# Chiolite

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{{Short description|Dipyramidal mineral}}
{{Infobox mineral|boxwidth=|boxtextcolor=black|boxbgcolor=#cccccc|image=Chiolite-59229.jpg|formula=Na<sub>5</sub>Al<sub>3</sub>F<sub>14</sub>| IMAsymbol=Cio<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/mineralogical-magazine/article/imacnmnc-approved-mineral-symbols/62311F45ED37831D78603C6E6B25EE0A|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3 |pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W |s2cid=235729616 |doi-access=free|url-access=subscription}}</ref> |strunz=03.CE.05|system=[Tetragonal](/source/Tetragonal)|dana=11.06.11.01|class=Ditetragonal Dipyramidal - 4/''mmm'' (4/''m'' 2/''m'' 2/''m'')|symmetry=''P''4/''mnc''|unit cell=511.06 ų|molweight=461.8711070|color=Nearly colorless, snow white|habit=|twinning=On {011}|cleavage=Perfect on {001} <br/>Distinct on {011}|mohs=2.5|luster=Vitreous, pearly, greasy|opticalprop=Uniaxial (-)|refractive=n<sub>ω</sub> = 1.349 <br/>n<sub>ε</sub> = 1.342|birefringence=0.007|streak=White|gravity=2.998|density=Measured: 2.998 <br/>Calculated: 2.989|diaphaneity=Transparent, translucent}}
'''Chiolite''' is a tetragonal-ditetragonal dipyramidal mineral, composed of sodium, fluorine, and aluminium. The name originates from the combination of the Greek words for snow ({{lang|grc|χιώυ}}) and stone ({{lang|grc|λίθος}}). It is an allusion to its similarity and appearance to [cryolite](/source/cryolite) (ice stone). Chiolite is an [IMA](/source/International_Mineralogical_Association) approved mineral that has been grandfathered, meaning the name chiolite is believed to refer to a valid species to this day. Synonyms of chiolite are '''arksudite''', '''arksutite''', '''chodneffite''', '''chodnewite''' and '''nipholith'''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Chiolite|url=https://www.mindat.org/min-1006.html|access-date=2021-03-05|website=www.mindat.org}}</ref> It was first discovered in the Ilmen mountains, Russia, in 1846.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2013-02-08|title=Chiolite - Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution|url=https://www.azomining.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=344|access-date=2021-03-05|website=AZoMining.com|language=en}}</ref> Chiolite has been a valid species from the same year of its discovery.<ref name=":2" />

== Properties ==
Chiolite consists of fluorine (57.59% ), sodium (24.89%) and aluminium (17.53%). It does not show any radioactive properties whatsoever.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Chiolite Mineral Data|url=https://webmineral.com/data/Chiolite.shtml|access-date=2021-04-19|website=webmineral.com}}</ref> Twinning sometimes distorts the crystals into a prismatic shape.<ref name=":0" /> In common literature, chiolite is usually referred to as having a 3.5 - 4 hardness on the mohs scale. However, chiolite is softer than cryolite is, which has a hardness of 2.5 - 3. Upon examining numerous samples, researchers determined chiolite to have a 2.5 hardness. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Pauly |first=Hans |title=Hardness of cryolite, chiolite, cryolithionite and other fluorides from Ivigtut, South Greenland}}</ref> When it is linked with topaz, brecciated chiolite transformed into cryolite among the fragments' rims according to a study. These transformations in thin sections appear to be solid state replacements. This transformation liberates both aluminium and potassium. With silica added, a reaction started with chiolite's breakdown, which formed topaz and potassium-mica.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pauly |first=Hans |title=Meddelelser om Grønland - Topaz, prosopite and closing stages of formation of the Ivigtut cryolite deposit, South Greenland |pages=10}}</ref> 

== Occurrences and usage ==
It is a type locality in Russia, but otherwise it has occurrences in Greenland and Virginia. It occurs in granite pegmatites. At its type locality, chiolite is associated with cryolite, [topaz](/source/topaz), [fluorite](/source/fluorite), [thomsenolite](/source/thomsenolite), [cryolithionite](/source/cryolithionite), [phenakite](/source/phenakite), [pachnolite](/source/pachnolite) and [elpasolite](/source/elpasolite).<ref name=":1" /> Due to its rarity, the difficulties of cutting the mineral and the lack of interest towards it, chiolite is rarely ever cut into a gem, hence why less than two dozens of cut specimens are estimated to exist. Cut stones that are clean always weight 1-2 carats as bigger clean specimens suitable for cutting do not exist.<ref>https://www.gemsociety.org/article/chiolite-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/</ref>

== References ==
<references />

Category:Minerals

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chiolite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiolite) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiolite?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.