The chemical formula of the mineral Kinoite is indicated Ca2Cu2Si3O10 – 2H2O or Hydrated Calcium Copper Silicate. Mineral Kinoite is a Silicate mineral. Mineral Kinoite was named after the Italian Jesuit missionary Eusibio Francisco Kino (1645-1711). The mineral species was first described in 1970 at Santa Rita Mountains in Pima County, Arizona, USA. Mineral Kinoite is known to crystallize in the monoclinic system. In optical mineralogy, the monoclinic system of crystal formation comprises crystals having three axes of unequal lengths. Two of which are usually found in a position that is oblique or not perpendicular to one another. However, both of which are commonly found perpendicular to the third axis. Most crystals of mineral Kinoite are found transparent to translucent in appearance. The crystal habit of mineral Kinoite as described in optical mineralogy usually include small acicular to thin prismatic crystals found as spherules or sprays of acicular radial crystal clusters that are majestically exhibited under petrographic polarizing light microscopes. Kinoite can be also found forming massive and crust forms that are more fascinatingly wonderful when viewed with the aid of petrographic polarizing light microscope used in optical mineralogy.
Mineral Kinoite is also considered as a very minor ore of copper and it is also used as ornamental stone that exhibits nice and fascinating images when viewed under gemological polarizing microscopes. And as an ore mineral, Kinoite also exhibits interesting microscope images under an ore polarizing microscope used in petrology. Kinoite is actually an attractive copper mineral when viewed under polarized microscopes used in optical mineralogy. It is generally found having light blue color when viewed under petrographic polarizing microscope. If Kinoite mineral is found as aggregate or encrusting specimen, its blue color usually appears palish compared other blue minerals like azurite, papagoite, linarite, connelite, liroconite, and others. But this palishness of Kinoite crystals does not really imply that the specimen is unattractive. It is interesting in its own ways much more when evaluated under petrographic polarizing microscope. The blue color of Kinoite is actually different from the blue shade of the crystals of the other mentioned minerals. The color of Kinoite crystals is very unique. In fact Kinoite is usually considered as another wonderful addition to one’s mineral collections and is considered welcome to the color pallete of the mineral kingdom. The color of the mineral Kinoite can be considered as somewhat purer blue than that of the more common mineral chrysocolla.
Mineral Kinoite is most commonly found having unique light blue color for crusts and a deep blue color for microcrystals that are commonly splendidly wonderful when viewed under polarized microscopes used in optical mineralogy. These wonderful blue color that is commonly exhibited by mineral Kinoite is much more splendidly exhibited under petrographic polarizing light microscopes. Kinoite is most commonly found exhibiting a vitreous luster when viewed in reflected light of polarizing microscope. Mineral Kinoite is commonly found having very good cleavage when viewed with the aid of polarizing microscope. The hardness measure of the mineral when it is evaluate using the Mohs scale method usually varies from 2 to 5 depending on whether the mineral is found in crust form or as individual crystals. When the mineral specimen of Kinoite is rubbed on a white porcelain streak plate, it is commonly found leaving a blue streak. The specific gravity measure of the mineral usually gives an approximate value of about 3.2 grams per cubic centimeters, which is considered above average for non-metallic minerals.
Mineral Kinoite is commonly found having biaxial negative figure when viewed between crossed nicols of petrographic polarizing light microscopes. The refractive index of the mineral is usually found ranging from 1.638 to 1.676 when viewed under polarized light microscopes. The maximum birefringence of the mineral when it is evaluated between crossed polars of petrographic polarizing microscope is usually 0.038. Kinoite also exhibits a moderate surface relief when viewed under polarizing microscopes for geologists. It also exhibits a weak dispersion when viewed under petrographic polarizing microscope. There is no specific data found on the toxicity and health dangers for mineral Kinoite. However, the specimen of the mineral Kinoite should be treated with great care and use of sensible precaution is advised upon handling them. Kinoite is anon-radioactive mineral species.
The best field indicators of mineral Kinoite usually include color, association, crystal habit, and locality. Mineral Kinoite is considered quite scarce. It can be found only in a very few localities around the world. Mineral Kinoite is most commonly found associated with apophyllite, bornite, calcite, copper, wollastonite, chalcopyrite, stringhamite, djurleite and stringhamite. Most good Kinoite specimens are from the Christmas Mine in Gila County, Arizona. This mineral Kinoite is commonly found associated with and coated with small crystals of the mineral apophyllite, which can actually give a nice sparkle to the specimen. The micromountable specimens of mineral Kinoite are usually found having deeper blue color that are also attractive and having similar appearance to clusters of mineral cavansite. Mineral Kinoite is a secondary mineral that can be found in copper deposits. It also forms in skarns and fault gouge. Mineral Kinoite notably occurs at several localities like Santa Rita Mountains in Pima County and the Christmas Mine in Gila County, Arizona, USA.
