Bicchulite

bicchulite

gehlenite

vesuvianite

melilite

Images

Formula: Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2
Tectosilicate (framework silicate), paramorph of kamaishilite
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 2.75 measured, 2.813 calculated
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless to white, grey
Luminescence: Fluoresces dark red under all wavelengths of UV
Common impurities: Ti,Fe,Mn,Mg,Na,K,P
Environments

Metamorphic environments

Bicchulite occurs in skarn in limestone, formed through alteration of gehlenite subjected to later retrograde hydration reactions. Associated minerals include vesuvianite, hydrogrossular, gehlenite, melilite and calcite. (HOM).

Localities

At the type locality, the Fuka mine, Fuka, Bitchū, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, bicchulite occurs in skarn, associated with vesuvianite with or without hydrogrossular, gehlenite and calcite (AM 59.1330).

At Güneyce-Ikizdere, Rize Province, Turkey, bicchulite is a product of the alteration of gehlenite; it also associated with spurrite, in interstices among crystals, with other alteration-induced minerals such as defernite (CM 51.6.902).

At Carneal, Glenoe, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK, bicchulite occurs in skarn, associated with hydrogrossular and melilite in a buff-coloured coating on wollastonite rock (AM 59.1330).

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