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Nelenite

Formula:
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(OH)
 
14
[As
3+
3
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Light to medium Brown
Lustre:Vitreous, ResinousHardness:5
Name:For Joseph A. Nelen, Chemist at the Smithsonian Insitution.
Isostructural with:Pyrosmalite Group
This page provides mineralogical data about Nelenite.

Classification of Nelenite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.28-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EE.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
Dana 8th edition ID:72.4.1b.3

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
4 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-, 6-, and 12-membered rings
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.7.13

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
7 : Silicates with vanadate, arsenate or antimonate
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Type Occurrence of Nelenite

Type Locality:Trotter Mine (Lehigh Mine), Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Year of Discovery:1984

Physical Properties of Nelenite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Comment:Vitreaous on cleavages, resinous on fractures
Colour:Light to medium Brown
Streak:Light brown
Hardness (Mohs):5
Cleavage:Perfect
Parallel to {0001}
Comment:Cleavage plates are flat and highly lustrous, and it is this quality and appearance of the cleavage that immediately distinguishes nelenite from the other members of the friedelite group, which have cleavage fragments with slightly or grossly warped and curved surfaces.
Density (measured):3.46 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.45 g/cm3

Crystallography of Nelenite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 23.24Å, b = 13.41Å, c = 7.38Å
β = 105.21°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.733 : 1 : 0.55
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,219.40 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Nelenite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.718 nε = 1.700
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.018

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:with e = colourless and w = light brown.

Chemical Properties of Nelenite

Formula:
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(OH)
 
14
[As
3+
3
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
]
Essential elements:As, H, Mn, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:As, Fe, H, Mn, O, Si
Common Impurities:Zn,Mg,Ca,H2O

Relationship of Nelenite to other Species

Member of Group:
Pyrosmalite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EE.05Bementite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.10Brokenhillite
Mn
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Friedelite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Mcgillite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
Cl
 
2
9.EE.15Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
9.EE.20Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Tuperssuatsiaite
Na
 
2
Fe
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Yofortierite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·8-9H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Falcondoite
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Loughlinite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·8H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Kalifersite
(K,Na)
 
5
Fe
3+
7
Si
 
20
O
 
50
(OH)
 
6
·12H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Gyrolite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.35Reyerite
(Na,K)
 
2
Ca
 
14
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.40Natrosilite
Na
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
9.EE.45Makatite
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.50Varennesite
Na
 
8
Mn
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
25
(OH,Cl)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
9.EE.55Raite
Na
 
4
Mn
2+
3
Ti
 
0.25
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
9.EE.60Intersilite
Na
 
6
Mn
2+
 
Ti[Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)](OH)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.70Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.75Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
9.EE.80Fedorite
(Na,K)
 
2-3
(Ca
 
4
Na
 
3
)Si
 
16
O
 
38
F
 
2
· 3.5H
 
2
O
9.EE.80Martinite
(Na,Ca)
 
11
Ca
 
4
(Si,S,B)
 
14
B
 
2
O
 
40
F
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.85Lalondeite
(Na,Ca)
 
6
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Si
 
16
O
 
38
(F,OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.7.1Suzukiite
BaVSi
 
2
O
 
7
17.7.2Franciscanite
Mn
2+
6
(V
5+
 
,[])
 
2
[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.7.3Kurumsakite
(Zn,Ni,Cu)
 
8
Al
 
8
V
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
35
·27H
 
2
O (or near)
17.7.4Ardennite-(As)
Mn
2+
4
[(Al,Mg)
 
6
][(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
,VO
 
4
)|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
|Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.7.5Medaite
(Mn,Ca)
 
6
(V,As)Si
 
5
O
 
18
OH
17.7.6Johninnesite
Na
 
2
Mn
2+
9
Mg
 
7
(OH)
 
8
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
[Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
17.7.7Tiragalloite
Mn
 
4
AsSi
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
17.7.8Dixenite
CuMn
2+
14
Fe
2+
 
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
3
)
 
5
|AsO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.7.9Asbecasite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Sn
4+
 
)Be
 
2
[(AsO
 
3
)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.7.10Mcgovernite
(Mn,Mg,Zn)
 
273
As
3+
~12
As
5+
~30
Si
 
~42
O
 
324
(OH)
 
252
17.7.11Kraisslite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
24
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
8
]
17.7.12Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
17.7.14Kolicite
Mn
2+
7
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
8
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.7.15Yeatmanite
Mn
2+
7
Zn
 
8
Sb
5+
2
[O
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
 
4
17.7.16Welshite
Ca
 
4
Mg
 
9
Sb
 
3
O
 
4
[Si
 
6
Be
 
3
AlFe
 
2
O
 
36
]
17.7.17Katoptrite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
13
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Sb
5+
2
[O
 
10
|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.7.18Parwelite
Mn
 
10
Sb
 
2
As
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
24
17.7.19Långbanite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
4
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
9
Sb
5+
 
[O
 
8
|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.7.20Chapmanite
Fe
3+
2
Sb
3+
 
[OH|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.7.21Cervandonite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,La)(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Ti,Al)
 
3
O
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)

Other Names for Nelenite

Synonyms:
FerroschalleriteIMA1982-011
Other Languages:
German:Nelenit
Spanish:Nelenita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None
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 Nelenite

Reference List:Dunn, P.J., et al (1984): Canadian Mineralogist: 22: 259-263.

Dunn, P.J. and Peacor, D.R. (1984): Mineralogical Magazine: 48: 271-275.

American Mineralogist (1985): 70: 874-875.

Dunn, P.J. (1995): Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits, Part 4: 480-481.

Internet Links for Nelenite

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    Localities for Nelenite

    (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.
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Franklin
    Dunn, P.J., et al: Can.Min.:22:259-263 (1984); Dunn, P.J. and Peacor, D.R.: Min.Mag.:48:271-275 (1984); Dunn(1995):Pt4:480-481.
    • Virginia
      • Montgomery Co.
    Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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