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Ferrimolybdite

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Vrchoslav fluorite deposit, Krupka (Graupen), Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Ústí Region, Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic
© Petr Fuchs

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Formula:
Fe
 
2
(MoO
 
4
)
 
3
 · nH
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Yellow, canary yellow, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, Silky, EarthyHardness:1 - 2
Name:Named in allusion to its chemical composition, containing FERRIc iron and MOLYBDenum.


A rare secondary mineral occurring in the oxidized zones of hydrothermal vein and porphyry-type molybdenum-bearing deposits, or in breccia pipe deposits containing molybdenum. Commonly formed from the alteration of molybdenite.

Classification of Ferrimolybdite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/G.02-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.GB.30

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
B : With additional anions and/or H2O
Dana 8th edition ID:49.2.1.1

49 : HYDRATED MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
2 : Hydrated Normal Molybdates and Tungstates
Hey's CIM Ref.:27.3.14

27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
3 : Molybdates
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Type Occurrence of Ferrimolybdite

Type Locality:Alekseevskii Mine, Lake Iktul', Karysh River Basin, Khakassia Republic (Khakassy Republic; Khakassiya Republic), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1914

Occurrences of Ferrimolybdite

Geological Setting:Oxidztion zones of molybdenum-bearing deposits

Physical Properties of Ferrimolybdite

Lustre:Adamantine, Silky, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Yellow, canary yellow, or sulfur yellow, greenish yellow; colourless to canary-yellow in transmitted light
Streak:Light yellow
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2
Density (measured):2.99 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.085 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ferrimolybdite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pmmn {P21/m 21/m 2/n}
Cell Parameters:a = 6.665Å, b = 15.423Å, c = 29.901Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.432 : 1 : 1.939
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,073.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Crystals needlelike to fibrous forming crusts; tufted to radial aggregates; powdery, earthy, films, massive.
Comment:Class may be mm2; Space Group may be Pm21n.

Optical Data of Ferrimolybdite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.720 - 1.810 nβ = 1.730 - 1.830 nγ = 1.850 - 2.040
2V:Calculated: 26° to 32°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.130 - 0.230

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v marked
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Y = Clear to nearly colourless
Z = dirty gray to canary-yellow

Chemical Properties of Ferrimolybdite

Formula:
Fe
 
2
(MoO
 
4
)
 
3
 · nH
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, Mo, O
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, Mo, O

Relationship of Ferrimolybdite to other Species

Common Associates:
PyriteMolybdeniteLimoniteChalcopyrite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.GB.05Lindgrenite
Cu
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
7.GB.10Szenicsite
Cu
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
7.GB.15Cuprotungstite
Cu
 
2
(WO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
7.GB.15UM1999-38-WO:CrV
(V, Cr, W, O, H) [V:Cr:W ratio about 2:1:3]
7.GB.20Phyllotungstite
(H
 
2
O,M)
 
x
(W,Fe)(O,OH)
 
3
 · yH
 
2
O (M = Ca, Cs, Pb or K)
7.GB.25Rankachite
Ca
 
0.5
(V
4+
 
,V
5+
 
)(W
6+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
8
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
7.GB.35Anthoinite
AlWO
 
3
(OH)
 
3
7.GB.35Mpororoite
WAlO
 
3
(OH)
 
3
 · 2(H
 
2
O)
7.GB.40Obradovicite-KCu
[K
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
17
Cu(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][Mo
 
8
As
 
2
Fe
3+
3
O
 
34
(OH)
 
3
]
7.GB.45Mendozavilite-NaFe
[Na
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
15
Fe
3+
 
(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][Mo
 
8
P
 
2
Fe
3+
3
O
 
35
(OH)
 
2
]
7.GB.45Paramendozavilite
[KAl
 
4
(H
 
2
O)
 
30
][Mo
 
12
P
 
6
Fe
3+
6
O
 
60
(OH)
 
13
]
7.GB.50Tancaite-(Ce)
FeCe(MoO
 
4
)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
27.3.1Lindgrenite
Cu
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
27.3.2Powellite
Ca(MoO
 
4
)
27.3.3Wulfenite
Pb(MoO
 
4
)
27.3.4Koechlinite
Bi
 
2
MoO
 
6
27.3.5Sedovite
U(MoO
 
4
)
 
2
27.3.6Mourite
UMo
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
10
27.3.7Iriginite
(UO
 
2
)Mo
 
2
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
27.3.8Umohoite
(UO
 
2
)MoO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
27.3.9Moluranite
H
 
4
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(MoO
 
4
)
 
7
 · 18H
 
2
O
27.3.10Cousinite
MgU
 
2
Mo
 
2
O
 
11
 · 6H
 
2
O
27.3.11Calcurmolite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
Mo
 
2
(O,OH)
 
11
 · nH
 
2
O
27.3.12Tengchongite
CaO · 6UO
 
3
 · 2MoO
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
27.3.13Kamiokite
Fe
 
2
Mo
 
3
O
 
8

Other Names for Ferrimolybdite

Synonyms:
Molybdena OcherMolybdic AcidMolybdic OcherMolybdineMolybdite (of Breithaupt)
Other Languages:
German:Ferrimolybdit
Molybdänoxyd
Molybdänsäure
Wasserbleiocker
Simplified Chinese:铁钼华
水钼铁矿
Spanish:Ferrimolybdita

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in HCl and slowly soluble in ammonia with the separation of ferric hydroxide.
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 Ferrimolybdite

Reference List:

- +
SCHALLER, W.T. (1907): The chemical composition of molybdic ocher. American Journal of Science 173, 297-303.
SCHALLER, W.T. (1908): Notes on powellite and molybdite. American Journal of Science 175, 71-75.
PILIPENKO, P.P. (1913): Mineralogy of the Alekseevkii Mine of Minusinks District. Publisher?, Moscow, Russia (in Russ.).
PEKOV, I.V. (1998): Minerals First Discovered on the Territory of the Former Soviet Union. Ocean Pictures, Moscow, Russia (83, 318).
KERR, P.F., THOMAS, A.W. & LANGER, A.M. (1963): The nature and synthesis of ferrimolybdite. American Mineralogist 48, 14-32.
Karsten, D.L.G. (1800) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. First edition: 54, 79 (as Wasserbleiocker).
Karsten, D.L.G. (1808) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. second edition: 70 (as Molybdänocker).
Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen: 1: 336 (as Molybdänoxyd).
Dana, J.D. (1854) System of Mineralogy, 4th. Edition, New York: 144.
Breithaupt, A. (1858) Berg.- und hüttenmännisches Zeitung, Freiberg, Leipzig (merged into Glückauf): 17: 125 (as Molybdite [of Breithaupt]).
Greg, R.P. and Lettsom, W.G. (1858) Manual of the Mineralogy of Great Britain and Ireland. 483pp., London: 348 (as Molybdine).
Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 201 (synthetic crystals).
Guild (1907) American Journal of Science: 23: 455.
Schaller (1908) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 44: 13.
Hintze, Carl (1915) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [2A]: 1259 (Ergzbd., 166 (1936)).
Pilipenko (1915) Jb. Min., I: 191.
Smith (1923) Record of the Australian Museum: 14: 101.
Simpson (1926) Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia: 12: 57.
Carobbi (1927) Reale accademia delle scienze fisische e matematiche, Naples, Rend.: 33: 53.
Carobbi (1930) Bull. Soc. Nat. Napoli: 41: 169.
Larsen, E.S. and Berman, H. (1934) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, Second edition, USGS Bulletin 848: 133, 135, 138.

Huang, D., X. Jiang, Y. Wang, and F. Nie (1986) Type, origin and rhenium distribution of the Huanglongpu molybdenum (lead) deposit in Shaanxi province. Bull. Inst. Mineral Deposits, Chinese Acad. Geol. Sci., 6(4), 1–93 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Horn, E., M. Kurahashi, D. Huang, and C. Wu (1995) Crystal data and X-ray powder-diffraction data for ferrimolybdite, Fe2(MoO4)3 •6.8H2O. Powder Diffraction, 10, 101–103.

Internet Links for Ferrimolybdite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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