clinozoisite

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | 529 words | Copyright

clinozoisite A member of the epidote group of minerals, Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)₃OH; sp. gr. 3.3; hardness 6.5; greyish-white to yellowish-white; crystallizes in the monoclinic system (unlike zoisite which is orthorhombic) hence the prefix ‘clino-’; massive; occurs as an alteration product of plagioclase feldspars in igneous and metamorphic rocks, particularly anorthosites, where the rock is said to be ‘saussuritized’ when feldspars are hydrothermally altered to zoisite or clinozoisite. See SAUSSURITIZATION.

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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "clinozoisite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-clinozoisite.html