Pezzottaite
Mineral Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18
Also called Raspberyl
About it
A raspberry-red caesium relative of beryl, discovered in 2002 in a pegmatite in Madagascar and later reported from Afghanistan; denser and more refractive than morganite.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Silicate (cyclosilicate), beryl group
- Formula
- Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 8
- Specific gravity
- 2.97–3.14
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Colours
- raspberry red, pink
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- imperfect basal; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.