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Muirite

Big Photo

Esquire No. 7 claim, Big Creek, Rush Creek deposit, Big Creek-Rush Creek District, Fresno Co., California, USA
© Ł Kruszewski 2007

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Formula:
Ba
 
10
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Ti[(OH,Cl,F)|HSi
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
5
System:TetragonalColour:Orange
Hardness:2½
Name:
For US geologist and explorer, John Muir (1838-1914).
This page provides mineralogical data about Muirite.

Classification of Muirite

IMA status:Approved 1964
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/C.14-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CN.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
N : [Si8O24]16- 8-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID:62.1.1.1

62 : CYCLOSILICATES Eight-Membered Rings
1 : Eight-Membered Rings with 8-membered and larger rings
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.3.18

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
3 : Silicates with chloride (including aluminosilicates)
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Type Occurrence of Muirite

Type Locality:Esquire No. 7 claim, Big Creek, Rush Creek deposit, Big Creek-Rush Creek District, Fresno Co., California, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:California Divisions of Mines & Geology
Year of Discovery:1965
Geological Setting of type material:sanbornite-quartz-bearing metamorphic rock

Physical Properties of Muirite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Orange
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Indistinct on {001} and {100}
Density (measured):3.86(2) g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.88 g/cm3

Crystallography of Muirite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P4/mmm {P4/m 2/m 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 14.000(3) Å, c = 5.625(2) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.402
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,102.50 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Subhedral to euhedral crystals not uncommon.

Optical Data of Muirite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.697 nε = 1.704
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.007

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:O = orange
E = colorless

Chemical Properties of Muirite

Formula:
Ba
 
10
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Ti[(OH,Cl,F)|HSi
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
5
Essential elements:Ba, Ca, H, Mn, O, Si, Ti
All elements listed in formula:Ba, Ca, Cl, F, H, Mn, O, Si, Ti
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mg,Sr,K,H2O

Relationship of Muirite to other Species

Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.3.1Rustumite
Ca
 
10
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)Cl
 
2
(OH)
 
2
17.3.2Zunyite
Al
 
13
Si
 
5
O
 
20
(OH,F)
 
18
Cl
17.3.3Sodalite
Na
 
8
[Cl
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
17.3.4Marialite
Na
 
4
[Cl|(AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
)
 
3
]
17.3.5Tugtupite
Na
 
4
[Cl|BeAlSi
 
4
O
 
12
]
17.3.6Eudialyte
Na
 
15
Ca
 
6
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
25
O
 
73
](O,OH,H
 
2
O)
 
3
(OH,Cl)
 
2
17.3.7Alluaivite
Na
 
19
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
(Ti,Nb)
 
3
Si
 
26
O
 
74
Cl·2H
 
2
O
17.3.8Nasonite
Pb
 
6
Ca
 
4
[Cl
 
2
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
3
]
17.3.9Asisite
Pb
 
7
[O
 
4
|SiO
 
4
|Cl
 
2
]
17.3.10Jagoite
(Pb,Ca)
 
3
FeSi
 
3
O
 
10
(Cl,OH)
17.3.11Friedelite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
17.3.12Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
17.3.13Pyrosmalite
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
16
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
17.3.14Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
17.3.16Mcgillite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
Cl
 
2
17.3.17Traskite
Ba
 
21
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mn,Ti)
 
4
(Ti,Fe,Mg)
 
12
(Si
 
12
O
 
36
)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
6
(O,OH)
 
30
Cl
 
6
·14H
 
2
O
17.3.19Verplanckite
Ba
 
2
(Mn,Fe,Ti)Si
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH,Cl,F)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O or near

Other Names for Muirite

Synonyms:
IMA1964-013
Other Languages:
German:Muirit
Russian:Мюирит
Spanish:Muirita

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 Muirite

Reference List:Alfors, J.T., M.C. Stinson, R.A. Matthews & A. Pabst (1965), Seven new barium minerals from eastern Fresno County, California: American Mineralogist: 50: 314-340.

Alfors, J.T. & G.W. Putnam (1965), Revised chemical analyses of traskite, verplanckite and muirite from Fresno County, California: American Mineralogist: 50: 1500-1503.

Science: 173: 916-918.

American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 358.

Internet Links for Muirite

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    Localities for Muirite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Yukon Territory
      • Watson Lake Mining District
        • Itsy Mts
          • MacMillian Pass
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    USA
     
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Big Creek-Rush Creek District
          • Rush Creek deposit
            • Big Creek
    		Matthews, Robert Alfred & John T. Alfors (1962), Sanbornite from Rush Creek, Fresno County: California Division Mines & Geology Mineral Information Service: 15(6): 1-3; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 465; American Mineralogist (1965) 50, 314-340; Mineralogical Record (2002): 33: 161.
    Can.Min.22:653-658
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 6th Nov 2009 20:39:33