Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (10 online) Mindat Auctions

Kirschsteinite

Big Photo

Tazheranskii Massif, Lake Baikal area, Irkutskaya Oblast', Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye), 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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2217.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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
German names:
Kirschsteinit
Russian names:
Кирштейнит
Spanish names:
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

Search Engines:
  • Look for Kirschsteinite on Google
  • Look for Kirschsteinite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Kirschsteinite on Webmineral
  • Look for Kirschsteinite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Kirschsteinite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Kirschsteinite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Kirschsteinite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Kirschsteinite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Search for - Kirschsteinite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Search for Kirschsteinite on minvision.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Kirschsteinite specimens
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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.
    Mexico
     
    • Chihuahua
      • Pueblito de Allende
    		www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2002/pdf/5053.pdf.
    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
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • 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
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.