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Holdenite

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

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Formula:
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
6
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
8
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pink, yellowish red, ...
Hardness:4
Name:Named by Charles Palache and Earl V. Shannon in honor of Albert Fairchild Holden [December 31, 1866 Cleveland, Ohio, USA - May 18, 1913], mining engineer and mineral collector of Franklin, New Jersey, USA minerals and benefactor of Harvard University, and in whose mineral collection the type specimen was found.
This page provides mineralogical data about Holdenite.

Classification of Holdenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.10-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BE.55

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:43.4.7.1

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
4 : Anhydrous Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.3.15

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
3 : Arsenates of Zn, Cd or Hg
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Type Occurrence of Holdenite

Type Locality:Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Year of Discovery:1921
Geological Setting of type material:Small crystals and small masses in a veinlet coursing through massive zinc ore in a metamorphosed sedimentary Pre-cambrian Zn-Fe-Mn ore body.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WillemitePyrochroiteGalenaBaryte

Occurrences of Holdenite

Geological Setting:Pre-Cambrian marble-hosted zinc deposit

Physical Properties of Holdenite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Pink, yellowish red, deep red; pink in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):4
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
On {010}, poor.
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.11 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.27 g/cm3
Comment:Calculated value on Franklin, NJ, material

Crystallography of Holdenite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Ccca {C2/c 2/c 2/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.99Å, b = 31.46Å, c = 8.69Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.381 : 1 : 0.276
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,277.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Crystals equant to thick tabular {100}, with α and u relatively large.
Comment:Cell chosen is Abma
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.74 (50)
3.58 (80)
3.41 (60)
2.84 (100)
2.79 (50)
2.58 (80)
2.46 (70)
1.53 (80)
Comments:ICDD 29-903

Optical Data of Holdenite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.769 nβ = 1.770 nγ = 1.785
2V:Measured: 30° , Calculated: 30°
Birefringence:0.016
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.016

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r > v distinct
Optical Extinction:Parallel. XYZ = cba
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Holdenite

Formula:
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
6
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
8
Essential elements:As, H, Mn, O, Si, Zn
All elements listed in formula:As, H, Mg, Mn, O, Si, Zn

Relationship of Holdenite to other Species

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

- +
8.BE.05Augelite
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
8.BE.10Grattarolaite
Fe
3+
3
(PO
 
4
)O
 
3
8.BE.15Cornetite
Cu
 
3
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
8.BE.20Clinoclase
Cu
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
8.BE.25Arhbarite
Cu
 
2
Mg(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
8.BE.25Gilmarite
Cu
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
8.BE.30Allactite
Mn
2+
7
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
8.BE.30Flinkite
Mn
2+
2
Mn
3+
 
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
8.BE.30Raadeite
Mg
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
8.BE.30Argandite
Mn
 
7
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
8.BE.35Chlorophoenicite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
6
8.BE.35Magnesiochlorophoenicite
(Mg,Mn)
 
3
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
6
8.BE.40Gerdtremmelite
(Zn,Fe)(Al,Fe)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
5
8.BE.45Dixenite
CuMn
2+
14
Fe
2+
 
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(As
5+
 
O
 
4
)(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)
 
5
(OH)
 
6
8.BE.45Hematolite
(Mn,Mg,Al)
 
15
(As
5+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)
 
23
8.BE.45Kraisslite
Zn
 
3
(Mn,Mg)
 
25
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)
 
2
[(Si,As
5+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
10
(OH)
 
16
8.BE.45Mcgovernite
Mn
 
19
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(AsO
 
3
)(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
21
8.BE.45Arakiite
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
12
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(As
5+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)
 
23
8.BE.45Turtmannite
(Mn,Mg)
 
22.5
Mg
 
3-3x
((V
5+
 
,As
5+
 
)O
 
4
)
 
3
(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)
 
x
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
O
 
5-5x
(OH)
 
20+x
8.BE.45Carlfrancisite
Mn
2+
3
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
42
[As
3+
 
O
 
3
]
 
2
(As
5+
 
O
 
4
)
 
4
[(Si,As
5+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
6
[(As
5+
 
,Si)O
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
42
8.BE.50Synadelphite
Mn
2+
9
(As
5+
 
O
 
4
)
 
2
(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)
 
9
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.BE.60Kolicite
Mn
2+
7
Zn
 
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
8.BE.65Sabelliite
(Cu,Zn)
 
2
Zn(AsO
 
4
,SbO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
8.BE.70Jarosewichite
Mn
2+
3
Mn
3+
 
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
8.BE.75Theisite
Cu
 
5
Zn
 
5
(AsO
 
4
,SbO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
14
8.BE.80Coparsite
Cu
 
4
(AsO
 
4
,VO
 
4
)O
 
2
Cl
8.BE.85Waterhouseite
Mn
2+
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
20.3.1Adamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.2Paradamite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.3Koritnigite
Zn(HAsO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
20.3.4Legrandite
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH) · H
 
2
O
20.3.5Warikahnite
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
20.3.6Köttigite
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
20.3.7Stranskiite
Zn
 
2
Cu(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
20.3.8Philipsburgite
(Cu,Zn)
 
6
(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · H
 
2
O
20.3.9Austinite
CaZn(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.10Prosperite
CaZn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(HAsO
 
4
)(OH)
20.3.11Gaitite
Ca
 
2
Zn(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
20.3.12Zincroselite
Ca
 
2
Zn(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
20.3.13O'Danielite
Na(Zn,Mg)
 
3
H
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
20.3.14Johillerite
Na(Mg,Zn)
 
3
Cu(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
20.3.16Chudobaite
(Mg,Zn)
 
5
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
20.3.17Chlorophoenicite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Zn
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
6
20.3.18Lotharmeyerite
Ca(Zn,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
20.3.19Metaköttigite
(Zn,Fe,Fe)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8(H
 
2
O,OH)
20.3.20Ojuelaite
ZnFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
20.3.21Fahleite
Zn
 
5
CaFe
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
 · 14H
 
2
O
20.3.22Keyite
Cu
2+
3
Zn
 
4
Cd
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Holdenite

Other Languages:
German:Holdenit
Russian:Холденит
Spanish:Holdenita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent in UV. Fluorescent material may be fluorite which can superficially resemble holdenite.
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 Holdenite

Reference List:

- +
Palache, C. and Shannon (1927) American Mineralogist: 12: 144.

Prewitt-Hopkins (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 589.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 775-777.

American Mineralogist (1977): 62: 513-521.

Internet Links for Holdenite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Holdenite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Holdenite

    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.
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
    		Palache, C. (1935), USGS Professional Paper 180:125; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 777; Dunn, P.J. (1995): Part 3: 376.
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    		Dunn, P.J., Mineralogical Record:12: 373-375; Dunn, P.J. (1995): Part 3: 376.
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