Kyanite vs Staurolite

Property Kyanite Staurolite
สูตรเคมี Al2SiO5 Fe2Al9Si4O23(OH)
ระบบผลึก Triclinic Monoclinic
หมวดหมู่แร่ธาตุ 09 Silicates 09 Silicates
ความแข็งโมห์ส 4.5-7.0 7.0-7.5
สี Blue, white, gray, green Dark reddish-brown to black
ความวาว Vitreous Vitreous
สีเส้นขูด Colorless Gray to white
ความโปร่งใส Translucent Translucent
การแตกเรียบ Perfect {100} Poor {010}
รอยแตก Splintery Subconchoidal

Key Differences

  • Kyanite is known for variable hardness (4.5 along the crystal, 7 across); staurolite has a consistent 7–7.5.
  • Staurolite is famous for cruciform twinned crystals (natural crosses); kyanite forms bladed columnar crystals.
  • Both are metamorphic index minerals: kyanite indicates high pressure; staurolite indicates medium-grade metamorphism.
  • Kyanite (Al2SiO5) is a polymorph of sillimanite and andalusite; staurolite is a distinct iron-aluminum silicate.
  • Kyanite is typically blue; staurolite is dark reddish-brown to black.
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