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Fraipontite

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Big Photo

War Eagle Mine, Tecopa, Saratoga District (Tecopa Mountain District; Shoshone District ?), Black Mts, Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co., California, USA
© Brent Thorne

Show Fraipontite Photos (16)



Formula:
(Zn,Al)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
May contain some Cu.
System:MonoclinicHardness:2½
Member of:Serpentine Group


See also Unnamed (Cu analogue of Fraipontite) and sauconite.

Classification of Fraipontite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.27-80
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.ED.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.1.2c.4

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
1 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 1:1 layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.12.16

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
12 : Aluminosilicates of Sr, Ba and Zn
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Type Occurrence of Fraipontite

Type Locality:Vieille Montagne (Altenberg; Kelmisberg), Moresnet, Kelmis, Plombières-Vieille Montagne District (Plombières-Altenberg), Verviers, Liège Province, Belgium
Year of Discovery:1927

Physical Properties of Fraipontite

Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Fraipontite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.34Å, b = 9.21Å, c = 14.12Å
β = 93.2°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.58 : 1 : 1.533
Unit Cell Volume:V 693.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
7.03 (100)
4.60 (20)
3.53 (70)
2.650 (40)
2.490 (30)
2.385 (30)
1.540 (30)

Optical Data of Fraipontite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.620 nβ = 1.624 nγ = 1.624
2V:Measured: 15° to 20°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.004

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r < v strong

Chemical Properties of Fraipontite

Formula:
(Zn,Al)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4


May contain some Cu.
Essential elements:H, O, Si, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, Si, Zn
Common Impurities:Fe,Cu,Mg,Ca,K

Relationship of Fraipontite to other Species

Member of:Serpentine Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Antigorite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Baumite
(Mg,Al,Mn,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Berthierine
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,AlMg)
 
2-3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Chrysotile
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Clinochrysotile
Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Dickite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Greenalite
Fe
 
2-3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Halloysite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Kaolinite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Lizardite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
6
Nacrite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Orthochrysotile
Parachrysotile
Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
Vorhauserite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.ED.05Dickite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Kaolinite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Nacrite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Halloysite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Hisingerite
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.ED.10Halloysite-7Å
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Antigorite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Berthierine
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,AlMg)
 
2-3
((Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Chrysotile
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
((Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Greenalite
Fe
 
2-3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al(AlSiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Lizardite
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
6
9.ED.15Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Guidottiite
Mn
 
2
Fe
3+
 
(Fe
3+
 
SiO
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
9.ED.20Allophane
(Al
 
2
O
 
3
)(SiO
 
2
)
 
1.3-2
 · 2.5-3H
 
2
O
9.ED.20Chrysocolla
Cu
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(H
 
2-x
Si
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O (x < 1)
9.ED.20Imogolite
Al
 
2
SiO
 
3
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.20Neotocite
(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
9.ED.25Bismutoferrite
Fe
3+
2
Bi(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
9.ED.25Chapmanite
Fe
3+
2
Sb
3+
 
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.12.1Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
16.12.2Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
16.12.3Brewsterite
16.12.4Celsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
16.12.5Paracelsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
16.12.6Cymrite
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
(O,OH)
 
8
 · H
 
2
O
16.12.7Edingtonite
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
16.12.8Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
16.12.9Harmotome
(Ba
 
0.5
,Ca
 
0.5
,K,Na)
 
5
[Al
 
5
Si
 
11
O
 
32
] · 12H
 
2
O
16.12.10Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.11Balipholite
BaLiMg
 
2
Al
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
16.12.12Armenite
BaCa
 
2
Al
 
6
Si
 
9
O
 
30
 · 2H
 
2
O
16.12.13Wellsite
(Ba,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
 · 6H
 
2
O
16.12.14Merlinoite
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba)
 
2
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
 · 23H
 
2
O
16.12.15Anandite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
((Si,Al,Fe)
 
4
O
 
10
)(S,OH)
 
2
16.12.17Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.12.18Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
16.12.19Hendricksite
K(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
16.12.20Baileychlore
(Zn,Fe,Al,Mg)
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8

Other Names for Fraipontite

Synonyms:
Zinalsite
Other Languages:
German:Fraipontit
Spanish:Fraipontita
Varieties:
Cuprian Fraipontite

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 Fraipontite

Reference List:

- +
Cesàro, G. (1927): Sur la fraipontite, silicate basique hydraté de zinc et d'aluminum. Ann. Soc. Geol. Belgique, 50, 106-110 (in French).

Fransolet, A.-M. and P. Bourguignon (1975): Données nouvelles sur la fraipontite de Moresnet (Belgique). Bull. Soc. fr. Minéral., 98, 235-244 (in French with English abs.)

Dimitriadis, S. (1977): Cuprian fraipontite from Laurion, Greece. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte 155-162.

American Mineralogist: 62: 175.

Foord, E.E., J.E. Taggart, and N.M. Conklin (1983): Cuprian fraipontite and sauconite from the Defiance-Silver Bill mines, Gleeson, Arizona. Mineral. Record, 14, 131-132.

Internet Links for Fraipontite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Fraipontite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Fraipontite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Eyre Peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		Minerals of Iron Monarch, Glyn L. Francis
    • Tasmania
      • Zeehan district
        • Zeehan
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen
        • Bleiberg District
          • Bad Bleiberg
    		G. Niedermayr: Carinthia II, 177./97.: 287 (1987)
    Belgium
     
    • Liège Province
      • Verviers
        • Plombières-Vieille Montagne District (Plombières-Altenberg)
          • Kelmis
            • Moresnet
    		Ann.Soc.géol.Belgique,(1927) 50, B106-B110
    Chile
     
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Challacollo
    		maurzi
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Sauerland
        • Meschede
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    SCHNORRER, G. (1995): Mineralogische Neuheiten von bekannten deutschen Fundorten. Lapis 20 (12), 43-48; 62.
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza)
            • Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines)
    		No reference listed
              • Hilarion area
    		No reference listed
    No reference listed
    No reference listed
          • Sounion area
            • Agia Varvara Mines (St Barbara Mines)
    		Branko Rieck Collection
    Lapis, 24, 7/8, (1999)
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Sassari Province
        • Porto Torres
    		Orlandi, P., & Gelosa, M. (2007). Argentiera della Nurra. I minerali di alterazione della miniera di sfalerite e galena argentifera. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 31 (1), 22-31.
    • Tuscany
      • Massa-Carrara Province
        • Apuan Alps
    		Orlandi, P. & Criscuolo, A. (2009). Minerali del marmo delle Alpi Apuane. Pacini editore, Pisa, 180 pp.
    S. Merlino & P. Orlandi (2001): Carraraite and zaccagnaite, two new minerals ..... Amer. Miner. 86, 1293-1301
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto Region (Oshikoto)
      • Tsumeb
    		Gebhard, G. (1999): Tsumeb II. A Unique Mineral Locality. GG Publishing, Grossenseifen, Germany
    Romania
     
    • Suceava Co.
      • Suceava district
        • Iacobeni (Jakobeny; Jacobeny; Jakabfalva)
    		http://minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Almería
        • San José
    		Georges FAVREAU collection
    • Catalonia
      • Lleida (Lérida)
        • La Cerdanya
    		Calvo, M., Viñals, J. & Triviño, A.: Zálesiíte, felsobanyaite and fraipontite, in a conglomerate in Prullans, La Cerdanya, Catalonia (Spain). Mineral Up, Vol. I, 3, 49-51
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Anniviers Valley
        • Saint-Luc
    		Ansermet, S. (2012): Mines et minéraux du Valais - II. Anniviers et Tourtemagne. With contributions by N. Meisser, Ed. Porte-plumes (Ayer)
    Turkmenistan
     
    • Lebap Province
      • South Tien-Shan Mts
        • Kugitangtau Ridge
    		http://fadr.msu.ru/caves/malmin_e.html
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cumbria
        • North and Western Region (Cumberland)
          • Caldbeck Fells
            • Roughton Gill
    		Pluth, J. J., Steele, I. M., Kampf, A. R. & Green, D. I. (2005): Redgillite, Cu6(OH)10(SO4)•H2O, a new mineral from Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England: description and crystal structure. Mineralogical Magazine, 69, 973-980.
      • North Yorkshire
        • North Pennines
          • Swaledale
            • Marrick
    		Daltry, Vaughn & Deliens, Michel (1994) The Type Mineralogy of Belgium . Annals of the Belgium Geological Society 116:15-28
          • Wensleydale
            • Redmire
    		BMS Database
    • Wales
      • Caerphilly (Mid Glamorgan; Monmouthshire)
        • Machen
    		Minerals of Machen Quarry, Plant & Jones, Journal of the Russell Society, Vol 6, Pt 1, 1995
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Dragoon Mts
          • Turquoise District (Courtland-Gleeson District)
            • Gleeson
              • Costello Mine group (Costello claims)
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 361; Foord, E.E., et al (1983), Cuprian fraipontite and sauconite from the Defiance-Silver Bill Mines, Gleeson, AZ, Min.Rec.: 14: 131-132.
    [var: Cuprian Fraipontite] Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 226, 361; Foord, E.E., et al (1983), Cuprian fraipontite and sauconite from the Defiance-Silver Bill mines, Gleeson, AZ, Min.Rec.: 14: 131-132.
      • Pinal Co.
        • Mammoth District
          • Tiger
            • St. Anthony deposit
    		1) ID Paul Hlava, New Mexico. 2) An ID of Cuprian Fraipontite is consistent with form and composition determined by EDS and WDS microprobe analysis on November 17, 2006 at Cannon Microprobe--Seattle, Washington, USA
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Death Valley National Park
          • Black Mts
            • Saratoga District (Tecopa Mountain District; Shoshone District ?)
              • Tecopa
    		Mindat gallery
      • San Bernardino Co.
        • Clark Mts (Clark Mountain Range)
          • Clark Mountain District
            • Pactolus
              • Mohawk Hill
    		[Mineralien Welt 1/93:44]
        • Soda Lake Mts
          • Baker
    		Collected by and in the collection of Brent Thorne.
    • Nevada
      • Clark Co.
        • Goodsprings District
    		Rocks & Minerals 83:1 pp 65-69
      • Elko Co.
        • Bootstrap District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
        • Maggie Creek District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Nye Co.
        • Lodi District
          • Quartz Mountain camp
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    		Cianciulli, J.: The Picking Table:36(1):27 (1995); Dunn(1995):Pt4:486.
    • New Mexico
      • Hidalgo Co.
        • Peloncillo Mts
          • San Simon District
            • Kimball
    		NMBMMR New Mexico Mineral symposium (2003) pp. 8-9
        • San Simon District
          • Granite Gap
    		R. D. Green photo
      • Socorro Co.
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. ed., 1996
          • Bingham
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd. rev. ed. (1996)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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