Sillimanite or fibrolite is an aluminosilicate mineral with the chemical formula Al2SiO5. Sillimanite is named after the American chemist Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864). It was first described in 1824 for an occurrence in Chester, Connecticut.[
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Occurrence
Sillimanite or fibrolite is one of three aluminosilicate polymorphs, the other two being andalusite and kyanite. A common variety of sillimanite is known as fibrolite, so named because the mineral appears like a bunch of fibres twisted together when viewed in thin section or even by the naked eye. Both the fibrous and traditional forms of sillimanite are common in metamorphism . It is an index mineral indicating high temperature but variable pressure. Example rocks include gneiss and granulite. It occurs with andalusite, kyanite, potassium feldspar, almandine, cordierite, biotite and quartz in schist, gneiss, hornfels and also rarely in .[ Dumortierite and mullite are similar mineral species found in porcelain.][Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., Manual of Mineralogy, 1985, Wiley 20th ed., p. 380 ]
Sillimanite has been found in Brandywine Springs, New Castle County, Delaware. It was named by the State Legislature in 1977 as the state mineral of Delaware by the suggestion of the Delaware Mineralogical Society.[ Delaware State Mineral, Sillimanite, Delaware Geological Survey]
Uses
Natural sillimanite is used in the manufacture of high alumina refractories or 55–60% alumina bricks. However, it has mostly been replaced by the other aluminosilicate polymorphs, andalusite and kyanite, for this purpose.
==Gallery==
See also
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List of minerals
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List of minerals named after people
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Asbestos cement, which is also called "fibrolite"
