The chemical formula of mineral Bytownite is indicated by CaNa(Al,Si)AlSi2O8 or Calcium Sodium Aluminum Silicate. Bytownite is actually a Silicate mineral. Bytownite mineral is a member of the plagioclase series but is considerably rare in occurrence. Bytownite derived its name from its famous locality, the Bytown that is now called Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The name was actually given by T. Thomson in the year 1835. Afterwards, the name Bytownite was applied by G. Tschermak to all those plagioclase feldspars that lie between labradorite and anorthite. And generally, most petrologists have adopted this. Bytownite mineral crystals are known to crystallize in the triclinic. In optical mineralogy, this crystal system commonly comprises crystals having three axes, of which all are unequal in length and are positioned oblique to one another.
Bytownite is most commonly found white, gray or sometimes colorless that can be seen exhibiting interesting appearance under petrographic polarizing light microscope used in optical mineralogy. But Bytownite mineral can be also found in pale shades of other colors that can be more fascinating when viewed under polarized microscopes. Bytownite is most commonly found exhibiting a vitreous luster in reflected light of polarizing microscopes for mineralogists, but they may appear dull if weathered. Bytownite is most commonly found showing a perfect cleavage in one direction and good in another direction that are forming nearly right angled prisms when the section is evaluated under petrographic polarizing light microscope used in optical mineralogy. Bytownite is most commonly found exhibiting conchoidal fracture when the mineral is examined under polarized light microscope for mineralogists or the ones used in optical mineralogy. Bytownite can be also found showing uneven or flat surfaces that are fractured in an uneven pattern. The hardness measure for mineral specimen Bytownite when it is evaluated using the Mohs scale method is commonly found ranging from 6 to 6.5. Bytownite is most commonly found leaving a white streak when mineral specimen is rubbed on the white porcelain streak plate. The specific gravity measure of mineral Bytownite commonly gives an approximate value ranging from 2.74 grams per cubic centimeters to 2.76 grams per cubic centimeters that is considered as an average value.
Bytownite mineral crystals are commonly found translucent to opaque in appearance and only sometimes found as transparent. They are commonly found translucent in thin edges. The crystal habits of Bytownite as described in optical mineralogy commonly include blocky or tabular crystals that are more clearly visible when viewed with the aid of a polarizing microscope for mineralogists. In optical mineralogy, the tabular crystals are commonly forming dimensions that are shaped like a book. They are rarely found as free crystals but they actually have a nearly rectangular or square cross that are terminated by a slanted dome and pinacoid faces. Bytownite is most commonly found showing twinned crystals that can be seen more clearly visible when viewed under polarizing light microscope for mineralogists. Bytownite can be also usually found as grains in gabbros and also in compact masses. It can be also found in coarse crystalline dimensions that commonly occur as well-formed coarse sized crystals. Sometimes they are also found in granular forms and they generally occur as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix, which are splendidly exhibited under a polarized light microscope. Bytownite can be also found with striated crystals that can be seen as parallel lines in the crystal surfaces or cleavage face when the mineral specimen is evaluated with the aid of a petrographic polarizing light microscope.
Bytownite is most commonly found showing a low surface relief when closely evaluated under several adjustments on the aperture diaphragm of petrographic polarizing light microscope. Bytownite is also usually found exhibiting a biaxial figure under a petrographic polarizing microscope used in optical mineralogy. Bytownite mineral is actually showing both optically positive and optically negative figure under the polarized microscope used in optical mineralogy. Bytownite mineral specimens are often found having index of refraction ranging from 1.565 to 1.585. Bytownite can be also found having a lamellar twinning that can be seen more clearly exhibited when the section is viewed under polarizing microscope for mineralogists. This may actually cause a grooved effect on the Bytownite crystals and the cleavage surfaces of this mineral, which may appear as striations. Bytownite minerals are also non-fluorescent minerals in either short or long wave ultraviolet light. They also display a strong dispersion in transmitted light of polarized microscopes used in optical mineralogy. Bytownite is found to be a non-radioactive mineral. There is no specific data on the toxicity and health dangers for mineral Bytownite. However, Bytownite mineral specimens should be treated with great care and use of sensible precaution is advised upon handling them.
Bytownite minerals are commonly associated with other interesting and splendid minerals such as biotite, pyroxenes and hornblende. The best field indicators of mineral Bytownite usually include density, twinning striations, index of refraction and occurrence. Bytownite minerals are commonly formed in magmatic and metamorphic rocks. They can be also found occurring in basic igneous rocks and in stony meteorites. Bytownite minerals are actually notably found at some limited localities such as South Africa, Scotland and the Ottawa, Canada that is formerly called as Bytown.
