Vesuvianite (also known as idocrase) is a mineral usually found in crystalline limestones occurring in tetragonal crystals, and also massive, of a brown to green colour, rarely sulphur yellow and blue, and is formed as a result of contact metamorphism. It is a silicate of alumina and lime with some iron magnesia and has the formulae Ca10(Mg,Fe) 2Al4(SiO4)5(SiO7)2(OH)4 and a relative hardness of 7. Vesuvianite was confirmed as a distinct species of mineral in 1795 and named vesuvianite after MountVesuvius in Italy where typical specimens are found. Research Vesuvianite
 
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