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Paraspurrite

Big Photo

Darwin area, Darwin District, Inyo Co., California, USA
© Maurice de Graaf

Formula:
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
System:MonoclinicColour:colourless
This page provides mineralogical data about Paraspurrite.

Classification of Paraspurrite

IMA status:Approved 1977
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.22-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AH.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
H : Nesosilicates with CO3, SO4, PO4, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:53.1.2.1

53 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions or Complex Cations
1 : Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions of Complex Cations with (CO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.4.3

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
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Type Occurrence of Paraspurrite

Type Locality:Darwin area, Darwin District, Inyo Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1977

Physical Properties of Paraspurrite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:colourless
Streak:white
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct

Crystallography of Paraspurrite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.47Å, b = 6.7Å, c = 27.78Å
β = 90.58°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.563 : 1 : 4.146
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,948.64 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Paraspurrite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.650 nβ = 1.672 nγ = 1.677
2V:Measured: 47° , Calculated: 50°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.027

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:relatively strong

Chemical Properties of Paraspurrite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Essential elements:C, Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mn,Mg,Na,P

Relationship of Paraspurrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.AH.05Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
TiO
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)·2H
 
2
O
9.AH.15Spurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AH.20Ternesite
Ca
 
5
[SO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AH.25Britholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
[(OH,F)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Britholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca)
 
3
[(OH,F)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(Cl)
Ca
 
10
[Cl
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Fluorbritholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
[(F,OH)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(F)
Ca
 
10
[(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(OH)
Ca
 
10
[(OH,Cl,F)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Mattheddleite
Pb
 
5
(Si
 
1.2
S
 
1.8
)O
 
12
(Cl
 
0.6
OH
 
0.4
)
9.AH.25Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
9.AH.25Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
9.AH.25Fluorcalciobritholite
(Ca,Ce)
 
5
 (SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.4.1Tilleyite
Ca
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.4.2Spurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.4Scawtite
Ca
 
7
Si
 
6
(CO
 
3
)O
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
17.4.5Fukalite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.6Meionite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
)
 
3
]
17.4.7Cancrinite
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.4.8Carletonite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
18
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
17.4.9Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.4.10Kainosite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ce)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
17.4.11Caysichite-(Y)
Y
 
2
(Ca,Gd)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
17.4.12Lepersonnite-(Gd)
CaO(Gd,Dy)
 
2
O
 
3
·24UO
 
3
·8CO
 
2
·4SiO
 
2
·60H
 
2
O
17.4.13Ashburtonite
Pb
 
4
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl|(HCO
 
3
)
 
4
|Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · H
 
2
O
17.4.14Surite
Pb(Pb,Ca)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(Al,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
17.4.15Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
TiO
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
17.4.16Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Paraspurrite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-016
German names:
Paraspurrit
Spanish names:
Paraspurrita

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 Paraspurrite

Reference List:Colville, A.A. & P.A. Colville (1977), Paraspurrite, a new polymorph of spurrite from Inyo County, California: American Mineralogist: 62: 1003-1005.

Internet Links for Paraspurrite

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    Localities for Paraspurrite

    (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
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
    		www.mineralsocal.org
    [Nickel & Nichols, 1991, p160 - "Mineral Reference Manual"]
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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