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Kirschsteinite

Big Photo

Tazheranskii Massif, Lake Baikal area, Irkutskaya Oblast', Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
© B. Otter

Show Kirschsteinite Photos (2)
Formula:
CaFe
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicHardness:5½


Olivine Group. Kirschsteinite-Monticellite Series.

Classification of Kirschsteinite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.05-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AC.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
C : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.3.2.2

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.22.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
22 : Silicates of Fe and Ca
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Type Occurrence of Kirschsteinite

Type Locality:Mt Shaheru, Mt Nyiragongo, Goma, Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1957

Physical Properties of Kirschsteinite

Hardness (Mohs):5½

Crystallography of Kirschsteinite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.44Å, b = 11.15Å, c = 4.87Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.578 : 1 : 0.437
Unit Cell Volume:V 349.70 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Kirschsteinite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.674 - 1.693 nβ = 1.694 - 1.734 nγ = 1.706 - 1.735
2V:Measured: 50° , Calculated: 16° to 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.032 - 0.042

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v or r < v

Chemical Properties of Kirschsteinite

Formula:
CaFe
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Ca, Fe, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Fe, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Mn,Mg,Na,K,P,H2O

Relationship of Kirschsteinite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Monticellite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AC.05Fayalite
Fe
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Forsterite
Mg
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Glaucochroite
CaMn
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Laihunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AC.05Liebenbergite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Tephroite
Mn
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.10Monticellite
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.15Ringwoodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.20Chesnokovite
Na
 
2
[SiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.22.1Hedenbergite
CaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.22.2Pyroxferroite
(Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO
 
3
14.22.3 Ferro-akermanite
Ca
 
2
FeSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.22.5Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
14.22.6Ferro-Actinolite
☐[Ca
 
2
][(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.22.7Ilvaite
CaFe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.22.8Julgoldite-(Fe2+)
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
14.22.9Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3

Other Names for Kirschsteinite

Synonyms:
Lime-Iron-Olivine
Other Languages:
German:Kirschsteinit
Russian:Кирштейнит
Spanish:Kirschsteinita

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 Kirschsteinite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1958): 43: 790.

European Journal of Mineralogy: 9: 969-973.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR (1970): 190: 932-935.

Internet Links for Kirschsteinite

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    Localities for Kirschsteinite

    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.
    (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.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Kivu
      • Goma
    Mineral. Mag. (1958) 31 (2), 698-699.; Mineralogical Magazine 1957 31 : 698-699.
    India
     
    • Andhra Pradesh
      • Mahabubnagar district
    		Mineralogical Magazine 1996 60 : 513-516
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Livorno Province
        • Campiglia Marittima
    		Andrea MANASSE, Marcello MELLINI and Cecilia VITI (2001): The copper slags of the Capattoli Valley, Campiglia Marittima, Italy. European Journal of Mineralogy 13, 949-960.
    Mexico
     
    • Chihuahua
      • Pueblito de Allende
    		www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2002/pdf/5053.pdf.
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		Ettler, V., Johan, Z., Kříbek, B., Šebek, O. & Mihaljevič, M. (2009): Mineralogy and environmental stability of slags from the Tsumeb smelter, Namibia. Applied Geochemistry 24, 1-15.
    Poland
     
    • Małopolskie
      • Olkusz District
    		Ref.: Kucha H., Jędrzejczyk B. 1995: Primary minerals of mining and metallurgical Zn-Pb dumps at Bukowno, Poland, and their stability during weathering. Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 26, No 2, 75-99
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lake Baikal area
    		B Otter collection
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kalahari manganese fields
        • Hotazel
    		[Von Bezing, K. L. et al. (1991) - The Kalahari manganese field : an update, Mineralogical Record, 22 (3), 279-302]
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
        • Pajsberg
    		M.E. Ciriotti (2005) Probed
    USA
     
    • New Mexico
      • Eddy Co.
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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