Microlite is a group of minerals sometimes used as gemstones. They’re generally light yellow, brown, green, or red and small.
Is microlite rare? These minerals come from many places, but large crystals are rare. Faceted microlites are even rarer.
What are facts about microlite? That’s what we’ll be discussing today as cover the types of microlite gemstones, microlite properties, history, prices, and more!
Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
Some stones in the microlite group are used as semi-precious gemstones. Other terms for microlite include:
Haddamite
Metasimpsonite
Neotantalite
Niobtantalpyrochlor
Tantalo-niobate
Tantapyrochlor
Now, what is the difference between crystallites and microlites? A crystallite is any crystal that’s so tiny, even microscopic, that it isn’t fully crystallized. So a microlite crystal could also be a crystallite.
However, the definition of “microlite” in geology is more similar to crystallite. What is a microlite in geology? It’s any microscopic crystal(s) suspended in an amorphous (non-crystalline), glassy matrix. The matrix is called “microlitic,” and the crystals form when lava rapidly cools.
Back to the mineral group, what are the uses of microlites?
One important industrial use of microlites is as a tantalum ore. Tantalum is used worldwide, particularly in electronics and aerospace technology.
Some microlites have important metals like uranium or rare-earth elements (REEs) like yttrium. According to the U.S. Geological Survey in 1960, the maximum content of rare-earth oxides in microlites is 18.4 percent.
Microlites found in the Harding pegmatite in New Mexico, USA, have various uranium content (0.1 to 10 percent by weight percentage), allowing scientists to analyze the effect of alpha-recoil damage on how the minerals transition from crystalline to metamict (non-crystalline).
Pyrochlores and pyrochlore compounds are being studied as potential sources for environment protection catalysis and clean energy.
As a side note, many products have the name “microlite” but aren’t related to microlite minerals, such as:
Microlite® fiberglass insulation
Micro-Lite camping trailers
Microlite contraceptive pills
MicroLite vermiculite
MicroLite Plus radiation protective eyewear
Pictured above: Microlite and muscovite crystal specimen | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
Before scientists classified microlite as a group, microlite was considered an individual mineral composed of sodium calcium tantalum oxide with some fluorine.
Now, the formula accepted by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) for microlites is (Ca,Na)2Ta2(O,OH,F)7. Another possible microlite formula is (Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F).
Microlite minerals are defined as pyrochlores with a predominant tantalum element over niobium and titanium. The larger pyrochlore group consists of cubic oxides with complex chemistry.
The crystal habit of microlites can be octahedral crystals, grains, or masses.
Like many pyrochlore minerals, some microlites have uranium impurities, which can slowly make them metamict, meaning they lose their crystalline structure and become amorphous due to radiation.
Microlite mineral properties listed:
Mohs hardness: 5-5.5
Color: Pale yellow, brown, reddish-brown, hyacinth-red, greenish-yellow, green, colorless; May be color-zoned
Crystal structure: Isometric/cubic
Luster: Vitreous, resinous, adamantine, waxy, greasy
Transparency: Translucent to opaque; May be transparent in thin fragments
Refractive index: 1.98-2.20; 1.93-1.94 if slightly metamict
Density: 4.2-6.4; Up to 8.34 with impurities or inclusions
Cleavage: Indistinct/poor on {111}
Fracture: Subconchoidal, conchoidal, splintery, or uneven/irregular
Streak: Pale yellow, brown, grayish-white, white
Luminescence: None
Pleochroism: None
Birefringence: None; May show anomalous birefringence when metamict
Dispersion: None
Pictured above: Fluornatromicrolite on cleavelandite | image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
There are 14 microlite minerals:
Appearance: Colorless; Adamantine or resinous luster
Formula: (Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2O6F
Varieties: Titan-uranoan fluorcalciomicrolite (formerly tantalbetafite)
Appearance: Green or orange; Adamantine luster
Formula: (Na1.5Bi0.5)Ta2O6F
Synonyms: Bismutomicrolite
Appearance: Pinkish-brown; Adamantine or resinous luster
Formula: (◻,H2O)2Ta2(O,OH)6(H2O)
Polytypes: Hydrokenomicrolite-3C and Hydrokenomicrolite-3R
Synonyms: Bariomicrolite
Notes: Possible new species, no published analysis yet
Formula: (H2O,◻)2Ta2(O,OH)6(H2O)
Appearance: Yellow, brownish, greenish; Vitreous or resinous luster
Formula: Ca1.5Ta2O6(OH)
Appearance: Grayish, colorless, yellow-orange, black
Formula: (◻,Na,Sb3+)2Ta2O6(OH)
Appearance: Blue; Waxy luster
Formula: (Na,Bi3+,◻)2Ta2O6(OH)
Appearance: Yellowish-brown; Greasy luster
Formula: (Pb,◻)2Ta2O6(◻,OH,O)
Appearance: Black; Resinous luster
Formula: (Bi1.33◻0.67)Σ2Ta2O6O
Appearance: Brownish-yellow to brownish-red; Vitreous or resinous luster
Formula: Ca2Ta2O6O
Appearance: Yellowish-brown; Reddish-brown internal reflections
Formula: Sn2Ta2O6O
Appearance: Greenish-white to white; Gray in reflected light
Formula: (Sb3+,Ca)2Ta2O6O
Appearance: Yellowish-brown, greenish-brown, brownish-black, or yellow; Waxy or greasy luster
Formula: (Ca,U,Na)2-x(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7
Synonyms: Djalmaite
Appearance: Black to dark brown; Vitreous luster
Formula: (Ca,Y3+,U,Na)2-x(Ta,Nb,Ti,Fe3+)2O7
Synonyms: Hjelmite, Yttrian oxycalciomicrolite
Notes: Often metamict
Image credit: Mmmmkobayashi, CC-BY-SA-3.0
American mineralogist Charles Upham Shepard made the first recorded discovery of microlite in 1835 based on specimens in Massachusetts, USA. He chose the name after the Greek term mikros, meaning “small,” because the crystals were tiny.
The IMA revised the definition from mineral to mineral group in 2010.
We’ve listed each microlite’s discovery:
1860 – Yttromicrolite: First specimens from Sweden named hjelmite by Nordenskiöld in 1860, redefined as yttromicrolite by Crook in 1979
1939 – Uranmicrolite: First specimens from Brazil described in 1939 and named djalmaite by Guimarães, redefined as uranmicrolite by Hogarth in 1977
1967 – Oxystannomicrolite: First specimens from Sukula pegmatites in Finland named sukulaite in 1967 by Vorma & Silvola, renamed by stannomicrolite Hogarth in 1977, renamed oxystannomicrolite by Atencio et al in 2010
1981 – Hydroxykenomicrolite: First specimens from Russia named cesstibtantite by Voloshin in 1981, renamed hydroxykenomicrolite by Atencio et al in 2010
1982 – Kenoplumbomicrolite: First specimens from USSR named plumbomicrolite by Stepanov et al, renamed kenoplumbomicrolite by Atencio et al in 2010
1983 – Hydroxynatromicrolite: First specimens from China named natrobistantite by Voloshin et al in 1983, redefined (in part) as hydroxykenomicrolite by Atencio et al in 2010
1986 – Hydrokenomicrolite: First specimens from Brazil named parabariomicrolite by Ercit et al in 1986, divided and redefined into subtypes hydrokenomicrolite-3R and hydrokenomicrolite-3C by Andrade et al in 2013
1987 – Oxystibiomicrolite: First specimens from Sweden named stibiomicrolite by Groat et al in 1987, renamed oxystibiomicrolite by Atencio et al in 2010
1998 – Fluornatromicrolite: First specimens from Brazil named fluornatromicrolite by the IMA in 1998
2004 – Oxycalciomicrolite: First specimens from Sweden named stibiomicrolite by Černý et al in 2004, redefined as oxycalciomicrolite by Christy & Atencio in 2013
2010 – Hydromicrolite: Described as possible new species by Atencio et al in 2010; Only currently known locale is Poland
2012 – Fluorcalciomicrolite: First specimens from Brazil named fluorcalciomicrolite by Andrade et al in 2012
2013 – Hydroxycalciomicrolite: First specimens from Brazil named hydroxycalciomicrolite by Andrade et al in 2017
2019 – Oxybismutomicrolite: First specimens from Russia named oxybismutomicrolite by Kasatkin et al in 2019
Pictured above: Albite specimen with a sprinkle of transparent, red-orange microlite crystals | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
Microlite’s meaning as a healing stone can depend on its color. Yellow microlite joins yellow gems in symbolizing warmth, while green microlites have the renewing properties of other green gems. Meanwhile, brown microlites join other brown gemstones in being chakra stones for the root chakra.
Besides rarity, microlite gemstone value depends on its color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight.
Most microlites are pale yellow, brown, or colorless, but vibrant colors like emerald green and orange-red are valuable.
Facetable rough is rare, making faceted microlites exceptionally valuable.
Massive material can become cabochons or carvings.
Microlite gems with few to no visible inclusions are quite rare and valuable.
Often, microlite is an inclusion in stones like topaz or aquamarine.
Most faceted microlites are under 3-4 carats. Green Brazilian microlite gems have the potential for large sizes.
Massive material can be cut into large cabochons.
Pictured above: Transparent golden-orange microlite crystals on yellowish-green muscovite | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
What rock is microlite found in? Microlites are primary minerals in albitized or lithium-bearing granite pegmatites, where they formed from the pegmatite magma.
Where is microlite found? The top sources for gem-quality microlites are Brazil and Virginia, USA.
Other significant sources include:
Australia
Austria
FInland
France
Greenland
Madagascar
Norway
Sweden
USA (Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Dakota)
Pictured above: Green microlite crystal and scattered golden-amber microlites on albite specimen | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
Given their rarity, faceted microlite gems can be pricey, ranging from around $285 to nearly $1,100 per carat.
Microlite rough also ranges broadly, from $65 to $1,200. Rough that’s on a matrix with other minerals ranges from $60 (topaz matrix) to $3,000 (tantalite matrix).
Before we discuss gemstone care, it’s important to note that some microlites can be slightly radioactive from rare-earth element impurities.
Stones that are already cut or polished should be fine to handle, but take safety precautions if you’re cutting or handling rough microlites so you don’t inhale any of the resulting dust that can fly off.
To keep your microlite safe, opt for jewelry with protective settings and keep it stored away from harder gems.
Clean microlite stones with a soft toothbrush, warm water, and mild soap.
Sometimes the smallest treasures are the best. Plus, microlite’s rarity makes it a staple in any collection!
微晶石是一組有時用作寶石的礦物。它們通常呈淡黃色、棕色、綠色或紅色,而且很小。
微晶石稀有嗎?這些礦物來自許多地方,但大晶體卻很少見。刻面微晶石更為罕見。
關於微晶石的事實是什麼?這就是我們今天要討論的內容,涵蓋微晶石寶石的類型、微晶石特性、歷史、價格等等!
圖片來源:Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
微晶石組中的一些寶石用作半寶石。微晶石的其他術語包括:
哈達石
變辛石
新鉭鐵礦
鈮燒綠
鈮酸鉭
燒草胺
現在,微晶和微晶之間有什麼區別?微晶是任何非常小,甚至是微觀的,以至於它沒有完全結晶的晶體。所以微晶石晶體也可以是微晶。
然而,地質學中“微晶石”的定義更類似於微晶。什麼是地質學中的微晶石?它是懸浮在無定形(非結晶)玻璃狀基質中的任何微觀晶體。這種基質被稱為“微晶石”,當熔岩迅速冷卻時會形成晶體。
回到礦物組,微晶石的用途是什麼?
微晶石的一個重要工業用途是用作鉭礦石。鉭在世界範圍內廣泛使用,尤其是在電子和航空航天技術領域。
一些微晶石含有鈾等重要金屬或釔等稀土元素(REE)。根據美國地質調查局1960年的數據,微晶石中稀土氧化物的最大含量為18.4%。
在美國新墨西哥州的哈丁偉晶岩中發現的微晶石具有不同的鈾含量(按重量百分比計為 0.1% 至 10%),使科學家能夠分析 alpha 反沖損傷對礦物如何從結晶轉變為變晶(非結晶)的影響).
燒綠石和燒綠石化合物作為環保催化和清潔能源的潛在來源正在被研究。
附帶說明一下,許多產品都有“微晶石”的名稱,但與微晶石礦物無關,例如:
Microlite® 玻璃纖維絕緣材料
Micro-Lite 露營拖車
微晶避孕藥
MicroLite蛭石
MicroLite Plus 輻射防護眼鏡
上圖:微晶石和白雲母晶體標本 |圖片來源:Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
在科學家將微晶石歸為一組之前,微晶石被認為是一種單獨的礦物,由鈉鈣鉭氧化物和一些氟組成。
現在,國際礦物學協會 (IMA) 接受的微晶石分子式為 (Ca,Na)2Ta2(O,OH,F)7。另一種可能的微晶石分子式是 (Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F)。
微晶石礦物被定義為與鈮和鈦相比主要是鉭元素的燒綠石。較大的燒綠石族由具有復雜化學性質的立方氧化物組成。
微晶石的晶習可以是八面體晶體、顆粒或團塊。
像許多燒綠石礦物一樣,一些微晶石含有鈾雜質,這會使它們慢慢變質,這意味著它們會失去晶體結構,並因輻射而變得無定形。
列出的微晶石礦物特性:
莫氏硬度:5-5.5
顏色:淡黃色、棕色、紅棕色、風信子紅色、黃綠色、綠色、無色;可能是顏色分區
晶體結構: 等距/立方
光澤: 玻璃光澤、樹脂光澤、金剛光澤、蠟狀、油膩
透明度:半透明到不透明;薄片可能是透明的
折射率:1.98-2.20; 1.93-1.94 如果輕微變質
密度:4.2-6.4;高達 8.34 含雜質或夾雜物
乳溝:{111} 上不明顯/較差
斷裂: 亞貝殼狀、貝殼狀、碎片狀或不均勻/不規則
條痕:淡黃色、棕色、灰白色、白色
發光: 無
多色性:無
雙折射:無;亞晶時可能會表現出異常的雙折射
色散:無
上圖:cleavelandite 上的氟鈉微晶石 |圖片來源:Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
有 14 種微晶石礦物:
外觀:無色;金剛或樹脂光澤
化學式:(Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2O6F
品種: Titan-uranoan fluorcalciomicrolite (formerly tantalbetafite)
外觀:綠色或橙色;金剛光澤
分子式:(Na1.5Bi0.5)Ta2O6F
同義詞:微晶鉍
外觀:粉棕色;金剛或樹脂光澤
分子式:(◻,H2O)2Ta2(O,OH)6(H2O)
多型:Hydrokenomicrolite-3C 和 Hydrokenomicrolite-3R
同義詞:重晶石
備註: 可能是新物種,尚未發表分析
分子式:(H2O,◻)2Ta2(O,OH)6(H2O)
外觀:黃色、褐色、綠色;玻璃光澤或樹脂光澤
分子式:Ca1.5Ta2O6(OH)
外觀:淺灰色、無色、黃橙色、黑色
分子式:(◻,Na,Sb3+)2Ta2O6(OH)
外觀:藍色;蠟狀光澤
分子式:(Na,Bi3+,◻)2Ta2O6(OH)
外觀:黃褐色;油膩光澤
分子式:(Pb,◻)2Ta2O6(◻,OH,O)
外觀:黑色;樹脂光澤
分子式:(Bi1.33◻0.67)Σ2Ta2O6O
外觀:棕黃色至棕紅色;玻璃光澤或樹脂光澤
化學式:Ca2Ta2O6O
外觀:黃褐色;紅棕色內部反射
化學式:Sn2Ta2O6O
外觀:綠白色至白色;反射光呈灰色
化學式:(Sb3+,Ca)2Ta2O6O
外觀:黃褐色、綠褐色、棕黑色或黃色;蠟狀或油膩光澤
分子式:(Ca,U,Na)2-x(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7
同義詞:Djalmaite
外觀:黑色至深棕色;玻璃光澤
分子式:(Ca,Y3+,U,Na)2-x(Ta,Nb,Ti,Fe3+)2O7
同義詞:Hjelmite、Yttrian oxycalciomicrolite
備註: 通常是變態
圖片來源:Mmmmkobayashi, CC-BY-SA-3.0
美國礦物學家 Charles Upham Shepard 於 1835 年根據美國馬薩諸塞州的標本首次發現了微晶石。他在希臘語mikros之後選擇了這個名字,意思是“小”,因為晶體很小。
IMA 於 2010 年將定義從礦物修改為礦物組。
我們列出了每個微晶石的發現:
1860 – Yttromicrolite :1860 年來自瑞典的第一個標本被 Nordenskiöld 命名為 hjelmite,1979 年被 Crook 重新定義為 yttromicrolite
1939 年 – 微細鈾礦:1939 年描述的第一個來自巴西的標本,Guimarães 將其命名為 djalmaite,1977 年由 Hogarth 重新定義為微細鈾礦
1967 年 – 氧化錫微晶石:來自芬蘭蘇庫拉偉晶岩的第一個標本,1967 年被 Vorma & Silvola 命名為蘇庫萊石,1977 年由錫微晶石 Hogarth 重新命名,2010 年由 Atencio 等人重新命名為氧化錫微晶石
1981 – Hydroxykenomicrolite :1981 年來自俄羅斯的第一個標本被 Voloshin 命名為 cesstibtantite,2010 年被 Atencio 等人更名為 hydroxykenomicrolite
1982 – Kenoplumbomicrolite :來自蘇聯的第一個標本被 Stepanov 等人命名為 plumbomicrolite,2010 年被 Atencio 等人更名為 kenoplumbomicrolite
1983 – Hydroxynatromicrolite :1983 年 Voloshin 等人將來自中國的第一個標本命名為 natrobistantite,Atencio 等人在 2010 年將(部分)重新定義為 hydroxykenomicrolite
1986 – Hydrokenomicrolite :1986 年來自巴西的第一個標本被 Ercit 等人命名為 parabariomicrolite,在 2013 年被 Andrade 等人劃分並重新定義為亞型 hydrokenomicrolite-3R 和 hydrokenomicrolite-3C
1987 – 氧化銻微晶石:1987 年 Groat 等人將來自瑞典的第一批標本命名為氧化銻微晶石,2010 年由 Atencio 等人更名為氧化銻微晶石
1998 – Fluornatromicrolite :1998 年來自巴西的第一批標本被 IMA 命名為 fluornatromicrolite
2004 – Oxycalciomicrolite :2004 年來自瑞典的第一個標本被 Çerný 等人命名為 stibiomicrolite,2013 年被 Christy & Atencio 重新定義為 oxycalciomicrolite
2010 – Hydromicrolite :2010 年被 Atencio 等人描述為可能的新物種;目前唯一已知的地點是波蘭
2012 – Fluorcalciomicrolite :2012 年來自巴西的第一個標本被 Andrade 等人命名為 fluorcalciomicrolite
2013 – Hydroxycalciomicrolite :2017 年來自巴西的第一個標本被 Andrade 等人命名為 hydroxycalciomicrolite
2019 – 氧鉍微晶石:Kasatkin 等人於 2019 年將來自俄羅斯的第一批標本命名為氧鉍微晶石
上圖:鈉長石標本,上面散佈著透明的紅橙色微晶石晶體 |圖片來源:Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
微晶石作為治療石的意義可能取決於它的顏色。黃色微晶石與黃色寶石一起象徵溫暖,而綠色微晶石具有其他 綠色寶石的煥新特性。同時,棕色微晶石與其他棕色寶石一起成為根脈輪的脈輪石。
除了稀有性之外,微晶石寶石的價值還取決於其顏色、切工、淨度、透明度和克拉重量。
大多數微晶石呈淡黃色、棕色或無色,但鮮綠色和橙紅色等鮮豔的顏色很有價值。
刻面原石非常罕見,這使得刻面微晶石格外珍貴。
大塊材料可以變成凸圓形或雕刻品。
幾乎沒有可見內含物的微晶石寶石非常稀有且有價值。
大多數刻面微晶石都在 3-4 克拉以下。綠色巴西微晶石寶石具有大尺寸的潛力。
塊狀材料可以切割成大凸圓形。
上圖:黃綠色白雲母上的透明金橙色微晶石晶體 |圖片來源:Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
微晶石存在於什麼岩石中?微晶石是鈉長岩或含鋰花崗岩偉晶岩中的原生礦物,由偉晶岩岩漿形成。
在哪裡可以找到微晶石?寶石級微晶石的主要來源是巴西和美國弗吉尼亞州。
其他重要來源包括:
澳大利亞
奧地利
芬蘭
法國
格陵蘭
馬達加斯加
挪威
瑞典
美國(科羅拉多州、康涅狄格州、緬因州、馬薩諸塞州、新罕布什爾州、南達科他州)
上圖:鈉長石標本上的綠色微晶石晶體和分散的金琥珀微晶石 |圖片來源:Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
考慮到它們的稀有性,刻面微晶石寶石可能價格昂貴,從每克拉 285 美元到近 1,100 美元不等。
微晶石原石的價格也很廣泛,從 65 美元到 1,200 美元不等。與其他礦物組成母體的原石價格從 60 美元(黃玉母體)到 3,000 美元(鉭鐵礦母體)不等。
在我們討論寶石護理之前,請務必注意一些微晶石可能因稀土元素雜質而具有輕微放射性。
已經切割或拋光的石頭應該可以很好地處理,但如果您正在切割或處理粗糙的微晶石,請採取安全預防措施,以免吸入任何可能飛散的灰塵。
為確保您的微晶石安全,請選擇帶有保護鑲嵌的首飾,並使其遠離較硬的寶石。
用軟牙刷、溫水和溫和的肥皂清潔微晶石。
有時最小的寶藏是最好的。此外,微晶石的稀有性使其成為任何系列的主打產品!
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