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Staurolite

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Big Photo

Pestsovye Keivy, Keivy Mountains, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Zn)
 
1.5-2
Al
 
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
6
(OH,O)
 
2
System:MonoclinicColour:Dark brown, ...
Hardness:7 - 7½
Name:From Greek "stauros", cross, alluding to the cruciform twins it displays in some cases.


Staurolite Group.

Classification of Staurolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AF.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
F : Nesosilicates with additional anions; cations in [4], [5] and/or only [6] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:52.2.3.1

52 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and O,OH,F,H2O
2 : Insular SiO4 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [4] and >[4] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.19.5

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
19 : Aluminosilicates of Fe and Mg
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Occurrences of Staurolite

Geological Setting:Amphibolite grade of regionally metamorphosed pelitic rocks.

Physical Properties of Staurolite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Dark brown, brownish-black, red-brown
Streak:White to grayish
Hardness (Mohs):7 - 7½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {010}
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.74 - 3.83 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.686 g/cm3

Crystallography of Staurolite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 7.86Å, b = 16.6Å, c = 5.65Å
β = 90.45°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.473 : 1 : 0.34
Unit Cell Volume:V 737.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Prismatic crystals
Twinning:Commonly 60 degree twins on {231}, may be cyclic. Less commonly 90 degree cruciform twins on {031}
Crystal Atlas:
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Staurolite no.12 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Staurolite no.30 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Staurolite no.35 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Staurolite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.736 - 1.747 nβ = 1.740 - 1.754 nγ = 1.745 - 1.762
2V:Measured: 88° , Calculated: 84° to 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.009 - 0.015

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v weak
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X= colourless
Y= pale yellow
Z= golden yellow

Chemical Properties of Staurolite

Formula:
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Zn)
 
1.5-2
Al
 
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
6
(OH,O)
 
2
Essential elements:Al, Fe, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Fe, H, Mg, O, Si, Zn
Common Impurities:Ti,Cr,Mn,Co,Zn,Li,H2O

Relationship of Staurolite to other Species

Common Associates:
TourmalineQuartzMuscoviteKyaniteChloritoid
AlmandineAlmandine
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AF.05Sillimanite
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O
9.AF.10Andalusite
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O
9.AF.10Kanonaite
Mn
3+
 
Al(SiO
 
4
)O
9.AF.15Kyanite
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O
9.AF.20Mullite
Al
 
4+2x
Si
 
2-2x
O
 
10-x
9.AF.20Krieselite
(Al,Ga)
 
2
(GeO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
9.AF.23Boromullite
Al
 
9
BSi
 
2
O
 
19
9.AF.25Yoderite
Mg(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH)
9.AF.30Magnesiostaurolite
(Mg,Li,Fe
2+
 
)
 
1.5-2
Al
 
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.30Zincostaurolite
(Zn,Li,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
1.5-2
Al
 
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.35Topaz
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.AF.40Norbergite
Mg
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.AF.45Alleghanyite
Mn
2+
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.45Chondrodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(F,OH)
 
2
9.AF.45Reinhardbraunsite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
9.AF.45Kumtyubeite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
F
 
2
9.AF.45Hydroxylchondrodite
Mg
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.50Humite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(F,OH)
 
2
9.AF.50Manganhumite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.50Unnamed (Ca-analogue of Humite)
Ca
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
F
 
2
9.AF.55Clinohumite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(F,OH)
 
2
9.AF.55Sonolite
Mn
2+
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,F)
 
2
9.AF.55Hydroxylclinohumite
Mg
 
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,F)
 
2
9.AF.60Leucophoenicite
Mn
2+
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.65Ribbeite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.70Jerrygibbsite
Mn
2+
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
9.AF.75Franciscanite
Mn
2+
6
(V
5+
 
,☐)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
9.AF.75Örebroite
Mn
2+
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Sb
5+
 
)(SiO
 
4
)(O,OH)
 
3
9.AF.75Welinite
Mn
2+
6
(W
6+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
9.AF.80Ellenbergerite
Mg
 
6
(Mg,Ti,Zr,◻)
 
2
(Al,Mg)
 
6
Si
 
8
O
 
28
(OH)
 
10
9.AF.85Chloritoid
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
 
2
9.AF.85Magnesiochloritoid
MgAl
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
 
2
9.AF.85Ottrélite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
 
2
9.AF.90Poldervaartite
CaCa(HSiO
 
4
)(OH)
9.AF.90Olmiite
CaMn
2+
 
(HSiO
 
4
)(OH)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.19.1Indialite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
5
O
 
18
)
16.19.2Cordierite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
5
O
 
18
)
16.19.3Sekaninaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
5
O
 
18
)
16.19.4Ferrogedrite
☐{Fe
2+
2
}{Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
}(Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.19.6Chloritoid
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
 
2
16.19.7Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
16.19.8Corundophilite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
16.19.9Yoderite
Mg(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH)
16.19.10Delessite
(Mg,Fe,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(O,OH)
 
8
16.19.11Ferrocarpholite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
4
16.19.12Magnesiocarpholite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
4
16.19.13Chamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
Al(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
16.19.14Orthochamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
5
Al(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,O)
 
8
16.19.15Berthierine
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,AlMg)
 
2-3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
16.19.16Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
16.19.17Clinochlore
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Al(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
16.19.18Gedrite
☐{Mg
 
2
}{Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
}(Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.19.19Magnesiogedrite
16.19.20Diabantite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
16.19.21Sudoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
16.19.22Vermiculite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
3
((Al,Si)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.19.23Corrensite
(Mg,Fe)
 
9
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
10
 · nH
 
2
O

Other Names for Staurolite

Synonyms:
CroisetteFairy Stone
Other Languages:
Croatian:Staurolit
Dutch:Stauroliet
Finnish:Stauroliitti
French:Staurotide
German:Staurolith
Baseler Taufstein
Granatit
Hebrew:סטאורוליט
Hungarian:Staurolit
Italian:Staurolite
Japanese:十字石
Lithuanian:Staurolitas
Polish:Staurolit
Portuguese:Estaurolita
Russian:Ставролит
Simplified Chinese:十字石
Spanish:Estaurolita
Staurolita
Varieties:
LusakiteZincian Staurolite

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Staurolite

Reference List:

- +
Klaproth, M.H. (1810): Untersuchung des Stauroliths, Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Fünfter Band, Rottmann Berlin, 80-85

Smith J.V. (1968), American Mineralogist: 53: 1139-1155.

Hollister, L.S. (1970) Origin, mechanism, and consequences of compositional sector zoning in staurolite. American Mineralogist: 55: 742-766.

American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 292-297.

Hemingway, B.S. and Robie, R.A. (1984) Heat capacity and thermodynamic functions for gehlenite and staurolite: with comments on the Schottky anomaly in the heat capacity of staurolite. American Mineralogist: 69: 307-318.

Canadian Mineralogist (1993): 31: 551-582.

Hawthorne, F.C., Ungaretti, L., Oberti, R., Caucia, F., and Callegari, A. (1993), The crystal-chemistry of staurolite II. Order-disorder and the monoclinic → orthorhombic phase transition. Canadian Mineralogist: 31: 583-595.

Canadian Mineralogist (1996): 34: 1051.

Internet Links for Staurolite

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