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katoite
Rare member of the Garnet group containing hydroxyl (OH) in its structure in place of some silica (SiO 4). Its formula is Ca 3Al 2(SiO 12) 3-x(OH) 4x
(where x is 1.5 to 3.0) . The mineral Katoite is the same as Hibschite, but contains less hydroxyl replacing the silicate (In Katoite, x is 0.2 to 1.5). Hibschite and Katoite are white to light yellow, and only occur in tiny crystals, which may be packed together very densely. Katoite and Hibschite are called Hydrogarnets, or Garnets with hydroxyl in their structure. They may also be called hydrogrossular, for they are, in essence, the mineral Grossular with a slight replacement of silica for hydroxyl. Katoite and Hibschite are scientifically classified as individual minerals.
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