanite: orthorhombic MgSiO3

davemaoite: cubic CaSiO3

ferro-bridgmanite: orthorhombic FeSiO3

Ilmenite-group Silicates (Nesosilicate):
ferro-Akimotoite: trigonal FeSiO3
magnesio-Akimotoite: trigonal MgSiO3

Miscellaneous Nesosilicates:
andalusite: orthorhombic Al2SiO5
chondrodite: monoclinic (Mg, Fe)5(SiO4)2(F, OH)2
coffinite: tetragonal USiO4
euclase: monoclinic BeAlSiO4(OH)
howlite: monoclinic Ca2B5SiO9(OH)5

kyanite: triclinic Al2SiO5

norbergite: orthorhombic Mg3(SiO4)(F, OH)2
phenakite: trigonal Be2SiO
sillimanite: orthorhombic Al2SiO5
staurolite: monoclinic Fe2Al9O6(SiO4)4(OH)2
tephroite: orthorhombic Mn2SiO4
thorite: tetragonal (Th, U)SiO4
titanite: monoclinic CaTiSiO5
topaz: orthorhombic Al2SiO4(F, OH)2
uranophane: monoclinic Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2.5H2O
willemite: trigonal Zn2SiO4
zircon: tetragonal ZrSiO4

Tourmalines (Cyclosilicate):

Elbaite: trigonal Na(Li, Al)3Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)4

Schorl: trigonal NaFe3Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3OH

Uvite: trigonal CaMg3(Al5Mg)Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3OH

Other Cyclosilicates:
beryl: hexagonal Be3Al2(SiO3)6
cordierite: orthorhombic (Mg, Fe)2Al4Si5O18
dioptase: trigonal CuSiO2(OH)2

Sorosilicates:
clinozoisite: monoclinic Ca2Al3(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH)
epidote: monoclinic Ca2Al2Fe(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
hemimorphite: orthorhombic Zn4Si2O7(OH)2.H2O
lawsonite: orthorhombic CaAl2Si2O7(OH)2.H2O
vesuvianite: tetragonal Ca10(Mg, Fe)2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH, F)4
wadsleyite: orthorhombic (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
zoisite: orthorhombic Ca2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

Pyroxenes (Inosilicate):
aegirine: monoclinic NaFeSi2O6
augite: monoclinic (Ca, Na)(Mg, Fe, Al, Ti)(Si, Al)2O6
clinoenstatite: monoclinic MgSiO3
clinoferrrosilite: monoclinic FeSiO3
diopside: monoclinic MgCaSi2O6
enstatite: orthorhombic MgSiO3
esseneite: monoclinic CaFeAlSiO6
ferrosilite: orthorhombic (Mg, Fe)2Si2O6
hedenbergite: monoclinic CaFeSi2O6
hypersthene: orthorhombic (Mg, Fe)SiO3
jadeite: monoclinic NaAlSi2O6

omphacite: monoclinic (Ca, Na)(Mg, Fe, Al)Si2O6

pigeonite: monoclinic (Ca, Mg, Fe)(Mg, Fe)Si2O6
rhodonite: triclinic (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3
spodumene: monoclinic LiAl(SiO3)2
wollastonite: triclinic CaSiO3

Amphiboles (Inosilicate):
actinolite: monoclinic Ca2(Mg, Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2
anthophyllite: orthorhombic Mg7Si8O22(OH)2
cummingtonite: monoclinic (Mg, Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2
glaucophane: monoclinic ()Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2
grunerite: monoclinic Fe7Si8O22(OH)2
hornblende: monoclinic Ca2(Mg, Fe, Al)5(Al, Si)8O22(OH)2
riebeckite: monoclinic Na2Fe5Si8O22(OH)2
tremolite: monoclinic Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2

Clays (Phyllosilicate):
clinochlore: monoclinic (Mg, Fe)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
kaolinite: triclinic Al2Si2O5(OH)4
halloysite: monoclinic Al2Si2O5(OH)4
nacrite: monoclinic Al2Si2O5(OH)4
dickite: monoclinic Al2Si2O5(OH)4

palygorskite: monoclinic (Mg, Al)2Si4O10(OH).4H2O
pennantite: triclinic Mn5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)
pyrophyllite: monoclinic Al2Si4O10(OH)2
sepiolite: orthorhombic Mg4Si6O15(OH)2.6H2O
talc: monoclinic Mg3Si4O10(OH)2

vermiculite: monoclinic (Mg, Fe)3[(Al, Si)4O10](OH)2.4H2O

Micas (Phyllosilicate):
biotite: monoclinic K(Mg, Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(F, OH)2
chamosite: monoclinic (Mg, Fe)5Al(Si3Al)O10(OH)8
illite: monoclinic (K, H3O)(Al, Mg, Fe)2(Si, Al)4O10[(OH)2, (H2O)]
lepidolite: monoclinic K(Li, Al)3(Al, Si, Rb)4O10(F, OH)2
muscovite: monoclinic KAl2(AlSi3O10)(F, OH)2
phlogopite: monoclinic KMg3(AlSi3O10)(F, OH)2

Serpentines (Phyllosilicate):
clinochrysotile: monoclinic Mg3Si2O5(OH)4

lizardite: trigonal Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)

Miscellaneous Phyllosilicates:

ekanite: tetragonal Ca2ThSi8O20

prehnite: orthorhombic Ca2Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Quartz and its polymorphs (Tectosilicate):
coesite: monoclinic SiO2
cristobalite: tetragonal SiO2
quartz: trigonal SiO2
stishovite: tetragonal SiO2

Feldspars (Tectosilicate):
albite: triclinic NaAlSi3O8
andesine: triclinic (Ca, Na)(Al, Si)4O8
anorthite: triclinic CaAl2Si2O8
anorthoclase: triclinic (Na, K)AlSi3O8

bytownite: triclinic (Ca,Na)(Al, Si)4O8
labradorite: triclinic (Ca, Na)(Al, Si)4O8
microcline: triclinic KAlSi3O8

oligoclase: triclinic (Ca, Na)(Al, Si)4O8
orthoclase: monoclinic KAlSi3O8
sanidine: monoclinic KAlSi3O8

Feldspathoids (Tectosilicate):
lazurite: cubic (Na, Ca)8(S, Cl, SO4, OH)2(Al6Si6O24)
leucite: tetragonal KAlSi2O6
petalite: monoclinic LiAlSi4O10
sodalite: cubic Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2

Zeolites (Tectosilicate):
analcime: cubic NaAlSi2O6.H2O
chabazite: triclinic (Ca, K2, Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2.12H2O
clinoptilolite: monoclinic (Na, K, Ca)2-3Al3(Al, Si)2Si13O36.12H2O
mesolite: orthorhombic Na2Ca2(Al2Si3O10)3.8H2O
natrolite: orthorhombic Na2Al2Si3O10.2H2O
stilbite-Ca: monoclinic NaCa4(Si27Al9)O72.28(H2O)
stilbite-Na: monoclinic Na9(Si27Al9)O72.28(H2O)

Oxides and Hydroxides:
anatase: tetragonal TiO2
boehmite: orthorhombic AlO(OH)
brookite: orthorhombic TiO2
brucite: trigonal Mg(OH)2
bunsenite: cubic NiO
cassiterite: tetragonal SnO2
corundum: trigonal Al2O3
cuprite: cubic Cu2O
diaspore: orthorhombic AlO(OH)
gibbsite: monoclinic Al(OH)3
goethite: orthorhombic FeO(OH)
hausmannite: tetragonal Mn3O4
hematite: trigonal Fe2O3
litharge: tetragonal PbO
maghemite: cubic Fe2O3
magnetite: cubic Fe3O4
manganite: monoclinic MnOOH
massicot: orthorhombic PbO
periclase: cubic MgO
portlandite: hexagonal Ca(OH)2
pyrite-FeO2: cubic FeO2
pyrochroite: trigonal Mn(OH)2
pyrolusite: tetragonal MnO2
rutile: tetragonal TiO2
tenorite: monoclinic CuO
uraninite: cubic UO2
wüstite: cubic FeO
xenantite: orthorhombic Ni2O3

Borates:
borax: monoclinic Na2B4O5(OH)4.8H2O
colemanite: monoclinic CaB3O4(OH)3.H2O
ulexite: triclinic NaCaB5O6(OH)6.5H2O

Organics:
diamond: cubic C
graphite: hexagonal C
hoelite: monoclinic C14H8O2
lonsdaleite: hexagonal C

whewellite: monoclinic CaC2O4.H2O

Carbonates:
aragonite: orthorhombic CaCO3
azurite: monoclinic Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
calcite: trigonal CaCO3
cerussite: orthorhombic PbCO3
chalcanthite: triclinic CuSO4.5H2O
dolomite: trigonal CaMg(CO3)2
magnesite: trigonal MgCO3
malachite: monoclinic Cu2CO3(OH)2
nahcolite: monoclinic NaHCO3
natron: monoclinic Na2CO3.10H2O
otavite: trigonal CdCO3
rhodochrosite: trigonal MnCO3
rutherfordine: orthorhombic UO2(CO3)
siderite: trigonal FeCO3
smithsonite: trigonal ZnCO3
strontianite: orthorhombic SrCO3
trona: monoclinic Na3(CO3)(HCO3).2H2O
witherite: orthorhombic BaCO3

Nitrates:
niter: orthorhombic KNO3
nitrocalcite: monoclinic Ca(NO3)2.4H2O
soda niter: trigonal NaNO3

Halides:
antarcticite: trigonal CaCl2.6H2O
atacamite: orthorhombic Cu2Cl(OH)3
bischofite: monoclinic MgCl2.6H2O
fluorite: cubic CaF2
ghiaraite: triclinic CaCl2.4H2O
halite: cubic NaCl
sinjarite: tetragonal CaCl2.2H2O
sylvite: cubic KCl

Phosphates:

apatite: hexagonal Ca5(PO4)3(OH, F, Cl)
augelite: monoclinic Al2(PO4)(OH)3
autunite: orthorhombic Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2.10-12H2O
bobierrite: monoclinic Mg3(PO4)2.8H2O
brushite: monoclinic CaHPO4.2H2O
chloroapatite: hexagonal Ca5(PO4)3Cl
fluoroapatite: hexagonal Ca5(PO4)3(OH)
hydroxyapatite: hexagonal Ca5(PO4)3F
lazulite: monoclinic (Mg, Fe)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2
merrillite: trigonal Ca9NaMg(PO4)7
monetite: triclinic CaHPO4
monazite: monoclinic (Ce, La)PO4
newberyite: orthorhombic MgHPO4.3H2O
pyromorphite: hexagonal Pb5(PO4)3Cl
scorzalite: monoclinic (Fe, Mg)Al2(OH, PO4)2

stercorite: triclinic (NH4)NaHPO4
strengite: orthorhombic FePO4.2H2O
struvite: orthorhombic (NH4)MgPO4.6H2O
turquoise: triclinic CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8.4H2O
vivianite: monoclinic Fe3(PO4)2.8H2O
wavellite: orthorhombic Al3(PO4)2(OH, F)3.5H2O
whitlockite: trigonal Ca9(Mg, Fe)(PO4)6PO3OH
xenotime: tetragonal YPO4

Sulfides:
acanthite: monoclinic Ag2S
arsenopyrite: monoclinic FeAsS
bornite: orthorhombic Cu5FeS4
chalcocite: monoclinic Cu2S
chalcopyrite: cubic CuFeS2
cinnabar: trigonal HgS
covellite: hexagonal CuS
galena: cubic PbS
greenockite: hexagonal CdS
hypercinnabar: hexagonal HgS
metacinnabar: cubic HgS
molybdenite: hexagonal MoS2
millerite: trigonal NiS
orpiment: monoclinic As2S3
pyrite: cubic FeS2
realgar: monoclinic As4S4
sphalerite: cubic (Zn, Fe)S
stibnite: orthorhombic Sb2S3
troilite: hexagonal FeS
wurtzite: hexagonal (Zn, Fe)S

Sulfates:
alum-K: cubic KAl(SO4)2.12H2O
alum-Na: cubic NaAl(SO4)2.12H2O
alunite: trigonal KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
anglesite: orthorhombic PbSO4
anhydrite: orthorhombic CaSO4
arcanite: orthorhombic K2SO4
baryte: orthorhombic BaSO4
brochantite: monoclinic Cu4SO4(OH)6
celestine: orthorhombic SrSO4
epsomite: orthorhombic MgSO4.7H2O
ettringite: trigonal Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12.26H2O
glauberite: monoclinic Na2Ca(SO4)2
gypsum: monoclinic CaSO4.2H2O
jarosite: trigonal KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6
langite: monoclinic Cu4SO4(OH)6.H2O
mirabilite: monoclinic Na2SO4.10H2O
syngenite: monoclinic K2Ca(SO4)2.H2O
thenardite: orthorhombic Na2SO4

Non-silicate spinel-group minerals:
chromite: cubic FeCr2O4
hercynite: cubic FeAl2O4
magnesio-chromite: cubic MgCr2O4
magnesio-ferrite: cubic MgFe2O4
spinel: cubic MgAl2O4
trevorite: cubic NiFe2O4
ulvöspinel: cubic Fe2TiO4

Non-silicate perovskites:
FeAlO3-bridgmanite: orthorhombic FeAlO3
AlAlO3-bridgmanite: orthorhombic AlAlO3

Miscellany (aluminates, arsenates, molybdenates, sulfate-carbonates, tungstates, titanates):
chrysoberyl: orthorhombic BeAl2O4
hanksite: hexagonal Na22K(SO4)9(CO3)2Cl
ilmenite: trigonal FeTiO3
scheelite: tetragonal CaWO4
scorodite: orthorhombic FeAsO4.2H2O
wolframite: monoclinic (Fe, Mn)WO4
wulfenite: tetragonal PbMoO4

.

Did you know that attapulgite is a U.S. regional colloquialism for the mineral palygorskite? I've gone with the older international name here. 

I haven't included non-stoichiometric formulas above. Did you know that smectite clays like beidellite, montmorillonite, saponite, and nontronite have weird half-cell formulas that suck ass? I've also skipped the non-stoichiometric sulfide mineral pyrrhotite, the zeolite mineral ferrierite, and any mineral that's a metallic alloy.

Gemsbok's First Monologue

Once, on twitter, I asked if anyone wanted to be my nemesis and no one agreed. Later, I looked for other people on twitter who'd asked for to have a nemesis, chose one, and volunteered. His name is the Mirror Man and the alternate identity I developed to oppose him is called Gemsbok, a costumed antagonist who likes gems and dresses like an antelope. This is a record of my first time arching him, as we say in the Guild.

Mirror man! You prismatic fiend! I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me when you blew up my vivianite mine in Namibia. You fool! It takes more than a simple cave-in to defeat the great Gemsbock; I escaped through a secondary mine shaft with a contingent of my best Killdebeests. You, uh, you can't see them right now, but they are here, and they - are - livid.

Mirror Man, reflect on this: When I cut into that meteorite, looking for rare minerals with shock-induced polymorphism, I had no idea it contained your Voidkin. I meant you and your people no harm. Gemsbock does not desire to kill, but only to subjugate all beings in the universe to his perfect crystalline will.

But now, Mirror man, now it is personal! Try to kill me again, and I will not hesitate to reduce you to a shatter of silvery sentient glass. You have made an enemy of me, and in time you shall learn that I am an enemy beyond all reckoning - the greatest nemesis you will ever know. Wherever you go, I will be there, Mirror Man, standing in opposition to you and the achievement of your goals. Until next time, Gemsbock out!

The Legend Of Yana Van Cat

There once was a woman named Yana Van Cat,

Whom, the legends all say, slept in any habitat.

She could sleep in the grass,

Or on two panes of glass.

She could sleep on scrap metal,

Or aloft on one rosy petal.

A wandering witch with a sleeping disorder called insomnia

Found Yana asleep on the border of Serbia and Bosnia.

Envious of Yana Van Cat's powerful feline aesthetic,

The witch cast a curse of a nature prophetic:

"If I don't get some sleep within the fortnight,

This sweet sleeping girl will be bit by a mite!

A seven-year itch, which the doctor's call scabies,

Will fall on her skin and the skin of her babies!"

When Yana awoke from her nap on barbed wire,

Though she'd slept deep and dreamless, she felt something was dire.

Hoping for the best, not being a cynic,

She picked herself up and biked to her job at the clinic.

The first patient that day was a wizened old crone,

With long hair of silver and a hat like a cone.

"Doctor, please help me, my state is a mess,

I can't sleep a wink." Said Yana, "It's psychosomatic, I'd guess!"

Your thyroid is normal, hematocrit's in good humor,

Your tox screen is clear, and there's no sign of a tumor.

Post-menopausal women, she said in sweet tones,

Often have their sleep disturbed by changing hormones.

Coupled with high cortisol from job stress,

It's no wonder, my dearie, your sleep schedule's a mess!

HRT is one option, to help with hot-flashes,

Paired with fluoxetine, we'll reduce your anxiety to ashes.

But in addition to drugs, which may not help for weeks,

We should start psychotherapy; I know all the techniques.

Suddenly the witch transformed into a cat!

With the same silver hair and the same floppy black hat!

She jumped from her chair to rest on Yana's thighs,

She kneaded her paws and closed her yellow eyes.

Seeing how Yana had wanted to help her,

Finally, the witch fell asleep and started to, as well, purr.

Some say the two are still asleep in that chair,

But all the legends say this: they could sleep anywhere.