Mellite
Mineral Al2C6(COO)6·16H2O
Also called Honeystone
About it
Honey-coloured, resinous crystals of aluminum mellitate found in brown coal, easily taken for amber but crystalline. A classic from Artern in Thuringia and Csordakút in Hungary.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Organic compound, mellitate
- Formula
- Al2C6(COO)6·16H2O
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2–2.5
- Specific gravity
- 1.58–1.64
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- resinous, vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Colours
- honey yellow, yellowish brown, reddish brown, white
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- poor; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.