Chiastolite
A variety of Andalusite
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About Chiastolite
Formula:
Al2(SiO4)O
Name:
Named for the Greek chiastos, meaning cross. The name is pronounced with a hard 'ch', giving 'kahy-as-tl-ahyt'.
Crystals of andalusite containing cross-shaped inclusions of carbon. Common in some metamorphic rocks.
May be pseudomorphed by margarite.
Known from the late 1500s, and called 'lapis crucifer' (cross stone) in Latin texts. It was popular with religious pilgrims in northern Spain. The publication Metallotheca (Mercati 1717) which was started about a century before it was published, includes an excellent engraving of some crystals.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Chiastolite.
May be pseudomorphed by margarite.
Known from the late 1500s, and called 'lapis crucifer' (cross stone) in Latin texts. It was popular with religious pilgrims in northern Spain. The publication Metallotheca (Mercati 1717) which was started about a century before it was published, includes an excellent engraving of some crystals.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Chiastolite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1001 (as Chiastolite)
217 (as Andalusite)
217 (as Andalusite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1001:2 (as Chiastolite)
mindat:1:1:217:4 (as Andalusite)
mindat:1:1:217:4 (as Andalusite)
Chemistry of Chiastolite
Mindat Formula:
Al2(SiO4)O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Synonyms of Chiastolite
Other Language Names for Chiastolite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Chiastolite associated with Graphite | C |
| 3 photos of Chiastolite associated with Andalusite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| 2 photos of Chiastolite associated with Almandine | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Chiastolite associated with Sillimanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Chiastolite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Chiastolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1001.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Chiastolite
Reference List:
Bunsen, R. (1839) Ueber Andalusit und Chiastolith. Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 123. 186-190 doi:10.1002/andp.18391230516
Anderson, C. (1902) On some specimens of Chiastolite from Bimbowrie, South Australia. Records of the Australian Museum, 4. 298-302 doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.4.1902.1106
Rastall, R. H. (1915) Andalusite and Chiastolite. Geological Magazine, S. 6 Vol. 2 (7). p.336. doi:10.1017/s0016756800178082
Tertsch, H. (1937) Beobachtungen an Chiastolith-Kristallen. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, 49 (1). 31-41 doi:10.1007/bf02943393
Thurston, Anthony (1966) Unusual Chiastolite from Massachusetts. Rocks & Minerals, 41 (5) 346 doi:10.1080/00357529.1966.11765622
Taparowsky, James J. (1976) Chiastolite—A Massachusetts Classic. Rocks & Minerals, 51 (5) 245-247 doi:10.1080/00357529.1976.11762802
Rice, A.H.N. (1993) Textural and twin sector-zoning and displacement of graphite in chiastolite and pyralspite and grandite garnets in the variscides of south-west England. Proceedings of the Ussher Society, 8 (2) Ussher Society.
Localities for Chiastolite
Showing 163 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Andorra | |
| Valenti Turu and Michels (1992) |
Australia | |
| |
| Mason (1976) +2 other references | |
| Martins da Pedra collection | |
| SA Geodata Database - Mineral Deposit ... | |
| Anderson (1902) | |
| |
| Judy Rowe collection |
| Record of Sth.Aust. mines summary Olary ... | |
| Fetherston et al. (2013) |
| Sumail et al. (2024) |
Austria | |
| Exel (1993) |
Belgium | |
| Beugnies (1976) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| - (2022) |
| F. R. Ploeger (1980) |
| Denisová et al. (2023) |
Chile | |
| Alfredo Petrov and Martins da Pedra ... |
China | |
| Shiquan Zhou and Zujie Feng (1999) |
| Betts (n.d.) | |
| Hansheng Cao (1982) |
| www.eldoradogold.com (2006) |
Cyprus | |
| Martin et al. (2023) |
DR Congo | |
| DE GROOTE et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
France | |
| |
| Pierrot et al. (1973) |
| Chauris (2014) |
| Lukas (1978) |
| Belot (1978) |
| Belot (1978) | |
| Baret (1905) |
| Baret (1905) |
| Baret (1905) | |
Germany | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Lapis (1) |
| Zimmermann (1896-1899) |
Greenland | |
| Diamond exploration in West Greenland – the Qaamasoq prospect. in Abdurrahman et al. (Trans. Inst. Min. Metall. B) |
India | |
| B.V. Govinda Rajulu and M.J. Chandrasekhara Gowda (1972) |
Ireland | |
| Tony Nikischer and Luis Menezes |
| Rutley (1902) |
Italy | |
| Stara (1990) |
| Del Caldo et al. (1973) |
Japan | |
| Seki et al. (1957) |
| Petrov (n.d.) |
| Hiroaki Tano specimens. | |
Madagascar | |
| Lacroix (1956) |
Mali | |
| Wane et al. (2021) |
Mongolia | |
| Soloviev et al. (2022) |
Morocco | |
| Chatir et al. (2022) |
Myanmar | |
| Maung Thein & Soe Win (1970) |
| Kyaw Kaing Win and Sieghart Ellenberger ... |
| Kyaw Khaing Win (2004) |
Pakistan | |
| M. P. Searle et al. (1986) |
Poland | |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
| Lis et al. (1986) | |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
Portugal | |
| Museu Geologico of Lisbon mineral ... |
| Carreço |
Russia | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Om maltesit en kiastolitartad andalnsitvarietet från östra Finland Af JJ Sederholm. Forhandlingar / Geologiska foreningen (Sweden) +1 other reference |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Botha (2010) |
| Botha (2010) | |
| Botha (2010) |
South Korea | |
| Hideo Tsuda (1969) |
| Hideo Tsuda (1969) |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
| www.soydeboal.es (n.d.) | |
| López (n.d.) | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
| Perez et al. (1991) |
| Joan Rosell-Riba (2024) |
| Rodríguez +4 other references |
| Canet et al. (2003) |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
Sweden | |
| Fahlvik et al. (2022) |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
UK | |
| Dines (1956) |
| Le Neve Foster (1879) |
| Day (1999) |
| Cooper et al. (1990) +1 other reference | |
| Day (1999) |
| Hall (1868) |
| Day (1999) |
| Day (1999) | |
| Hall (1868) | |
| Day (1999) |
| J.Ralph site visit 2020 | |
| Day (1999) |
| Collins (1871) |
| Collins (1871) |
| Rutley (1902) |
| Rutley (1902) |
| Rutley (1902) | |
USA | |
| Cook et al. (1982) |
| Cook et al. (1982) |
| American Mineralogist 50:285 |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Cooper (1964) +1 other reference |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Pabst (1938) |
| McAllister (1955) +2 other references |
| Sampson (1931) +1 other reference |
| American Mineralogist +7 other references |
| Funk (1940) +3 other references |
| Neuerberg (1951) +3 other references | |
| Neuerberg (1951) +3 other references |
| Harvard Museum of Natural History ... +3 other references | |
| Blake (1858) +1 other reference |
| Turner (1894b) +3 other references |
| - (2005) |
| Hanks (1884) +1 other reference | |
| Betts (n.d.) |
| ... |
| E.L. Clopton collection #795 |
| King et al. (1994) | |
| King (n.d.) |
| Morrill & Hinckley |
| King et al. (1994) |
| E.L. Clopton collection #1444 |
| Gleba (2008) |
| Gleba (2008) |
| Kunz (1890) |
| Gleba (2008) |
| Cristofono (2014) | |
| Emerson (1917) |
| Mason (1976) | |
| Robinson (1825) | |
| - (2005) +1 other reference |
| Walstrom (n.d.) +1 other reference |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| - (2005) |
| www.minrec.org (2010) +1 other reference |
| Castor et al. (2004) +1 other reference |
| Rocks & Min. 65 (4) |
| Rocks & Min. 65 (4) | |
| Jackson (1844) | |
| |
| Jackson |
| Morrill |
| Meyers et al. (1956) |
| |
| Robinson (1825) | |
| Robinson (1825) | |
| Robinson (1825) | |
| Meyers (1977) | |
| Jackson | |
| Rocks & Min. Vol. 71 (1996) |
| Grant | |
| Child |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) | |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Cannon (1975) |
| Van Hise |
| Lodge et al. (2024) |
Zimbabwe | |
| Cairncross (2004) |
China