Log In
Morningstarite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Formula:
Na(W2.67Fe3+0.33)O9 · H2O
Colour:
cream to orange
Specific Gravity:
6.4 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
For the type locality
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Apart from the different chemistry, it differs from wumuite in having the tungsten atoms displaced from the centres of the octahedra to give alternating long and short (W=O) bonds along [001].
It is a hexagonal-bronze type structure with tungsten, iron and aluminium occupying the octahedral sites and with sodium, potassium, lead and UO 2 occupying sites in the channels.
It is a hexagonal-bronze type structure with tungsten, iron and aluminium occupying the octahedral sites and with sodium, potassium, lead and UO 2 occupying sites in the channels.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
471956
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:471956:0
IMA Classification of Morningstarite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na(W6+2.67Fe3+0.33)O9·H2O
Approval year:
2024
Classification of Morningstarite
4.DM.60
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
M : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; unclassified
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
M : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; unclassified
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mnsr | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Morningstarite
Colour:
Cream to orange
Density:
6.4 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Morningstarite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
Comments:
mean calculated index of refraction of 2.14
Chemistry of Morningstarite
Mindat Formula:
Na(W2.67Fe3+0.33)O9 · H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Morningstarite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P6/mmm
Setting:
P6/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.3012(2) Å, c = 3.8963(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.534
Unit Cell V:
179.88 Ã
Âģ (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.318 Ã | (21) |
| 3.912 Ã | (46) |
| 3.169 Ã | (100) |
| 2.463 Ã | (43) |
| 1.830 Ã | (33) |
| 1.661 Ã | (43) |
| 1.586 Ã | (19) |
| 1.468 Ã | (18) |
Locality:
Type Occurrence of Morningstarite
General Appearance of Type Material:
microcrystalline, cream to orange-coloured, boxwork-like replacements of wolframite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia, catalogue number G35466 (holotype), and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA, catalogue number 76453 (cotype)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
secondary tungstate mineral altered from wolframite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Morningstarite
Other Language Names for Morningstarite
Dutch:Morningstariet
German:Morningstarit
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DM. | Sugarwhiteite | Pb2Te5O12 |
| 4.DM. | Zuolinite | Ba2Sr(Nb4.5Fe3+0.5)O15 |
| 4.DM. | Bahariyaite | KMnO4 |
| 4.DM.05 | Rankamaite | (Na,K)3(Ta,Nb,Al)11(O,OH)31 |
| 4.DM.05 | Sosedkoite | (K,Na)5Al2(Ta,Nb)22O60 |
| 4.DM.15 | Cesplumtantite | (Cs,Na)2(Pb,Sb3+)3Ta8O24 |
| 4.DM.20 | Eyselite | Fe3+Ge4+3O7(OH) |
| 4.DM.25 | Konzettite | CaMn4+Te6+O6 |
| 4.DM.25 | Kuranakhite | PbMn4+Te6+O6 |
| 4.DM.30 | Mambertiite | BiMo5+2.80O8(OH) |
| 4.DM.30 | Gelosaite | BiMo6+(2-5x)Mo5+6xO7(OH) · H2O |
| 4.DM.35 | Ekebergite | ThFeNb2O8 |
| 4.DM.45 | Riesite | TiO2 |
| 4.DM.50 | Sardignaite | BiMo2O7(OH) · 2H2O |
| 4.DM.55 | Tewite | (K1.5âŧ0.5)(Te1.25W0.25âŧ0.5)W5O19 |
| 4.DM.60 | Wumuite | K(W2.67Al0.33)O9 |
| 4.DM.60 | Kingsgateite | ZrMo6+2O7(OH)2 · 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 Morningstarite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-471956.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Morningstarite
Localities for Morningstarite
Showing 1 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.
Australia (TL) | |
| Bosi et al. (2025) +1 other reference |
