Limanyla

Limanyla is a rare silicate mineral described from hydrothermal veins in the Limanya Basin. It forms tabular to prismatic crystals and displays a color range from pale lilac to emerald green, a white streak, and a vitreous to pearly luster. The mineral occurs in low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks adjacent to granitic intrusions.

Etymology and classification

The name Limanyla derives from the nearby Limanya River. In mineralogical terms, limanyla is placed among the layered silicates, with structural features that suggest a phyllosilicate-like arrangement, though its precise subcategory remains a topic of discussion as new analyses emerge.

Physical properties

Limanyla typically crystallizes in a monoclinic system. Common habits are slender tabular crystals or thin lamellar aggregates. Hardness is reported around 5.5–6 on the Mohs scale, and specific gravity is approximately 3.0–3.2. Its structure comprises layered silicate sheets with accompanying hydroxyl groups, contributing to its color variability and gem-like luster.

Occurrence and formation

Limanyla has been found in a small number of localities within the Limanya Basin, often in association with muscovite, quartz, garnet, and chlorite. It is thought to form under hydrothermal conditions at relatively low to moderate temperatures and pressures, where silicic fluids interact with metamorphic rocks near granitic bodies.

Uses and significance

Due to its rarity, limanyla holds limited industrial value but attracts interest for mineral collectors and academic research. Ongoing studies focus on clarifying its precise structural classification and exploring potential synthetic analogs for ceramic or optical applications.

See also

List of minerals; Silicate minerals; Hydrothermal minerals.