Thulite

Infobox mineral
name = Thulite
category = Mineral Variety
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caption = Thulite from Leksvik, Norway.
formula = Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)O(OH)
color = Pink
habit = Massive
system = Orthorhombic
twinning =
cleavage = Perfect {010} imperfect {100}
fracture = Uneven to conchoidal
mohs = 6.5
luster = Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces
refractive = 1.69-1.70
opticalprop = biaxial positive
birefringence = 0.006-0.018
pleochroism = Present, dichroism or trichroism depending on color.
streak = White or colorless
gravity = 3.10-3.38
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Thulite (sometimes called rosaline) is an opaque, massive pink manganese rich variety of the mineral zoisite. Thulite is often mottled with white calcite and occurs as veins and fracture fillings transecting many types of rock. In mineralogical literature, thulite may sometimes refer to any pink zoisite.

Thulite was first discovered in Lom, Norway in 1820. It is named after the mythical island of Thule in the belief that the island is Norway. Thulite is used as a gemstone and carving material in the manufacture of jewellery and ornamental objects.

Thulite is also found in the Austrian Tyrol, in Mitchell County, North Carolina, and in Western Australia. A new, more recent find of high quality thulite was discovered near Riverside in Okanogan County, Washington, USA.

References

* [http://www.mindat.org/min-3955.html Mindat with location data]