Article
Article
Andalusite
Article By:
Hurlbut, Cornelius S., Jr. Department of Geological Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Holdaway, M. J. Department of Geological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.
Last reviewed:January 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.032900
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A nesosilicate mineral, composition Al2SiO5, crystallizing in the orthorhombic system. Andalusite (Fig. 1) occurs commonly in large, nearly square prismatic crystals. The variety chiastolite has inclusions of dark-colored carbonaceous material arranged in a regular manner. When these crystals are cut at right angles to the c axis, the inclusions form a cruciform pattern. There is poor prismatic cleavage; the luster is vitreous and the color red, reddish-brown, olive-green, or bluish. Transparent crystals may show strong dichroism, appearing red in one direction and green in another in transmitted light. The specific gravity is 3.1–3.2; hardness is 7.5 on Mohs scale, but may be less on the surface because of alteration.
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