Melilite Group
A group of related mineral species
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About Melilite Group
Formula:
Ca2M(XSiO7)
M = Mg, Al, rarely Fe, B, Zn, Be, Si, etc.
X = Si, Al, rarely Be or B.
X = Si, Al, rarely Be or B.
A group of tetragonal sorosilicates with a disilicate anion (Si2O7)6- or an Al or B-bearing derivative thereof and the general formula given above, where M denotes a small- to medium-sized divalent or trivalent cation (mostly Mg and Al, or rarely Fe, B, Zn, Be, Si, etc) and X is Si, Al or rarely Be or B. In general, Al or B replace one Si atom when M is a trivalent ion, but the charge can also be balanced by coupled substitution of Ca2+ with a monovalent ion, especially Na, and M3+ with M2+, such as in Alumoåkermanite, where Al3+ is still dominant on the M-site but the mineral is far from end-member composition.
In petrology "melilite" usually refers to minerals in the åkermanite-gehlenite series, by far the most abundant members of the group.
A large number of synthetic members are known.
In petrology "melilite" usually refers to minerals in the åkermanite-gehlenite series, by far the most abundant members of the group.
A large number of synthetic members are known.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
29310
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:29310:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
c9b86bd1-5e19-4758-9faa-c5d4f94f97ff
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mll | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Mel | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
| Mel | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Mll | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Mel | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Chemistry of Melilite Group
Mindat Formula:
Ca2M(XSiO7)
M = Mg, Al, rarely Fe, B, Zn, Be, Si, etc.
X = Si, Al, rarely Be or B.
M = Mg, Al, rarely Fe, B, Zn, Be, Si, etc.
X = Si, Al, rarely Be or B.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005090 | Gehlenite | Louisnathan S J (1971) Refinement of the crystal structure of a natural gehlenite, Ca2Al(Al,Si)2O7 The Canadian Mineralogist 10 822-837 |  | 1971 | Crestmore, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0007694 | Gehlenite | Swainson I P, Dove M T, Schmahl W W, Putnis A (1992) Neutron powder diffraction study of the akermanite-gehlenite solid solution series Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 19 185-195 | 1992 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007695 | Gehlenite | Swainson I P, Dove M T, Schmahl W W, Putnis A (1992) Neutron powder diffraction study of the akermanite-gehlenite solid solution series Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 19 185-195 | 1992 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0017917 | Gehlenite | Raaz F (1930) Ueber den Feinbau des Gehlenit. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Melilithe _cod_database_code 1011002 Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 139 645-672 | 1930 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0014911 | Gugiaite | Yang Z, Fleck M, Pertlik F, Tillmanns E, Tao K (2001) The crystal structure of natural gugiaite, Ca2BeSi2O7 Note, z coordinate of Ca is altered to reproduce reported Ca-O bond lengths Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 2001 186-192 | 2001 | skarn rocks in the Gugia alkaline complex, Liaoning Province, China | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002657 | Hardystonite | Bindi L, Bonazzi P, Rothlisberger F (2001) Hardystonite from Franklin Furnace: A natural modulated melilite American Mineralogist 86 747-751 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018114 | Hardystonite | Warren B, Trautz O (1930) The Structure of Hardystonite Ca2 Zn Si2 O7 _cod_database_code 1011252 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 75 525-528 | 1930 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0010703 | Hardystonite | Louisnathan S J (1969) Refinement of the crystal structure of hardystonite, Ca2ZnSi2O7 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 130 427-437 | | 1969 | Franklin, New Jersey, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0002589 | Okayamalite | Giuli G, Bindi L, Bonazzi P (2000) Rietveld refinement of okayamalite, Ca2SiB2O7: Structural evidence for the B/Si ordered distribution American Mineralogist 85 1512-1515 | | 2000 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Synonyms of Melilite Group
Other Language Names for Melilite Group
Relationship of Melilite Group to other Species
Group Members:
| Åkermanite | Ca2Mg[Si2O7] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m |
| Alumoåkermanite | (CaNa)Al[Si2O7] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m |
| Bennesherite | Ba2Fe2+[Si2O7] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m |
| Ferri-gehlenite | Ca2Fe3+[AlSiO7] | |
| Gehlenite | Ca2Al[AlSiO7] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m |
| Gugiaite | Ca2Be[Si2O7] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 2m |
| Hardystonite | Ca2Zn[Si2O7] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m |
| Hydroxylgugiaite | (Ca,◻)2(Si,Be)[(Be,Si)2O5.5(OH)1.5] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m |
| Okayamalite | Ca2B[BSiO7] | Tet. 4 2m : P4 21m |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Melilite Group in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Melilite Group
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-29310.html
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References for Melilite Group
Reference List:
Localities for Melilite Group
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Colle Fabbri, Spoleto, Perugia Province, Umbria, Italy