Stenonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Stenonite
Nicolas Steno
Formula:
Sr2Al(CO3)F5
Colour:
Colourless, white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
3.86
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Nicolas Steno/Nicolaus Stenonius (Danish: Niels Steensen) (1/11 January 1638 - 25 November/5 December 1686), Danish physician, discoverer of the law of constancy of interfacial angles.
This page provides mineralogical data about Stenonite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3762
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3762:0
IMA Classification of Stenonite
Approved
Classification of Stenonite
3.CG.05
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
G : Aluminofluorides with CO3, SO4, PO4
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
G : Aluminofluorides with CO3, SO4, PO4
12.1.1.1
12 : COMPOUND HALIDES
1 : Miscellaneous
12 : COMPOUND HALIDES
1 : Miscellaneous
12.1.7
12 : Carbonates with other anions
1 : Carbonates with halides
12 : Carbonates with other anions
1 : Carbonates with halides
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sten | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Stenonite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Good on {001} {120}
Good on {001} {120}
Density:
3.86(7) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.847 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Stenonite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.452 nβ = 1.527 nγ = 1.538
2V:
Measured: 43° , Calculated: 40°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.086
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 Âĩm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 Âĩm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v distinct
Chemistry of Stenonite
Mindat Formula:
Sr2Al(CO3)F5
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Stenonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/n
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.450(2) Å, b = 8.704(2) Å, c = 13.050(3) Å
β = 98.72(2)°
β = 98.72(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.626 : 1 : 1.499
Unit Cell V:
611.89 Ã
Âģ (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Massive
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005196 | Stenonite | Hawthorne F C (1984) The crystal structure of stenonite and the classification of the aluminofluoride minerals The Canadian Mineralogist 22 245-251 |  | 1984 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.97 Ã | (s) |
| 1.706 Ã | (s) |
| 2.158 Ã | (ms) |
| 2.291 Ã | (m) |
| 1.747 Ã | (m) |
| 1.645 Ã | (m) |
| 1.590 Ã | (m) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) |
Type Occurrence of Stenonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Cleavable, massive, to 4 cm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1965.16â1965.22, 1981.1016â1981.1018, 1981.1021, 1981.1060. Natural History Museum, Paris, France,; The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1966,536
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Contact between cryolite-siderite and fluorite rich rocks.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Stenonite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.CG. | Chukhrovite-(Ca) | Ca3Ca1.5Al2(SO4)F13 · 12H2O |
| 3.CG.10 | Meniaylovite | Ca4[(SO4)(SiF6)(AlF6)]F · 12H2O |
| 3.CG.10 | Chukhrovite-(Ce) | Ca3CeAl2(SO4)F13 · 12H2O |
| 3.CG.10 | Chukhrovite-(Y) | Ca3YAl2(SO4)F13 · 12H2O |
| 3.CG.10 | Chukhrovite-(Nd) | Ca3NdAl2(SO4)F13 · 12H2O |
| 3.CG.15 | Creedite | Ca3Al2(SO4)(OH)2F8 · 2H2O |
| 3.CG.20 | BÃļggildite | Na2Sr2Al2PO4F9 |
| 3.CG.25 | Thermessaite-(NH4) | (NH4)2AlF3(SO4) |
| 3.CG.25 | Thermessaite | K2AlF3(SO4) |
| 3.CG.30 | Kruijenite | Ca4Al4(SO4)F2(OH)16 · 2H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Stenonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3762.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Stenonite
Localities for Stenonite
Showing 2 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Croatia | |
| Nahill et al. (2006, October) |
Greenland (TL) | |
| H. Pauly: Medd. GrÃļnland 169 (9) +2 other references |
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Ivigtut Mine, Ivigtut stock, Arsuk Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland