Kyanite

Specimen Summary

Kyanite is a blue aluminosilicate mineral that forms distinctive elongate crystals. It found in metamorphic rocks, pegmatite intrusions, quartz veins, and rarely in sedimentary rocks. It forms under high pressure metamorphic conditions. In fact, geologists use it as an indicator of the metamorphic conditions that affected a rock, since it only forms under particular pressure and temperature conditions. Kyanite has the unusual property of anisotropic hardness. That means that its hardness is different in one orientation to another; its hardness along its long axis is different to its hardness across it. Kyanite is used mainly in ceramics and electronics.

This sample is from Enderby in the Southern Interior region of BC.

It was collected from one of eight claims south of Enderby staked in the 1950s when logging exposed an outcrop containing quartz-kyanite veins. The veins are up to 2 metres wide in metamorphic schist host rocks.

Specimen Data

 

The information listed below relates to the current holding location or collection that the sample is from, and whether the item is viewable at that location or is part of a private collection. Coordinates are given as guides, and we remind you that collecting specimens from these locations is not allowed. Caution is advised visiting such sites and Below BC assumes no responsibility for any injuries or trespassing charges that may occur as a result of the viewer entering these sites.

Collection Details

Original Collection:

Pacific Museum of Earth (PME)

Sub Collection:

Sutton-Thompson

Collection ID:

PME-22551

Virtual Museum ID:

17-PME22551

Accessibility:

Date Added to VM:

2017-12-08

Location Information

Sample Origin:

Enderby, British Columbia

Specific Site:

-

UTM Easting:

348046.6093

UTM Northing:

5600491.263

Datum:

11 (NAD 83)

Coordinate Accuracy:

Approximate

Specimen Details

VM Category:

Mineral

Primary Features:

Kyanite

Primary Mineral Formula:

Al₂SiO₅

Primary Category:

silicate

Secondary Features:

Advanced Geological Information

 

The following section provides geological data relating to the specimen or the site it was collected from, when available. Information has been obtained from various sources including private and government datasets but may not be up to date. Any geological time periods or ages listed often relate to the primary geology of the area, and may not be the actual date of an event such as mineral formation.

Geological Formation:

N/A

Geological Period:

N/A

Stratigraphic Age:

N/A

Geological Belt:

N/A

Geological Terrane:

N/A

Minfile ID:

N/A

Minfile Link:

N/A

Site Details:

N/A

Additional Images