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Pyroxferroite

Formula:
(Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO
 
3
System:TriclinicColour:Pale yellow, ...
Hardness:4½ - 5½


Pyroxferroite-Pyroxmangite Series

Classification of Pyroxferroite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.31-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DO.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
Dana 8th edition ID:65.6.1.2

65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
6 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=7
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.22.2

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
22 : Silicates of Fe and Ca
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Type Occurrence of Pyroxferroite

Type Locality:Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility), The Moon
Year of Discovery:1970

Physical Properties of Pyroxferroite

Colour:Pale yellow, orange-yellow, yellow, light brown
Hardness (Mohs):4½ - 5½

Crystallography of Pyroxferroite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.62Å, b = 7.55Å, c = 17.38Å
α = 144.26°, β = 82.68°, γ = 94.75°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.877 : 1 : 2.302
Unit Cell Volume:V 502.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Pyroxferroite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.746 - 1.756 nβ = 1.750 - 1.758 nγ = 1.764 - 1.768
2V:Measured: 30° to 40°, Calculated: 50° to 58°
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
Dispersion:r < v marked

Chemical Properties of Pyroxferroite

Formula:
(Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO
 
3
Essential elements:Fe, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Fe, Mn, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Mg,Na

Relationship of Pyroxferroite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Pyroxmangite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DO.05Pyroxmangite
MnSiO
 
3
9.DO.10Pellyite
Ba
 
2
Ca(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Nordite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(Sr,Ca)Na
 
2
(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Nordite-(La)
(La,Ce)(Sr,Ca)Na
 
2
(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Ferronordite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
SrCeFe
2+
 
Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Manganonordite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
SrCeMn
2+
 
Si
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.15Ferronordite-(La)
Na
 
3
Sr(La,Ce)FeSi
 
6
O
 
17
9.DO.20Alamosite
Pb
 
12
[Si
 
12
O
 
36
]
9.DO.25Liebauite
Ca
 
3
Cu
 
5
Si
 
9
O
 
26
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.22.1Hedenbergite
CaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.22.3 Ferro-akermanite
Ca
 
2
FeSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.22.4Kirschsteinite
CaFe
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
14.22.5Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
14.22.6Ferro-Actinolite
☐[Ca
 
2
][(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.22.7Ilvaite
CaFe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.22.8Julgoldite-(Fe2+)
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
14.22.9Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3

Other Names for Pyroxferroite

Synonyms:
IMA1970-001
German names:
Pyroxferroit
Spanish names:
Pyroxferroita

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 Pyroxferroite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1970): 55: 2137.

Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta: 34(1): 65-79.

Burnham, C. (1971) The crystal structure of pyroxferroite from Mare Tranquilitatis. Supplement to Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta: 34(2): 47-57.

Nikischer, Tony and Joe Orosz (2007) Lunar Mineral Found at Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Mineral News: 23(8): 1, 2, 9, 14.

Internet Links for Pyroxferroite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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    Localities for Pyroxferroite

    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.
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    (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.
    Finland
     
    • Länsi-Suomen Lääni
    Bulletin de la Commission Geologique de Finlande 115; 387-400, 1936
      • Vaasa
        • Seinäjoki
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
    [Blass, G., Graf, H.W., Neufunde von bekannten Fundorten (20), Mineralien-Welt 9/1, 45, 1998] [A. Wittern: Mineralfundorte in Deutschland, Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001]
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kinki Region
        • Kyoto Prefecture
          • Naka-gun
            • Mineyama-cho
    Alfredo Petrov - private communication (2008)
    Masutomi Museum specimens (Kyoto)
    Yamada et al (1980), Chigaku Kenkyu: 31: 205-222.
    Oman
     
    • Dhofar (Al Janubiyah) Province
    Sweden
     
    • Dalarna
      • Ludvika
    No reference listed
    The Moon
     
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Franklin
    Nikischer, Tony and Joe Orosz (2007) Lunar Mineral Found at Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Mineral News: 23(8): 1, 2, 9, 14.
    • South Carolina
      • Anderson Co.
    Nikischer, Tony and Joe Orosz (2007) Lunar Mineral Found at Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Mineral News: 23(8): 1, 2, 9, 14.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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