The chemical formula of mineral Tainiolite is indicated by the formula KLiMg2Si4O10F2 or Potassium Lithium Magnesium Silicate Fluoride. Tainiolite is actually a Silicate mineral. It is most commonly used as a mineral specimen and is often found exhibiting nice and fascinating microscope images when viewed with the aid of petrographic polarizing light microscopes used in the field of optical mineralogy. Tainiolite was named after the Greek word for band or strip. Tainiolite is not really a well known mineral. It is actually a rare mica mineral.
Tainiolite is usually found colorless, brown, tan to silvery which can be very interesting and fascinating when viewed with the aid of polarizing microscopes for mineralogists. Tainiolite is also most commonly found showing vitreous to pearly luster when viewed in reflected light of polarized microscope used in the field of optical mineralogy. Most crystals of mineral Tainiolite are found transparent to translucent in appearance. It is also known to crystallize in the monoclinic system of crystal formation. 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. The crystal habit of mineral Tainiolite as described in the field of optical mineralogy usually include thin lamellar tabular to platy crystals forming books, scales and tapering prisms. Mineral Tainiolite is also found showing perfect cleavage in one direction producing thin sheets or flakes. The fracture of mineral Tainiolite is not readily observed due to cleavage but is usually uneven when found using the petrographic polarizing microscope for mineralogists. The hardness measure of mineral Tainiolite when it is evaluated using the Mohs scale method is usually 2.5 to 3. Tainiolite is most commonly found leaving a white streak when specimen sample is rubbed on a white porcelain streak plate. The specific gravity measure of the mineral is approximately 2.8 to 2.9 grams per cubic centimeters, which is considered average. Tainiolite is usually associated with natrolite, pectolite, fluorite, Richterite, quartz, microcline, Phillipsite and aegerine. Tainiolite is a non-fluorescent mineral. The best field indicators of mineral Tainiolite usually include non-fluorescence, locality, crystal habit, color, cleavage, association and locality. Tainiolite notably occurs at several localities including Greenland, Russia, Canada and some areas in USA.
