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Humboldtine

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Santa Maria de Itabira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
© Bruno Gioia

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Formula:
Fe
2+
 
(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Yellow to amber-yellow
Hardness:1½ - 2
Name:
Named after Friedrich Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), German naturalist, explorer and scientist.


The Fe analogue of lindbergite.

A rare authigenic organic mineral occurring on fracture surfaces in coal deposits and rarely in granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal mineral deposits.

Classification of Humboldtine

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:9/A.01-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:10.AB.05

10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
Dana 8th edition ID:50.1.3.1

50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
1 : Oxalates
Hey's CIM Ref.:31.1.7

31 : Oxalates, Citrates, Mellitates and Acetates
1 : Oxalates
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Type Occurrence of Humboldtine

Type Locality:Korozluky (Kolosoruk), Most, Ústí Region, Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic
Year of Discovery:1821

Occurrences of Humboldtine

Geological Setting:Coal deposits; granitic pegmatites and hydrothermal mineral deposits (rare).

Physical Properties of Humboldtine

Lustre:Resinous, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Yellow to amber-yellow
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Cleavage:Perfect
On {110},perfect; on {100} and {010}, imperfect.
Density (measured):2.28 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.307 g/cm3

Crystallography of Humboldtine

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 12.011(11) Å, b = 5.557(5) Å, c = 9.920(9) Å
β = 128.53(3)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.161 : 1 : 1.785
Unit Cell Volume:V 517.96 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals small, rare, prismatic [001], or platy, exhibiting forms {100},{001},{110}, and {101}; commonly botryoidal incrusting masses with a fibrous to earthy internal structure; fine-granular to earthy and compact.
Comment:Space group C2/c. Reduced cell: 9.707, 5.556, 9.921 A, 104.5°
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.80 (100)
4.70 (65)
3.880 (25)
3.597 (25)
3.004 (50)
2.654 (30)
2.616 (25)

Optical Data of Humboldtine

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.494 nβ = 1.561 nγ = 1.692
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.198

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:weak
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Very pale yellowish green
Y = Pale greenish yellow
Z = Intense yellow
Comments:2V = Large.

Chemical Properties of Humboldtine

Formula:
Fe
2+
 
(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Fe, H, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Fe, H, O

Relationship of Humboldtine to other Species

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

- +
10.AB.05Lindbergite
Mn
2+
 
(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.10Glushinskite
Mg(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.15Moolooite
Cu(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 0.4H
 
2
O
10.AB.20Stepanovite
NaMgFe
3+
 
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
3
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
10.AB.25Minguzzite
K
 
3
Fe
3+
 
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
10.AB.30Wheatleyite
Na
 
2
Cu(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.35Zhemchuzhnikovite
NaMg(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
10.AB.40Weddellite
Ca(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
10.AB.45Whewellite
Ca(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
10.AB.50Caoxite
Ca(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 3H
 
2
O
10.AB.55Oxammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
10.AB.60Natroxalate
Na
 
2
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
10.AB.65Coskrenite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,La)
 
2
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
10.AB.70Levinsonite-(Y)
(Y,Nd,La)Al(C
 
2
O
 
4
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
10.AB.75Zugshunstite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,La)Al(C
 
2
O
 
4
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
10.AB.80Novgorodovaite
Ca
 
2
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)Cl
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
31.1.1Oxammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
31.1.2Moolooite
Cu(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 0.4H
 
2
O
31.1.3Wheatleyite
Na
 
2
Cu(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
31.1.4Glushinskite
Mg(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
31.1.5Whewellite
Ca(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
31.1.6Weddellite
Ca(C
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
31.1.8Stepanovite
NaMgFe
3+
 
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
3
 · 8-9H
 
2
O
31.1.9Zhemchuzhnikovite
NaMg(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
3
 · 8H
 
2
O
31.1.10Minguzzite
K
 
3
Fe
3+
 
(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Humboldtine

Synonyms:
HumboldtinaOxalite
Other Languages:
German:Eisen-Resin
Faserresin
Humboldtin
Oxalit
Oxalsaures Eisen
Italian:Oxalite

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids.
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 Humboldtine

Reference List:

- +
Breithaupt, A. (1820) Kurze Charakteristik des Mineral-System’s. 8vo, Freiberg: 75 (as Faserresin).

de Rivero (1821) Annales de chimie et de physique, Paris: 18: 207 (as Humboldtine and Oxalsaures Eisen).

Breithaupt, A. (1822) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 70: 426 (as Eisen-Resin).

Breithaupt, A. (1823) Vollständige Characteristik etc., 1st. ed. (as Oxalit).

Leonhard, K.C. (1826) Handbuch der Oryktognosie. Heidelberg. second edition: 789 (as Humboldtit).

Manasse (1910) Reale accademia nazionale dei Lincei, Rend., Rome: 19: 138.

Manasse (1912) Mem. Soc. Tosc.: 28: 118.

Hintze, Carl (1933) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4B]: 1346.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (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.: 1102-1103.

Mazzi, F. and C. Garavelli (1957) La struttura della oxalite: FeC2O4 •2H2O. Periodico di Mineralogia: 26: 269-303. (in Italian with English abstract).

Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1959): 50.

National Bureau of Standards Mono. (1972): 25, 10, 24.

Echigo, T. & Kimata, M. (2008): Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic studies on humboldtine and lindbergite: weak Jahn–Teller effect of Fe2+ ion. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 35, 467-475.

Internet Links for Humboldtine

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    • Localities for Humboldtine

    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.
    Brazil
     
    • Minas Gerais
    		Rolando and Bruno Gioia collection
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Lambton Co.
        • Lambton Township (Bosanquet Township)
    		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: 1103.
    • Québec
      • Montréal
    		Mineralogical Record (2006): 37: 5-60.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Sokolov (Falkenau an der Eger)
      • Ústí Region
        • Bílina (Bilin)
    		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: 1103.
        • Kadaň (Kaaden)
    		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: 1103; Bouška, V., Dvořák, Z.: Nerosty severočeské hěndouhelné pánve. Praha: Severočeské doly, a.s., 160 s.
        • Most
    		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: 1103; NBS Mon. 10 (1972), 24.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Offenburg
    		Walenta, K. (2003): Oxalatmineralien aus dem Schwarzwald. Erzgräber 17, 9-16. (in German)
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Spessart Mts
          • Hösbach
            • Sailauf
              • Hartkoppe Mt.
    		No reference listed
              • Rehberg Mt.
    		Lorenz, J. (2006): Die Achate aus dem Rhyolith vom Rehberg bei Sailauf im Spessart. Lapis 31 (6), 13-20; 70.
    • Hesse
      • Großalmerode
    		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: 1103; S. Weiss: Mineralfundstellen Deutschland West, Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Saxony
      • Dresden
    		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: 1103.
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Hungary
     
    • Fejér Co.
      • Bicske-Zsámbéki Basin
        • Bicske-Csordakút
    		Szakáll & Jánosi: Minerals of Hungary, 1995
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Elba Island
          • Capoliveri
            • Cape Calamita Mine (Calamita Mine)
    		C.L. Garavelli (1955) – Ritrovamento di oxalite tra i minerali secondari del giacimento di Capo Calamita – Rend. Soc. Min. It., 11: 175-181.
          • Porto Azzurro
    		E. Manasse, 1910 - Oxalite di Capo d'Arco (Isola d'Elba) - Atti R. Acc. Lincei, Rend., v.19, s.5, f.3: 138-146.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Camborne - Redruth - St Day District
          • Camborne
            • Killivose
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • California
      • Kern Co.
        • Greenhorn Mountains District (Greenhorn District)
          • Wofford Heights
            • Greenhorn Summit W area
    		Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 342.
    • Michigan
      • Keweenaw Co.
        • Ahmeek
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
    Mineral and/or Locality
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