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Merwinite

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Commercial quarry, Sky Blue Hill, Crestmore quarries, Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, USA
© Caltech

Show Merwinite Photos (3)
Formula:
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
System:MonoclinicHardness:6


Olivine Group.

Classification of Merwinite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.07-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AD.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.4.2.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
4 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [6] and >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.6.11

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
6 : Silicates of Ca with alkali or Mg or both
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Type Occurrence of Merwinite

Type Locality:Wet Weather Quarry, Sky Blue Hill, Crestmore quarries, Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1921

Physical Properties of Merwinite

Hardness (Mohs):6

Crystallography of Merwinite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.29Å, b = 5.3Å, c = 9.35Å
β = 92.09°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.508 : 1 : 1.764
Unit Cell Volume:V 658.15 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Merwinite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.706 - 1.708 nβ = 1.711 - 1.712 nγ = 1.718 - 1.724
2V:Measured: 67° , Calculated: 62° to 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012 - 0.016

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

Chemical Properties of Merwinite

Formula:
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
Essential elements:Ca, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Fe

Relationship of Merwinite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AD.05Larnite
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.10Calcio-Olivine
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.20Bredigite
Ca
 
7
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
4
9.AD.25Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Almandine
Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Goldmanite
Ca
 
3
(V
3+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Henritermierite
Ca
 
3
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AD.25Hibschite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
6-1
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5-2.5
]
9.AD.25Hydroandradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3-x
(OH)
 
4x
9.AD.25Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
9.AD.25Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
[(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Knorringite
Mg
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Morimotoite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
 (?)
9.AD.25Pyrope
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Spessartine
Mn
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Uvarovite
Ca
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Wadalite
Ca
 
6
(Al,Mg)
 
4
[Cl
 
3
|O
 
4
|{(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
}
 
3
]
9.AD.25Holtstamite
Ca
 
3
(Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.25IMA2009-029
Ca
 
3
Zr
 
2
(Fe
3+
2
Si)O
 
12
9.AD.25IMA2009-033
Ca
 
3
Sn
 
2
(Fe
 
2
Si)O
 
12
9.AD.25IMA2009-026
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
V
3+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
9.AD.30Coffinite
(U,Th)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Hafnon
(Hf,Zr)[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.30Thorite
(Th,U)[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.30Thorogummite
(Th,U)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Zircon
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.30Stetindite-(Ce)
Ce[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.35Huttonite
Th[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.35Tombarthite-(Y)
Y
 
4
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.40Eulytine
Bi
 
4
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.45Reidite
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.6.1Combeite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
9
14.6.2Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.3Pectolite-M2abc
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.4Denisovite
Ca
 
2
(K,Na)Si
 
3
O
 
8
(F,OH)
 
2
14.6.5Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
14.6.6Mountainite
KNa
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
(OH)]·6H
 
2
O
14.6.7Rhodesite
KHCa
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
19
·5H
 
2
O
14.6.8Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
14.6.9Åkermanite
Ca
 
2
Mg[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.6.10Monticellite
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
14.6.12Diopside
CaMg[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.6.13Tremolite
☐[Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]

Other Names for Merwinite

Other Languages:
German:Merwinit
Russian:Мервинит
Spanish:Merwinita

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 Merwinite

Reference List:Larsen, E.S. & W.F. Foshag (1921), Merwinite, a new calcium magnesium orthosilicate from Crestmore, California, American Mineralogist: 6: 143-148.

Neuvonen, Kalle J. (1952), Heat of formation of Merwinite and monticellite: American Journal of Science, Bowen volume: 373-380.

Moore, Paulus B. & T. Araki (1972b) Atomic arrangement of Merwinite, Ca3Mg(SiO4)2, an unusual dense-packed structure of geophysical interest American Mineralogist: 57: 1355-1374.

Nawaz, R. and Preston, J. (1974) Optical orientation and twinning of merwinite: a restudy. American Mineralogist: 59: 1117-1120.

Internet Links for Merwinite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Merwinite

    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.
    Israel
     
    • Negev desert
    		Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Krasnoyarsk Territory (Krasnoyarsk Kray; Krasnoyarskii Krai)
        • Evenkia (Evenkiyskiy Autonomous okrug)
          • Nizhnyaya Tunguska River Basin (Lower Tunguska River)
    		No reference listed
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lake Baikal area
            • Dovyren Highlands
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 323–333, 2009
    P.M. Kartashov data
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Argyllshire)
        • Ardnamurchan
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols; Mineralogical Magazine 1965 34 : 1-15.
      • North West Highlands (Inverness-shire)
        • Isle of Muck
    		Tilley, C.E. (1947) The gabbro-limestone contact zone of Camas Mor, Muck, Inverness-shire. Comptes Rendus de la Société geologique de Finlande, No. 140, 97–105.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
          • Crestmore quarries
            • Sky Blue Hill
    		AmMin 26:352-381
    Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmore, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    Amer.Min.(1921) 6, 143-148
    • New Mexico
      • Luna Co.
        • Tres Hermanas District
          • South Sisters Peak
    		NMGS 21st Field Conference
    • Texas
      • Brewster Co.
        • Christmas Mts
    		Rocks & Minerals (1991): 66:3: 196-224.
      • Culberson Co.
        • Apache Peak area
    		Am Min 51:1766-1774
        • Sierra Diablo
    		R&M 66:3 pp 196-224
    Mineral and/or Locality
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