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Serendibite

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Serendibite is an extremely rare silicate mineral that was first discovered in 1902 in Sri Lanka by Dunil Palitha Gunasekera and named after Serendib, the old Arabic name for Sri Lanka. Serendibite can be found in colors such as pale yellow, blue-green, greyish blue, black. It can be found in Sri Lanka, USA, Canada, Madagascar, Tanzania, Russia, Myanmar. In Sri Lanka, Specially from Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Embilipitiya, Kolonna. • Chemical Formula : (Ca,Na)2(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)3[O2|(Si,Al,B)6O18] • Elements listed: Al, B, Ca, Mg, O, Si • Common Impurities : Ti,Fe,Mn,Na,K,F,H2O,P • Lustre: Vitreous • Hardness : 6½ - 7 • Specific Gravity : 3.42 - 3.52 • Crystal System : Triclinic • Density: 3.42 - 3.52 g/cm3 (Measured) • RI values : nα = 1.701 nβ = 1.703 nγ = 1.706 • Pleochroism : Strong; X = pale yellow, yellow-green to blue-green; Y = almost colorless, pale yellow, blue, blue-green; Z = light to dark blue. • Category : Inosili