Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Formula:
Ba4Fe3+4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl
Colour:
tan to brown; blue to bluish-green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
3.710 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
to address the mineral relation with "cerchiaraite" (now cerchiaraite-(Mn))
The Fe analogue of cerchiaraite-(Mn) (ex-cerchiaraite) and cerchiaraite-(Al). Chemically similar to fencooperite, and somewhat to traskite and hyttsjöite.
The structure details (1) corner-sharing silicate tetrahedra, forming 4-membered rings; (2) the rings share corners with an edge-sharing chain of Fe3+O6 octahedra || c; (3) the rings alternate with Cl sites alternates along c; (4) large channels in the framework host Ba around
their peripheries, statistically distributed Si2O3(OH)4 dimers, and Cl atoms.
The structure details (1) corner-sharing silicate tetrahedra, forming 4-membered rings; (2) the rings share corners with an edge-sharing chain of Fe3+O6 octahedra || c; (3) the rings alternate with Cl sites alternates along c; (4) large channels in the framework host Ba around
their peripheries, statistically distributed Si2O3(OH)4 dimers, and Cl atoms.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
42784
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:42784:1
Similar Names
| Cerchiaraite-(Al) | A valid IMA mineral species | Ba4Al4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl |
| Cerchiaraite-(Mn) | A valid IMA mineral species | Ba4Mn43+(Si4O12)O2(OH)4Cl2[Si2O3(OH)4] |
| Cherchiaraite | A synonym of Cerchiaraite Group |
IMA Classification of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ba4Fe3+4(Si4O12)O2(OH)4Cl2[Si2O3(OH)4]
Approval year:
2012
First published:
2013
Type description reference:
Classification of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
9.CF.25
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
F : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered single rings, with insular complex anions
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
F : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered single rings, with insular complex anions
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ccr-Fe | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Tan to brown; blue to bluish-green
Comment:
tan/brown: Cerchiara; blue/bluish-green: California
Streak:
Colorless to tan (Cerchiara), pale green-blue (California)
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Comment:
ca. 4.5
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.710 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
couldn't be measured due to fibrous habit
Optical Data of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.741(2) nε = 1.768(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.027
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 µm 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 µm 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:
Very High (positive)
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 uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
colorless (O), yellow (E), O < E
Chemistry of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Mindat Formula:
Ba4Fe3+4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Ti,Al
Crystallography of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.3354(19) Å, c = 6.0151(8) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.42
Unit Cell V:
1230.6 ų
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019795 | Cerchiaraite-(Fe) | Kampf A R, Roberts A C, Venance K E, Carbone C, Belmonte D, Dunning G E, Walstrom R E (2013) Cerchiaraite-(Fe) and cerchiaraite-(Al), two new barium cyclosilicate chlorides from Italy and California, USA Mineralogical Magazine 77 69-80 | 2013 | Esquire No. 8 claim, Big Creek, Fresno County, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.403 Å | (26) |
| 3.327 Å | (48) |
| 3.016 Å | (70) |
| 2.595 Å | (100) |
| 2.258 Å | (29) |
| 1.812 Å | (39) |
| 1.411 Å | (43) |
| 1.298 Å | (29) |
Locality:
Reference:
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) |
Geological Setting:
quartz-sanbomite vein assemblages resulting from fluid interaction along the margin of the vein (Esquire #7 and #8 claims)
Type Occurrence of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
thin prisms and matted fibers (Italy); irregular prisms in subparallel crystal aggregates, generally less than 1 mm across (California, USA)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA, catalogue numbers 63515, 63516, 63517 and 63518
Geological Setting of Type Material:
small fractures and veinlets within metacherts of a Jurassic ophiolitic sequence; genesis: re-equilibration of the ophiolitic sequences during tectonometamorphic overprinting, aged ca. 80 Ma, in prehnite-pumpellyite facies conditions (2–3kB, 250–300oC)
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Synonyms of Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Other Language Names for Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Dutch:Cerchiaraiet-(Fe)
German:Cerchiarait-(Fe)
Relationship of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Cerchiaraite Group:
| Cerchiaraite-(Al) | Ba4Al4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm |
| Cerchiaraite-(Mn) | Ba4Mn3+4(Si4O12)O2(OH)4Cl2[Si2O3(OH)4] | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 13 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Sanbornite | BaSi2O5 |
| 13 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 7 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| 7 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Titantaramellite | Ba4(Ti,Fe3+,Fe2+,Mg)4(B2Si8O27)O2Clx |
| 5 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Gillespite | BaFe2+Si4O10 |
| 4 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with 'Tobermorite-11Å' | |
| 4 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Hedenbergite | CaFe2+Si2O6 |
| 4 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Muirite | Ba10(Ca2Mn2+Ti)[Si8O24]O2Cl10 |
| 4 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Pellyite | Ba2CaFe2+2Si6O17 |
| 3 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Fe) associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CF. | Bobmeyerite | Pb4(Al3Cu)(Si4O12)(S0.5Si0.5O4)(OH)7Cl(H2O)3 |
| 9.CF.05 | Ashburtonite | Pb4Cu4(Si4O12)(HCO3)4(OH)3Cl · H2O |
| 9.CF.10 | Kainosite-(Y) | Ca2Y2(SiO3)4(CO3) · H2O |
| 9.CF.15 | Clinophosinaite | Na12(Ca,Sr)4(Si4O12)(PO4)4 |
| 9.CF.15 | Phosinaite-(Ce) | Na13Ca2(Ce,La,Th,Nd,Pr)(Si4O12)(PO4)4 |
| 9.CF.20 | Strakhovite | NaBa3Mn2+2Mn3+2Si6O19(OH)3 |
| 9.CF.25 | Cerchiaraite-(Al) | Ba4Al4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl |
| 9.CF.25 | Cerchiaraite-(Mn) | Ba4Mn3+4(Si4O12)O2(OH)4Cl2[Si2O3(OH)4] |
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 Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-42784.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2012) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2012. CNMNC Newsletter No 13. Mineralogical Magazine, 76 (3) 807-817 doi:10.1180/minmag.2012.076.3.26
Localities for Cerchiaraite-(Fe)
Showing 9 localities.
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - 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.
Canada | |
| McNeil et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
| Kampf et al. (2014) | |
Italy (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2012) +1 other reference |
Mexico | |
| Frank K. Mazdab collection (petrography + EPMA characterized) +2 other references |
Sweden | |
| Cámara et al. (2021) |
USA (TL) | |
| Walstrom (n.d.) +2 other references |
| Walstrom (n.d.) +2 other references |
| Kampf et al. (2013) |
| Walstrom (n.d.) |
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The
Cerchiara Mine, Borghetto di Vara, La Spezia Province, Liguria, Italy