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Muirite

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Big Photo

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

Show Muirite Photos (4)



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:1964
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
)(OH)
 
2
Cl
 
2
17.3.2Zunyite
Al
 
13
Si
 
5
O
 
20
(OH,F)
 
18
Cl
17.3.3Sodalite
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)Cl
 
2
17.3.4Marialite
Na
 
4
Al
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
Cl
17.3.5Tugtupite
Na
 
4
(AlBeSi
 
4
O
 
12
)Cl
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
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
3
Cl
 
2
17.3.9Asisite
Pb
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)O
 
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
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

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Muirite on Athena Mineralogy
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Muirite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Muirite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
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  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
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  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Find Muirite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
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  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Muirite specimens
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    • Localities for Muirite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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; Alfors, J.T. & Pabst, A. (1984): Titanian taramellites in western North America, American Mineralogist, 69, 358-373.
    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
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