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Grossite

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Tamanghasset Province, Algeria
© 2008, JGW




Formula:
CaAl
 
4
O
 
7
System:MonoclinicColour:White to colourless
Name:In honour of Dr. Shulamit Gross (1923-2012), emeritus member of the Geological Survey of Israel.


Grossite is the natural counterpart of the synthetic compound Ca-dialuminate (CaAl4O7)∙

Classification of Grossite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/B.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.CC.15

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
C : With large and medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:7.3.2.1

7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
3 : (AB)10X14
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Type Occurrence of Grossite

Co-type Localities:Acfer 182 meteorite, Tanezrouft, Tamanghasset Province, Algeria
Hatrurim Formation, Negev, Israel
General Appearance of Type Material:Lath-like or rounded grains.
Year of Discovery:1994
Geological Setting of type material:In argillaceous limestones metamorphosed at high temperature and low pressure.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
BrownmilleriteMayeniteLarnite

Occurrences of Grossite

Geological Setting:In Ca–Al-rich inclusions of meteorites thought formed by condensation from a hot gas or molten droplets.

Physical Properties of Grossite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White to colourless
Streak:White
Density (calculated):2.88 g/cm3

Crystallography of Grossite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/b {B1 1 2/b} {C2/c} {C1 2/c 1}
Space Group Setting:C2/c
Cell Parameters:a = 12.94(1) Å, b = 8.910(8) Å, c = 5.446(4) Å
β = 107.0(1)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.452 : 1 : 0.611
Unit Cell Volume:V 600.1 ų
Z:4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.460 (43)
3.609 (13)
3.515 (100)
2.882 (13)
2.605 (36)
2.440 (21)
1.764 (20)
Comments:Meteoritic grossite (Acfer 182 meteorite).

Optical Data of Grossite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.618(3) nβ = 1.618(3) nγ = 1.652(3)
2V:Measured: 12° (1), Calculated: 15.5°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.034

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:noticable
Comments:Optical data from synthetic Ca-dialuminate.

Chemical Properties of Grossite

Formula:
CaAl
 
4
O
 
7
Essential elements:Al, Ca, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, O
Analytical Data:Mean of electron-microprobe analyses of 20 grossite grains from the Acfer 182 meteorite.
Al2O3 (77.8)
CaO (21.4)
FeO (0.31)
TiO2 (0.15)
SiO2 (0.11)
MgO (0.06)
Total (99.83)
Empirical Formula:
(Ca
 
1.00
Fe
 
0.01
)Al
 
3.99
O
 
7.00
Common Impurities:Fe

Relationship of Grossite to other Species

Common Associates:
PerovskiteMelilite GroupHiboniteSpinelPyroxene Group
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.CC.05Chrombismite
Bi
 
16
CrO
 
27
4.CC.10Freudenbergite
Na
 
2
(Ti,Fe)
 
8
O
 
16
4.CC.20Mayenite
Ca
 
12
Al
 
14
O
 
33
4.CC.20Brearleyite
Ca
 
12
Al
 
14
O
 
32
Cl
 
2
4.CC.25Yafsoanite
Ca
 
3
Zn
 
3
(TeO
 
6
)
 
2
4.CC.30Latrappite
(Ca,Na)(Nb,Ti,Fe)O
 
3
4.CC.30Lueshite
NaNbO
 
3
4.CC.30Natroniobite
NaNbO
 
3
4.CC.30Perovskite
CaTiO
 
3
4.CC.30Barioperovskite
BaTiO
 
3
4.CC.30Lakargiite
Ca(Zr,Sn,Ti)O
 
3
4.CC.30Megawite
CaSnO
 
3
4.CC.35Loparite-(Ce)
(Na,Ce,Ca,Sr,Th)(Ti,Nb,Fe)O
 
3
4.CC.35Macedonite
PbTiO
 
3
4.CC.35Tausonite
SrTiO
 
3
4.CC.35Isolueshite
(Na,La,Ca)(Nb,Ti)O
 
3
4.CC.40Crichtonite
(Sr,La,Ce,Y)(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Mn)
 
21
O
 
38
4.CC.40Davidite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
 
20
(O,OH)
 
38
4.CC.40Davidite-(La)
(La,Ce)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
 
20
(O,OH)
 
38
4.CC.40Davidite-(Y)
(La,Ce,Na,Ca,Pb)(Y,Fe
2+
 
,◻)(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Nb,Zr)
 
18
O
 
38
 (hypothetical)
4.CC.40Landauite
NaMnZn
 
2
(Ti,Fe)
 
6
Ti
 
12
O
 
38
4.CC.40Lindsleyite
(Ba,Sr)(Ti,Zr,Fe,Cr)
 
21
O
 
38
4.CC.40Loveringite
(Ca,Ce)(Ti,Fe,Cr,Mg)
 
21
O
 
38
4.CC.40Mathiasite
K(Ti,Cr,Fe,Mg,Zr)
 
21
O
 
38
4.CC.40Senaite
Pb(Ti,Fe,Mn)
 
21
O
 
38
4.CC.40Dessauite-(Y)
(Sr,Pb)(Y,U)(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
20
O
 
38
4.CC.40Cleusonite
(Pb,Sr)(U
4+
 
,U
6+
 
)(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
18
(O,OH)
 
38
4.CC.40Gramaccioliite-(Y)
(Pb,Sr)(Y,Mn)Fe
3+
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
18
O
 
38
4.CC.45Diaoyudaoite
NaAl
 
11
O
 
17
4.CC.45Hawthorneite
Ba(MgTi
 
3
Cr
 
4
Fe
 
4
)O
 
19
4.CC.45Hibonite
(Ca,Ce)Al
 
12
O
 
19
4.CC.45Lindqvistite
Pb
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Fe
 
16
O
 
27
4.CC.45Magnetoplumbite
(Pb,Mn)(Fe,Mn)
 
12
O
 
19
4.CC.45Plumboferrite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
11-x
Mn
2+
x
O
 
19-2x
, x = 1/3
4.CC.45Yimengite
K(Cr,Ti,Fe,Mg)
 
12
O
 
19
4.CC.45Haggertyite
Ba[Fe
2+
6
Ti
 
5
Mg]O
 
19
4.CC.45Nežilovite
PbZn
 
2
(Mn
4+
 
,Ti
4+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
8
O
 
19
4.CC.45Batiferrite
Ba[Ti
 
2
Fe
3+
8
Fe
2+
2
]O
 
19
4.CC.45IMA2009-027
(Fe,Mg)Al
 
12
O
 
19
4.CC.45Barioferrite
BaFe
3+
12
O
 
19
4.CC.50Jeppeite
(K,Ba)
 
2
(Ti,Fe)
 
6
O
 
13
4.CC.55Zenzénite
Pb
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
4
Mn
 
3
O
 
13
4.CC.60Mengxianminite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
Mg
 
2
(Sn,Zn)
 
5
Al
 
8
O
 
29

Other Names for Grossite

Synonyms:
IMA1993-052
Other Languages:
German:Grossit
Russian:Гроссит
Spanish:Grossita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Non-fluorescent.
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 Grossite

Reference List:

- +
New Minerals (1997), New Minerals 1990-1994.

Acta Crystallographica: 11: 444-445.

Weber, D. & Bischoff, A. (1994): Grossite (CaAl4O7) - a rare phase in terrestrial rocks and meteorites. European Journal of Mineralogy, 6: 591-594.

Stebbins, J.F., Oglesby, J.V., and Kroeker, S. (2001) Oxygen tricluster in crystalline CaAl4O7 (grossite) and in calcium aluminosilicate glasses: 17O NMR. American Mineralogist: 86: 1307-1311.

Internet Links for Grossite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    • Localities for Grossite

    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.
    Algeria
     
    • Tamanghasset Province
      • Tanezrouft
    		Weber D, Bischoff A (1994) Grossite (CaAl4O7) - a rare phase in terrestrial rocks and meteorites, European Journal of Mineralogy 6, 591-594
    Weber D, Bischoff A (1994) Grossite (CaAl4O7) - a rare phase in terrestrial rocks and meteorites, European Journal of Mineralogy 6, 591-594
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Victoria Land
        • Allan Hills
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 1479–1482, 2009
    Argentina
     
    • San Luis
      • Sierra de Comechingones
    		Gunnar Farber analyses
    Israel
     
    • Negev
    		Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Pavlodar Province (Pavlodar Oblysy; Pavlodarskaya Oblast')
    		Lunar and Planetary Science XXXI
    Morocco
     
    • Meknès-Tafilalet Region
      • Er Rachidia Province
        • Er Rachidia
    		Ivanova, M. A. et al (2002): Meteorit.Planet. Sci. 37, 1337-1444.
        • Erfoud (Erfud)
          • Rissani
    		Stuart A. Sweeney Smith (2010) Characterization of two atypical refractory inclusions from separate CV3 chondritic meteorites: Petrogenesis in the early Solar System . Senior Comprehensive Exercise Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota.
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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