Epididymite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Epididymite
Formula:
Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white, rarely pink
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
2.548
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Derived from the Greek Î”Ï (near), and ÎŽÎŻÎŽÎœÎŒÎżÏ (twin) referring to the dimorphous relation with eudidymite.
Dimorph of:
A late-stage mineral found in nepheline syenite pegmatites.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1388
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1388:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
b7fef349-db93-491f-8a15-5be4cc5b5d47
IMA Classification of Epididymite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1893
Classification of Epididymite
9.DG.55
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
66.3.1.4
66 : INOSILICATES Double-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=2)
3 : Amphiboles - Ca-Na subgroup
66 : INOSILICATES Double-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=2)
3 : Amphiboles - Ca-Na subgroup
14.3.7
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
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 |
---|---|---|
Edd | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Epididymite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Pearly on cleavage
Colour:
Colourless to white, rarely pink
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}, good on {010}
Perfect on {001}, good on {010}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
2.548 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Epididymite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.544 nβ = 1.544 nγ = 1.546
2V:
Measured: 22°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.002
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
weak
Chemistry of Epididymite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O
Common Impurities:
Al,Fe,Mg,Ca,K
Crystallography of Epididymite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.7334(4) Å, b = 13.6298(5) Å, c = 7.3467(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.934 : 1 : 0.539
Unit Cell V:
1275.04 Ă
Âł
Z:
4
Twinning:
Reticulated twins, trillings, pseudohexagonal trillings
Crystallographic forms of Epididymite
Crystal Atlas:
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000212 | Epididymite | Robinson P D, Fang J H (1970) The crystal structure of epididymite American Mineralogist 55 1541-1549 | 1970 | Narsarsuk, Greenland | 0 | 293 | |
0004614 | Epididymite | Gatta G D, Rotiroti N, McIntyre G J, Guastoni A, Nestola F (2008) New insights into the crystal chemistry of epididymite and eudidymite from Malosa, Malawi: A single-crystal neutron diffraction study American Mineralogist 93 1158-1165 | 2008 | Malosa, Malawi | 0 | 293 | |
0012437 | Epididymite | Pobedimskaya E A, Belov N V (1959) The crystal structure of epididymite: a new type of infinite silicooxygenous chains Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 129 900-903 | 1959 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Epitaxial Relationships of Epididymite
Epitaxial Minerals:
Eudidymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O |
Epitaxy Comments:
Epitaxial intergrowths of epididymite and eudidymite are common
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.37 Ă | (10) |
3.08 Ă | (10) |
2.96 Ă | (10) |
1.790 Ă | (6) |
1.634 Ă | (6) |
2.48 Ă | (5)' |
1.537 Ă | (5) |
Comments:
From Handbook of Mineralogy, specimen from NarssĂąrssuk, Greenland
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 4a: Earthâs earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Epididymite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No material connected with Flink's first investigation and descriptions has survived.
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
SiO2 | 73.74 % |
---|---|
BeO | 10.56 % |
Na2O | 12.88 % |
H2O | 3.73 % |
Total: | 100.91 % |
Reference:
Flink, G. (1893): Om nÄgra mineral frÄn Grönland. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholms Förhandlingar. 15, 195-208
Synonyms of Epididymite
Other Language Names for Epididymite
German:Epididymit
Epidymit
Epidymit
Russian:ĐĐżĐžĐŽĐžĐŽĐžĐŒĐžŃ
Simplified Chinese:ææčæżæ¶çł
ææżæ¶çł
æżæ¶çł
ææżæ¶çł
æżæ¶çł
Spanish:Epididymita
Epidymita
Epidymita
Traditional Chinese:ææčæżæ¶çł
ææżæ¶çł
æżæ¶çł
ææżæ¶çł
æżæ¶çł
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
89 photos of Epididymite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
45 photos of Epididymite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
34 photos of Epididymite associated with Eudidymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O |
30 photos of Epididymite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
23 photos of Epididymite associated with Catapleiite | Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O |
22 photos of Epididymite associated with Serandite | NaMn2+2Si3O8(OH) |
21 photos of Epididymite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
20 photos of Epididymite associated with Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
17 photos of Epididymite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
16 photos of Epididymite associated with Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.DG. | Calcinaksite | KNaCa(Si4O10) · H2O |
9.DG. | Barrydawsonite-(Y) | Na1.5Y0.5CaSi3O8(OH) |
9.DG. | Paratobermorite | Ca4(Al0.5Si0.5)2Si4O16(OH)(H2O)2 · (Ca · 3H2O) |
9.DG. | Alvesite | NaKZrSi6O15 · 2H2O |
9.DG.02 | Steedeite | NaMn2[Si3BO9](OH)2 |
9.DG.02 | Nolzeite | NaMn2[Si3BO9](OH)2 · 2H2O |
9.DG.05 | Bustamite | CaMn2+(Si2O6) |
9.DG.05 | Ferrobustamite | CaFe2+(Si2O6) |
9.DG.05 | Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
9.DG.05 | Serandite | NaMn2+2Si3O8(OH) |
9.DG.05 | Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
9.DG.05 | Wollastonite-1A | CaSiO3 |
9.DG.05 | Tanohataite | LiMn2Si3O8(OH) |
9.DG.05 | Schizolite | NaCaMnSi3O8(OH) |
9.DG.05 | Murakamiite | LiCa2Si3O8(OH) |
9.DG.05 | Dalnegorskite | Ca5Mn(Si3O9)2 |
9.DG.07 | Cascandite | CaScSi3O8(OH) |
9.DG.08 | PlombiÚrite | [Ca4Si6O16(OH)2 · 2H2O] · (Ca · 5H2O) |
9.DG.10 | Clinotobermorite | [Ca4Si6O17 · 2H2O] · (Ca · 3H2O) |
9.DG.10 | Riversideite | Ca5(HSi3O9)2 · 2H2O |
9.DG.10 | Tobermorite | Ca4Si6O17(H2O)2 · (Ca · 3H2O) |
9.DG.12 | Jusite | Na2Ca15Al4Si16O54 · 17H2O |
9.DG.12 | Kenotobermorite | Ca4Si6O15(OH)2(H2O)2 · 3H2O |
9.DG.15 | Foshagite | Ca4(Si3O9)(OH)2 |
9.DG.20 | Jennite | Ca9(Si3O9)2(OH)8 · 8H2O |
9.DG.20 | Kamenevite | K2TiSi3O9 · H2O |
9.DG.25 | Paraumbite | K3Zr2H(Si3O9)2 · nH2O |
9.DG.25 | Umbite | K2(Zr,Ti)Si3O9 · H2O |
9.DG.30 | SĂžrensenite | Na4SnBe2Si6O16(OH)4 |
9.DG.32 | Escheite | Ca2NaMnTi5[Si12O34]O2(OH)3 · 12H2O |
9.DG.35 | Xonotlite | Ca6(Si6O17)(OH)2 |
9.DG.40 | Hillebrandite | Ca2(SiO3)(OH)2 |
9.DG.45 | Zorite | Na8(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,O)5 · 14H2O |
9.DG.45 | Chivruaiite | Ca4(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,O)5 · 13-14H2O |
9.DG.50 | Haineaultite | (Na,Ca)5Ca(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,F)8 · 5H2O |
9.DG.60 | Eudidymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O |
9.DG.65 | Elpidite | Na2ZrSi6O15 · 3H2O |
9.DG.65 | Patynite | NaKCa4[Si9O23] |
9.DG.67 | Whelanite | Cu2+2Ca6[Si6O17(OH)](CO3)(OH)3 · 2H2O |
9.DG.70 | Fenaksite | (K,Na)4(Fe,Mn)2(Si4O10)2(OH,F) |
9.DG.70 | Litidionite | CuNaKSi4O10 |
9.DG.70 | Manaksite | KNaMnSi4O10 |
9.DG.70 | Yusupovite | Na2Zr(Si6O15) · 2.5H2O |
9.DG.70 | Enricofrancoite | KNaCaSi4O10 |
9.DG.75 | Tinaksite | K2Na(Ca,Mn2+)2TiO[Si7O18(OH)] |
9.DG.75 | Tokkoite | K2Ca4[Si7O18(OH)](OH,F) |
9.DG.75 | Senkevichite | CsKNaCa2TiO[Si7O18](OH) |
9.DG.80 | Canasite | K3Na3Ca5Si12O30(OH)4 |
9.DG.80 | Fluorcanasite | K3Na3Ca5Si12O30F4 · H2O |
9.DG.85 | Miserite | K1.5-x(Ca,Y,REE)5(Si6O15)(Si2O7)(OH,F)2 · yH2O |
9.DG.90 | Frankamenite | K3Na3Ca5(Si12O30)(F,OH)4 · H2O |
9.DG.92 | Charoite | (K,Sr)15-16(Ca,Na)32[Si6O11(O,OH)6]2[Si12O18(O,OH)12]2[Si17O25(O,OH)18]2(OH,F)4 · ~3H2O |
9.DG.95 | Yuksporite | K4(Ca,Na)14(Sr,Ba)2(â»,Mn,Fe)(Ti,Nb)4(O,OH)4(Si6O17)2(Si2O7)3(H2O,OH)3 |
9.DG.97 | Eveslogite | (Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)48 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe2+)12Si48O144(OH)12](F,OH,Cl)14 |
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 Epididymite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1388.html
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References for Epididymite
Reference List:
Flink, Gust. (1893) Om nÄgra mineral frÄn Grönland. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 15 (4) 195-208 doi:10.1080/11035899309442185
Ito, T. (1934) The Structure of Epididymite (HNaBeSi3O8). Zeitschrift fĂŒr Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 88 (1) 142-149 doi:10.1524/zkri.1934.88.1.142
Fang, J. H., Robinson, Paul D., Ohya, Y. (1972) Redetermination of the crystal structure of eudidymite and its dimorphic relationship to epididylnite. American Mineralogist, 57 (9-10) 1345-1354
Petersen, O. V., Medenbach, O., Bollhorn, J. (1997) Epididymite twins Contribution to the mineralogy of IlĂmaussaq, No. 99. Neues Jahrbuch fĂŒr Mineralogie - Monatshefte, 1997 (5) 221-228 doi:10.1127/njmm/1997/1997/221
Localities for Epididymite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada