Jodiatomit

Jodiatomit is a rare and unique mineral species discovered in the late 20th century. It was first identified in 1999 in the Jodiatomo mine, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mineral is named after the mine where it was found, with "Jodiatomo" being a local term for the area.

Jodiatomit is a complex silicate mineral, with a chemical formula of (Na,Ca)2(Si,Al)4O10·H2O. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and typically forms small, prismatic crystals. The mineral is usually colorless or white, but can also exhibit shades of blue, green, or yellow due to impurities. Its hardness on the Mohs scale is approximately 5.5, and it has a specific gravity of around 2.6.

Jodiatomit is of interest to mineralogists and collectors due to its rarity and unique crystal structure. It is also studied for its potential applications in various fields, including geology and materials science. However, due to its limited occurrence and the challenges associated with mining in the region, Jodiatomit remains relatively unknown and understudied.