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Grandidierite

Big Photo

Betroka Department, Horombe Region, Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar
© Paul Bongaerts

Show Grandidierite Photos (11)
Formula:
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicHardness:7½
Name:For French explorer, Alfred Grandidier (1836-1912).


Mg analogue of Ominelite.

Classification of Grandidierite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.31-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AJ.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
J : Nesosilicates with BO3 triangles and/or B[4], Be[4] tetrahedra, cornersharing with SiO4
Dana 8th edition ID:54.1.1.1

54 : NESOSILICATES Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates
1 : Borosilicates and Some Beryllosilicates with (BO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.5.49

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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Type Occurrence of Grandidierite

Type Locality:Cap Andrahomana, Ranopiso Department, Anosy (Fort Dauphin) Region, Tuléar (Toliara) Province, Madagascar
Year of Discovery:1902

Physical Properties of Grandidierite

Hardness (Mohs):7½

Crystallography of Grandidierite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.33Å, b = 10.97Å, c = 5.76Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.942 : 1 : 0.525
Unit Cell Volume:V 652.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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

Optical Data of Grandidierite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.602 nβ = 1.636 nγ = 1.639
2V:Measured: 24° to 32°, Calculated: 32°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.037

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

Chemical Properties of Grandidierite

Formula:
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Al, B, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Fe, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Mn,Na,K

Relationship of Grandidierite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AJ.05Ominelite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AJ.10Dumortierite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
7
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AJ.10Holtite
(Ta,Sb)Al
 
6
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AJ.10Magnesiodumortierite
(Mg,Ti,[](Al,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
18-y
(OH)
 
y
B y = 2-3
9.AJ.15Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
9.AJ.20Bakerite
Ca
 
4
B
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|HBO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AJ.20Datolite
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
9.AJ.20Gadolinite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Y)
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AJ.20Gadolinite-(Y)
Y
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AJ.20Hingganite-(Ce)
Ce
 
2
□Be
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
9.AJ.20Hingganite-(Y)
(Y,Yb,Er)Be[OH|SiO
 
4
]
9.AJ.20Hingganite-(Yb)
(Yb,Y)Be[OH|SiO
 
4
]
9.AJ.20Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AJ.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
O
 
12
(OH,F)·nH
 
2
O
9.AJ.20Minasgeraisite-(Y)
Y
 
2
CaBe
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AJ.20Calcybeborosilite-(Y)
(Y,Ca)
 
2
(B,Be)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH,O)
 
2
9.AJ.25Stillwellite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
 
5
9.AJ.30Cappelenite-(Y)
Ba(Y,Ce)
 
6
Si
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
24
F
 
2
9.AJ.35Okanoganite-(Y)
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Y,Ce)
 
12
Si
 
6
B
 
2
O
 
27
F
 
14
9.AJ.35Vicanite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce,La,Th)
 
15
As
5+
 
(As
3+
0.5
,Na
 
0.5
)Fe
3+
 
Si
 
6
B
 
4
O
 
40
F
 
7
9.AJ.35Hundholmenite-(Y)
(Y,REE,Ca,Na)
 
15
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(Ca
 
x
As
3+
1-x
)(Si,As
5+
 
)Si
 
6
B
 
3
(O,F)
 
48
9.AJ.35Proshchenkoite-(Y)
(Y,REE,Ca,Na,Mn)
 
15
Fe
2+
 
Ca(P,Si)Si
 
6
B
 
3
O
 
34
F
 
14
9.AJ.40Jadarite
LiNaSiB
 
3
O
 
7
(OH)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.5.1Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
17.5.2Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
17.5.3Searlesite
NaBSi
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
17.5.4Olenite
(Na,[ ])[(Al,Li)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(O,OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.5Elbaite
[Na][(Li,Al)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.6Kalborsite
K
 
6
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
|Al
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
20
]
17.5.7Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.5.8Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
17.5.9Liddicoatite
[Ca][Li
 
2
Al][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.10Datolite
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.11Danburite
CaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
17.5.12Howlite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
SiO
 
9
(OH)
 
5
17.5.13Bakerite
Ca
 
4
B
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|HBO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.14Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
·12.5H
 
2
O
17.5.15Kornerupine
Mg
 
3
Al
 
6
(Si,Al,B)
 
5
O
 
21
(OH)
17.5.16Harkerite
Ca
 
24
Mg
 
8
Al
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
32
(BO
 
3
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
(H
 
2
O,Cl)
17.5.17Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.18Stillwellite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
 
5
17.5.19Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ca,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
(O,OH)
 
6
](OH)
 
2
17.5.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
O
 
12
(OH,F)·nH
 
2
O
17.5.21Okanoganite-(Y)
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Y,Ce)
 
12
Si
 
6
B
 
2
O
 
27
F
 
14
17.5.22Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.23Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.24Cappelenite-(Y)
Ba(Y,Ce)
 
6
Si
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
24
F
 
2
17.5.25Dumortierite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
7
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.26Holtite
(Ta,Sb)Al
 
6
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.27Dravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.28 Ferridravite
17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.30Uvite
[Ca][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.31Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
17.5.32Tienshanite
Na
 
2
BaMnTiB
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
20
17.5.33Leucosphenite
BaNa
 
4
Ti
 
2
B
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
30
17.5.34Taramellite
Ba
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.35Titantaramellite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.36Nagashimalite
Ba
 
4
(V,Ti)
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
17.5.37Chromdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.38Wawayandaite
Ca
 
6
Mn
 
2
BBe
 
9
Si
 
6
O
 
23
(OH,Cl)
 
15
17.5.39Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
17.5.40Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.41Axinite
(Ca,Mn)
 
2
(Fe,Mn,Mg)Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
17.5.42Tinzenite
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.44Schorl
[Na][Fe
2+
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.45Buergerite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Al
 
6
][O
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.46Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.48Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.5.50Hyalotekite
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
 
6
(B,Si,Al)
 
2
(Si,Be)
 
10
O
 
28
(F,Cl)
17.5.51Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Grandidierite

Other Languages:
German:Grandidierit
Russian:Грандидьерит
Spanish:Grandidierita

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 Grandidierite

Reference List:Mineralogical Magazine (1995): 59: 327.

Acta Crystallographica: B24: 1518-1522.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Grandidierite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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    Localities for Grandidierite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Princess Elizabeth Land
        • Ingrid Christensen Coast
          • Prydz Bay
    Australia
     
    • Northern Territory
    		Am Min 93:283-299
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Andernach
          • Eich
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag, München (2. Auflage), 1987
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
            • Bellerberg volcano
    		[Blass, G., Graf, H.W., Über neue Mineralien vom Bellerberg, Eifel Mineralien-Welt 5/6, 53, 1994] [A. Wittern: Mineralfundorte in Deutschland, Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001]
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Nuuk (Godthåb)
    		No reference listed
    Madagascar
     
    • Fianarantsoa Province
      • Horombe region
        • Ihosy Department
          • Ihosy
            • Amboarohy
              • Ambahatraso
    Nicollet, Christian (1990): Occurences of grandidierite, serendibite and tourmaline near Ihosy, southern Madagascar. Mineralogical Magazine 54: 131-133
    • Tuléar (Toliara) Province
      • Anosy (Fort Dauphin) Region
        • Amboasary Department
          • Esira Commune
    		Rapport Annuel du Serv.Geol.Mad 1957 p. 293
    H Besairie: gites mineraux de Madagascar
    Lapis 16(9), 12 (1991)
        • Ranopiso Department
    		Bull.Soc.fr.Min.(1902) 25, 86
        • Taolañaro (Fort Dauphin) Department
          • Taolañaro (Fort Dauphin) Commune
            • Bezavona
    		J. Behier (1960): Contribution à la Mineralogie de Madagascar. Ann.Geol.Mad. XXIX
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Swakopmund District
        • Cape Cross area
    		Bonardo, L., Fraccaro, G., Ciriotti, M.E., Blass, G., Ambrino, P. (2008). Primo ritrovamento di grandidierite in Namibia. Micro (notizie mineralogiche), 2/2008, 129-131.
    Norway
     
    • Aust-Agder
      • Froland
    		Nijland, T.G., Zwaan, J.C & Touret, L. (1998): Topograpical mineralogy of the Bamble sector, south Norway. Scripta Geologica 118, 46 pp
    • Rogaland
      • Lund
        • Flatestøl
    		[AmMin 84:993]
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Southern Low Tatra Mts
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Namaqualand
        • Gordonia District
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Surinam
    AmMin 61:332
    AmMin 61:332
    • Nickerie District
    		Am Min 61:3-4 pp 332-333
    USA
     
    • Wyoming
      • Albany Co.
    		AmMin 87:160
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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