This article is about the mineral. For the color, see
Zinnwaldite (color). Zinnwaldite, KLiFeAl(AlSi3)O10(OH,F)2, is a potassium lithium iron aluminium silicate hydroxide fluoride
silicate mineral in the
mica group.It occurs in
greisens,
pegmatite and
quartz veins often associated with
tin ore deposits. Commonly associated with
topaz,
cassiterite,
wolframite,
lepidolite,
spodumene,
beryl,
tourmaline and
fluorite.It was first described in 1845 in Zinnwald (
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinnwald),
Germany.
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General Information:

Chemical Formula:
KLiFe++Al(AlSi3)O10(F,OH)2

Composition:
(Molecular Weight = 437.10 gm)
Potassium 8.94 %
K Lithium 1.59 %
LiAluminum 12.35 %
AlIron 12.78 %
FeSilicon 19.28 %
SiHydrogen 0.12 %
H Oxygen 38.43 %
O Fluorine 6.52 %
F 
Empirical Formula:
KLiFe2+Al2Si3O10F1.5(OH)0.5

Environment:
Pneumatolytic mineral occurring in cassiterite and topaz-bearing pegmatites.

Locality:
Erzgebirge of Saxony at Zinnwald (now Cinovec) - "Ore Mountains", Czechoslovakia.

Name Origin:
Named after its locality.
Physical Properties:

Cleavage:
[001] Good

Color:
light brown, silvery white, gray, yellowish white, or greenish white.

Density:
2.9 - 3.1, Average = 3

Diaphaniety:
Transparent

Habits:
Pseudo Hexagonal - Crystals show a hexagonal outline., Micaceous - Platy texture with "flexible" plates., Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).

Hardness:
3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Flourite

Luminescence:
None.

Luster:
Vitreous - Pearly

Streak:
white
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