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Gilalite

  • Translations : Gilalit, Gilalita
  • Etymology : From the name of the typical locality: Gila County, Christmas Mine, Arizona, USA.
  • Discovery: 1980 by Cesbron et Williams

Gilalite is found in quartz cut into "gilalite quartz" cabochons.

To learn more about the mineralogy of Gilalite, see Mindat.org->

Gemological data

  • Chemical formula : Cu5Si6O17 · 7H2O
  • Hardness (Mohs) : 2
  • Density : 2.72
  • Refractive index : nα = 1.560 nβ = 1.635 nγ = 1.635
  • Birefingence : 0.075
  • Crystal system : Monoclinic
  • Group : Silicates

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