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Gerstmannite

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Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA

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Formula:
MnMgZn(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
System:OrthorhombicHardness:4½
Name:Named after Mr. Ewald "The Dutchman" Gerstmann, plumber and avid collector of Franklin Mining District minerals. Operator of a private mineral museum and collectors' gathering spot at Franklin, NJ, for many years. ( - 2005).
This page provides mineralogical data about Gerstmannite.

Classification of Gerstmannite

IMA status:Approved 1975
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.03-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AE.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
E : Nesosilicates with additional anions (O,OH,F,H2O); cations in tetrahedral [4] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:52.2.1.4

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.:14.7.21

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
7 : Silicates of Ba, Sr and Zn
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Type Occurrence of Gerstmannite

Type Locality:Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Year of Discovery:1976

Physical Properties of Gerstmannite

Hardness (Mohs):4½

Crystallography of Gerstmannite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.18Å, b = 18.65Å, c = 6.25Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.439 : 1 : 0.335
Unit Cell Volume:V 953.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Gerstmannite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.655 nβ = 1.657 nγ = 1.678
2V:Measured: 50° to 60°, Calculated: 36°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.023

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

Chemical Properties of Gerstmannite

Formula:
MnMgZn(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
Essential elements:H, Mg, Mn, O, Si, Zn
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, Mn, O, Si, Zn
Common Impurities:Fe,Na

Relationship of Gerstmannite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AE.05Beryllite
Be
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.AE.10Euclase
BeAl(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
9.AE.15Sverigeite
NaMnMgSnBe
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
9.AE.20Hodgkinsonite
Mn
2+
 
Zn
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
9.AE.30Clinohedrite
CaZn(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
9.AE.35Stringhamite
CaCu(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
9.AE.40Katoptrite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
13
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Sb
5+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
20
9.AE.45Yeatmanite
Zn
 
6
Mn
2+
9
Sb
5+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
12
9.AE.50Sphaerobertrandite
Be
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.7.1Sanbornite
Ba
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
14.7.2Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
 · 3H
 
2
O
14.7.3Walstromite
BaCa
 
2
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
14.7.4Macdonaldite
BaCa
 
4
Si
 
16
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
14.7.5Ericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.6Ericssonite-2O
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.7Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.7.8Andrémeyerite
Fe
2+
2
Ba(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.9Pellyite
Ba
 
2
Ca(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
17
14.7.10Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
14.7.11Willemite
Zn
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.7.12Hemimorphite
Zn
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
14.7.13Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
14.7.14Hardystonite
Ca
 
2
Zn(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.15Petedunnite
Ca(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Si
 
2
O
 
6
14.7.16Clinohedrite
CaZn(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
14.7.17Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
 · H
 
2
O
14.7.18Larsenite
PbZnSiO
 
4
14.7.19Esperite
PbCa
 
2
Zn
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
14.7.20Hodgkinsonite
Mn
2+
 
Zn
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
14.7.22Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
14.7.23Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
 
Mn
2+
3
Mn
3+
 
(Zn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8

Other Names for Gerstmannite

Synonyms:
IMA1975-030
Other Languages:
German:Gerstmannit
Russian:Герстманнит
Spanish:Gerstmannita

Other Information

Special Storage/
Display Requirements from:
Sterling Mine,..., Sussex Co., New Jersey, USANone
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 Gerstmannite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 51-59.

Internet Links for Gerstmannite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Gerstmannite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    • Localities for Gerstmannite

    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.
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    (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.
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    		Moore, P.B. & Araki, T.: Am.Min.:62:51-59 (1977); Dunn(1995):Pt3:369.
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