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Seifertite

Formula:
SiO
 
2
System:Orthorhombic
Name:Named in honour of Dr. Friedrich Seifert, founder of the Bavarian Geographic Institute at Bayreuth, Germany.


The densest and hardest polymorph of silica found in nature so far, with a structure similar to that of alpha-PbO2. Found first in the Shergotty meteorite, and since then in several other meteorites from Mars. Stable only above pressures of 780 kilobars, so it could theoretically also form in the Earth's mantle at depths over 1,700 km, if any free silica is present.

Classification of Seifertite

IMA status:Approved 2004
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.01-
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DA.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
A : With small cations: Silica family
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Type Occurrence of Seifertite

Type Locality:Shergotty Martian meteorite, Gaya District, Bihar, India
Geological Setting of type material:Presumably formed by impact shock in basaltic Mars rock.

Occurrences of Seifertite

Geological Setting:Meteorites derived from Martian basalt.

Crystallography of Seifertite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pbcn (P21/b 2/c 21/n)

Chemical Properties of Seifertite

Formula:
SiO
 
2
Essential elements:
All elements listed in formula:O, Si
Empirical Formula:
SiO
 
2

Relationship of Seifertite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.DA.05Quartz
SiO
 
2
4.DA.10Opal
SiO
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
4.DA.10Tridymite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.15Cristobalite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.20Mogánite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.25Melanophlogite
46SiO
 
2
·6(N
 
2
,CO
 
2
)·2(CH
 
4
,N
 
2
)
4.DA.30Lechatelierite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.35Coesite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.40Stishovite
SiO
 
2
4.DA.45Keatite

Other Names for Seifertite

Synonyms:
IMA2004-010
German names:
Seifertit

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 Seifertite

Reference List:http://www.futura-sciences.com/sinformer/n/news4194.php
http://idw-online.de/public/zeige_pm.html?pmid=82337
Am. Min. 85:265

Internet Links for Seifertite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Seifertite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
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    • Localities for Seifertite

    (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.
    India
     
    • Bihar
      • Gaya District
    Nigeria
     
    • Katsina State
    		Zhidong Xie et al. , Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI (2005), 1216.pdf
    Mineral and/or Locality
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