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Ramsdellite

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Lake Valley District, Sierra Co., New Mexico, USA
© 2003 John H. Betts

Show Ramsdellite Photos (44)
Formula:
Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
System:OrthorhombicColour:black, steel-grey
Hardness:3
Name:Named after the American mineralogist, Lewis S. Ramsdell (1895-1975), of the University of Michigan, who first described the mineral


Ramsdellite group

Classification of Ramsdellite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.10-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DB.15a

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 7th edition ID:4.4.7.1
Dana 8th edition ID:4.4.7.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
4 : AX2
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.18.4

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
18 : Oxides of Mn
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Type Occurrence of Ramsdellite

Type Locality:Lake Valley District, Sierra Co., New Mexico, USA
Year of Discovery:1943

Physical Properties of Ramsdellite

Lustre:Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:black, steel-grey
Streak:brownish black, black
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Density (measured):4.37 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.79 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ramsdellite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 4.53Å, b = 9.27Å, c = 2.86Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.489 : 1 : 0.309
Unit Cell Volume:V 120.43 ų
Z:4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Chemical Properties of Ramsdellite

Formula:
Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
Essential elements:Mn, O
All elements listed in formula:Mn, O

Relationship of Ramsdellite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DB.05Argutite
GeO
 
2
4.DB.05Cassiterite
SnO
 
2
4.DB.05Plattnerite
PbO
 
2
4.DB.05Pyrolusite
MnO
 
2
4.DB.05Rutile
TiO
 
2
4.DB.05Tripuhyite
Fe
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DB.05Tugarinovite
MoO
 
2
4.DB.05Varlamoffite
(Sn,Fe)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.10Byströmite
MgSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Ordoñezite
ZnSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.15bAkhtenskite
ε-Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
4.DB.15cNsutite
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.15aParamontroseite
VO
 
2
4.DB.20Scrutinyite
alpha-PbO
 
2
4.DB.25Ishikawaite
U
4+
 
Fe
2+
 
Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Ixiolite
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
4
O
 
8
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Y)
(Y,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,U,Th,Ca)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Srilankite
Ti
 
2
ZrO
 
6
4.DB.25Yttrocolumbite-(Y)
Y(U
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Calciosamarskite
(Ca,Fe
3+
 
,Y)
 
2
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Yb)
(Yb,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Písekite-(Y)
4.DB.30Ferberite
FeWO
 
4
4.DB.30Hübnerite
MnWO
 
4
4.DB.30Sanmartinite
(Zn,Fe)WO
 
4
4.DB.30Krasnoselskite
CoWO
 
4
4.DB.30Heftetjernite
ScTaO
 
4
4.DB.35Columbite-(Fe)
FeNb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Fe)
FeTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mn)
MnTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Qitianlingite
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
WO
 
10
4.DB.35Magnocolumbite
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.40Ferrowodginite
FeSnTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiotantite
Li(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiowodginite
LiTa
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Titanowodginite
MnTiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Wodginite
Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Ferrotitanowodginite
Fe
2+
 
TiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Wolframowodginite
Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.45Tivanite
VTiO
 
3
(OH)
4.DB.50Carmichaelite
(Ti,Cr,Fe)[O
 
2-x
(OH)
 
x
]
4.DB.55Alumotantite
AlTaO
 
4
4.DB.60Biehlite
((Sb,As)O)
 
2
[MoO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.18.1Manganosite
MnO
7.18.2Hausmannite
MnMn
 
2
O
 
4
7.18.3Pyrolusite
MnO
 
2
7.18.5Akhtenskite
ε-Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
7.18.6Feitknechtite
Mn
3+
 
O(OH)
7.18.7Manganite
Mn
3+
 
O(OH)
7.18.8Groutite
Mn
3+
 
O(OH)
7.18.9Nsutite
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(O,OH)
 
2
7.18.10Pyrochroite
Mn(OH)
 
2
7.18.11Birnessite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.5
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
4
 · 1.5H
 
2
O
7.18.12Aurorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ag,Ca)Mn
4+
3
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.18.13Cianciulliite
Mn(Mg,Mn)
 
2
Zn
 
2
(OH)
 
10
·2-4H
 
2
O

Other Names for Ramsdellite

Synonyms:
Groutellite
Other Languages:
German:Ramsdellit
Russian:Рамсделлит
Spanish:Ramsdellita

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 Ramsdellite

Reference List:American Mineralogist(1962): 47: 47-58.

American Mineralogist(1979): 64: 1199-1218.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1994): 209: 941.

Kohler, T., Armbruster, T., and Libowitzky, E. (1997) Hydrogen bonding and Jahn-Teller distortion in groutite, α-MnOOH, and manganite, γ-MnOOH, and their relations to the manganese dioxides ramsdellite and pyrolusite. Journal of Solid State Chemistry: 133: 486-500.

Internet Links for Ramsdellite

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  • Look for Ramsdellite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Ramsdellite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Ramsdellite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Ramsdellite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Ramsdellite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
    		No reference listed
    • South Australia
      • Eyre peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		No reference listed
    Canada
     
    • Nova Scotia
      • Kings Co.
        • Bay of Fundy
    Chile
     
    • Atacama Region
      • Chañaral Province
        • Caballo Muerto district
    		Maurizio Dini - analysed material by Bob Jenkins
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Abertamy (Abertham)
            • Horní Blatná (Bergstadt Platten)
    		Bufka, A., Velebil, D.: Manganová mineralizace žíly Marie Terezie u Horní Blatné v Krušných horách. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2003, roč. 11, s. 100-114.
    France
     
    • Alsace
      • Haut-Rhin
    		Wittern, Journée: "Mineralien finden in den Vogesen", von Loga (Cologne), 1997
    • Franche-Comté
      • Haute-Saône
    		Wittern, Journée: "Mineralien finden in den Vogesen", von Loga (Cologne), 1997
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Ariège
    		Perseil, E. A. (1967): Manganese mineralization of the Upper Devonian in Las Cabesses (Ariege). Comptes Rendus du Congres National des Societes Savantes, Section des Sciences 91 (Part 2), 313-321.
      • Hautes-Pyrénées
    		 Le Règne Minéral 47: 5-21
          • Vielle Aure
    		DE ASCENCAO GUEDES R., TIXADOR Y., CASTERET A. & GOUJOU JC. (2002) La mine de Coustou, Vielle-Aure, Hautes-Pyrénées. Le Règne Minéral, 47, 23-31. (in french)
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Gengenbach
          • Haigerach valley
    		Wittern,A. (1995) Mineralien finden im Schwarzwald
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German)
      • Heidelberg
        • Mauer
    		S. Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Lower Saxony
      • Peine
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Thuringia
      • Wurzbach
        • Weitisberga
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Ghana
     
    • Western Region
      • Tarkwa
    		Mücke, A., Dzigbodi-Adjimah, K., and Annor, A. (1999): Mineralium Deposita 34, 297-311.
    Greece
     
    • Aegean Islands (Aiyaíon) Department
      • Kykládes Prefecture
        • Cyclade Islands (Cyclades; Kikladhes; Nomos Kikladhon)
          • Milos Island (Melos)
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District Mines
          • Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza)
    		No reference listed
    Hungary
     
    • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co.
      • Bükk Mts.
        • Bükkszentkereszt
    		Koch: Minerals of Hungary, 1985
      • Zempléni Mts.
        • Erdőhorváti
    		GEODA, 1999
    • Veszprém Co.
      • Bakony Mts.
        • Eplény
    		Szakáll & Gatter, 1993
        • Úrkút
          • Csárda Hill
    		Szakáll & Jánosi (1996) The Minerals of Hungary
    India
     
    • Andhra Pradesh
      • Vizianagaram District
    		Econ Geol (1980) 75:1083-1104
    Econ Geol (1980) 75:1083-1104
    • Karnataka
      • Bellary-Hospet iron belt
        • Sandur
    		Rao, J. S. R. K., Naidu, B. V. & Rao, K. V. (1979): Ore microscopic, x-ray and trace elemental data on manganese ores from Sandur, Karnataka, India. Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica 24, 91-97.
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • La Spezia Province
        • Vara Valley
          • Borghetto Vara
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Niigata Prefecture
    		University of Tokyo collection
      • Tohoku Region
        • Akita Prefecture
          • Kaya Kusa
    		Dr. Matsuo Nambu ore collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
        • Iwate Prefecture
    		Watanabe, T. (1959) Mineralogical Journal, 2, 6, 408-421
    Nambu, M. & Tanida, K. (1961): On the progressive alteration of manganese dioxide minerals in the Toyoguchi Mine, Iwate Prefecture. Ganseki Kobutsu Kosho Gakkaishi 45, 39-48. (in Japanese)
    Mexico
     
    • Baja California Norte
    		[MinRec 14:110, 14:112]
      • Mun. de Tecáte
        • Los Gavilanes
    		Panczner(1987):327.
    • Baja California Sur
      • Mun. de Mulegé
        • Lucifer (San Lucifer)
    		Panczner (1987): 327.
    • Chihuahua
      • Mun. de Ahumada
    		Cross, B. & Culp Zeitner J. (2006), Geodes Natures Treasures, P.21
    • Durango
      • Mun. de Mapimí
        • Mapimí
    		Rocks & Min.: 56:247.
    Panczner (1987): 327.
    Norway
     
    • Vest-Agder
      • Kristiansand
    		Foslie (1925); Neumann (1985, p. 74); Breivik, H. ; Myre, K. & Larsen, A. O. (2007): Manganforekomster på Sørlandet: Kivikdalen (Kostøl, Ålefjær): Bergverksmuseets Skrift nr 35, 25-31
      • Mandal
    		Foslie (1925); Neumann (1959, p. 233); Neumann (1985, p. 74).
    Portugal
     
    • Guarda District
      • Sabugal
    		Schnorrer-Köhler (1991), Mineral Occurrences.
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kalahari manganese fields
        • Hotazel
    		[MinRec 9:152]
    Minerals of South Africa
    Sweden
     
    • Dalsland
      • Åmål
        • Strandhem ore field
    		Kjell Gatedal
    UK
     
    • Wales
      • Ceredigion (Dyfed; Cardiganshire)
        • Trefeirig
          • Ponterwyd
            • Nant-y-Moch Reservoir area
    		T.F. Cotterell, unpublished data
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Vulture Mts
          • Vulture District
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 351; Hewett, D.F. (1964), Veins of hypogene manganese oxide minerals in the southwestern US, Econ.Geol.: 59: 1429-1472.
      • Mohave Co.
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of AZ, 3rd. ed.: 188; Mouat, M.M. (1962), Mn Oxides from the Artillery Mts area, AZ, Am.Min.: 47: 744-757.
          • Artillery Peak
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 252, 351.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 252, 351.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of AZ, 3rd.ed.: 351; Mouat, M.M. (1962), Manganese oxides from the Artillery Mountains area, AZ, Am.Min.: 47:744-757.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 351.
      • Pinal Co.
        • Dudleyville
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd. ed.: 351; Thomssen, R.W. (1983), The minerals of Malpais Hill, Pinal Co., AZ, Min.Rec.: 14: 109-113.
        • Mammoth District
          • Tiger
            • St. Anthony deposit
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 351; Bideaux, R.A. (1980), Tiger, AZ, Min.Rec.: 11: 155-181.
      • Yavapai Co.
        • Box Canyon District
          • Sam Powell Peak
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 342-343, 351; Wilkinson, W.H., Jr., et al (1983), Ramsdellite from the Mistake Mine, Min.Rec.: 14: 333-335.
        • Weaver Mts
          • Weaver District (Virginia District; Mocking Bird District)
            • Octave
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 351.
    • Colorado
      • Saguache Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals (July-August, 2002)
    • Montana
      • Granite Co.
        • Philipsburg District (Flint Creek District)
    		Geology and Ore Deposits of the Philipsburg District, Granite Co., Montana; William C. Prinz, 1967
      • Silver Bow Co.
        • Butte District
    		The mineralogy of the butte district, Montana By John M. Guilbert and Lester G. Zeihen
    • New Mexico
      • Sierra Co.
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
        • Iron Mountain No. 2 District
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
      • Socorro Co.
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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