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Aerinite

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Big Photo

Soriana Quarry, Estopiñán del Castillo, Huesca, Aragón, Spain
© David Soler

Show Aerinite Photos (37)



Formula:
(Ca
 
5.1
Na
 
0.5
)(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(Al,Mg)
 
6
[HSi
 
12
O
 
36
(OH)
 
12
][(CO
 
3
)
 
1.2
(H
 
2
O)
 
12
]
System:MonoclinicColour:blue to blue-green
Hardness:3
Name:From the Greek "aerinos," for sky-blue, alluding to its color.


A rare, chemically complex carbonate-bearing silicate.

A closely related, darker blue mineral (intergrown with Fe3+-rich aerinite) is described by Rius et al. (2009).

Classification of Aerinite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.32-20
Strunz 9th edition ID:9.DB.45
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DB.45

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals
Dana 8th edition ID:68.1.3.1

68 : INOSILICATES Structures with Chains of More Than One Width
1 : Structures with Chains of More Than One Width
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.23.7

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
23 : Aluminosilicates of Fe, Ca, and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Aerinite

Type Locality:Caserras del Castillo, Estopiñán del Castillo, Huesca, Aragón, Spain
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland;
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Year of Discovery:1876

Occurrences of Aerinite

Geological Setting:A hydrothermal mineral of the zeolite facies, formed at relatively low temperature, in fractures cutting mafic igneous rocks

Physical Properties of Aerinite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:blue to blue-green
Streak:bluish white
Hardness (Mohs):3

Crystallography of Aerinite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 14.69Å, b = 16.87Å, c = 5.17Å
β = 94.75°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.871 : 1 : 0.306
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,276.83 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:As masses of cryptocrystalline fibers; earthy, compact.

Optical Data of Aerinite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.510 nβ = 1.560 nγ = 1.580
2V:Measured: 63° , Calculated: 62°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.070

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Aerinite

Formula:
(Ca
 
5.1
Na
 
0.5
)(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(Al,Mg)
 
6
[HSi
 
12
O
 
36
(OH)
 
12
][(CO
 
3
)
 
1.2
(H
 
2
O)
 
12
]
Essential elements:Al, C, Ca, Fe, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, C, Ca, Fe, H, Mg, Na, O, Si
Empirical Formula:
(Ca
 
5.1
Na
 
0.5
)(Fe
3+
 
AlFe
2+
1.7
Mg
 
0.3
)(Al
 
5.1
Mg
 
0.7
)[Si
 
12
O
 
36
(OH)
 
12
H][(CO
 
3
)
 
1.2
(H
 
2
O)
 
12
]
Common Impurities:Ti,Mn,Na,K,P

Relationship of Aerinite to other Species

Common Associates:
ScolecitePrehniteMesolite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DB.05Balipholite
BaLiMg
 
2
Al
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.DB.05Carpholite
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
4
9.DB.05Ferrocarpholite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
4
9.DB.05Magnesiocarpholite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
4
9.DB.05Potassiccarpholite
(K,☐)(Li,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Al
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
8
9.DB.05Vanadiocarpholite
Mn
2+
 
V
3+
 
Al(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
4
9.DB.10Lorenzenite
Na
 
2
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)O
 
3
9.DB.15Lintisite
LiNa
 
3
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
O
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.DB.15Punkaruaivite
LiTi
 
2
(HSi
 
4
O
 
12
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.DB.17Eliseevite
LiNa
 
1.5
Ti
 
2
(H
 
1.5
Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.DB.20Kukisvumite
Na
 
6
ZnTi
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
24
)O
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.DB.20Manganokukisvumite
Na
 
6
MnTi
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
24
)O
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.DB.25Vinogradovite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
4
Ti
 
4
AlSi
 
6
O
 
23
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
9.DB.25Paravinogradovite
Na
 
1-2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
9.DB.30Nchwaningite
Mn
2+
2
(SiO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.DB.35Plancheite
Cu
 
8
(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
9.DB.40Shattuckite
Cu
 
5
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
9.DB.40UM2005-31-SiO:CuH
Cu
 
11
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
18
 · 9H
 
2
O ?
9.DB.50Capranicaite
KCaNaAl
 
4
B
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
18
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.23.1Augite
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)[(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.23.2Dorrite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
[O
 
2
|Al
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
18
]
16.23.3Vesuvianite
(Ca,Na,☐)
 
19
(Al,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
13
(☐,B,Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
5
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)
 
10
(OH,F,O)
 
10
16.23.5Ferro-hornblende
☐{Ca
 
2
}{Fe
2+
4
Al}(AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.23.6Magnesio-hornblende
☐{Ca
 
2
}{Mg
 
4
Al}(AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Aerinite

Other Languages:
Dutch:Aeriniet
German:Aerinit
Russian:Эринит
Spanish:Aerinita

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 Aerinite

Reference List:

- +
Neues Jahrb. Min. (1876) 352-358.

American Mineralogist (1988) 73: 1498-1499.

American Mineralogist (1999) 84: 1464-1468.

Rius, Jordi, Erik Elkaim & Xavier Torrelles (2004) Structure determination of the blue mineral pigment aerinite from synchrotron powder diffraction data: The solution of an old riddle: European Journal of Mineralogy: 16(1): 127-134.

Rius, J., Crespi, A., Roig, A., Melgarejo, J.C. (2009) Crystal structure refinement of Fe3+-rich aerinite from synchrotron powder diffraction and Moessbauer data. European Journal of Mineralogy, 21, 233-240.

Internet Links for Aerinite

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

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    France
     
    • Aquitaine
      • Landes
    		[Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index, 3rd Edition"]
    Morocco
     
    • Souss-Massa-Draâ Region
      • Ouarzazate Province
        • Djebel Saghro (Jbel Saghro)
    		Christopher O'Neill specimen
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Cádiz
        • Olvera
    		[MinRec 27:103]
        • Torre Alháquime
    		[MinRec 27:103]
      • Málaga
        • Antequera
    		(alleged by some collectors to be the cause of the color in the famous local blue quartz crystals; but analyses show mainly amphiboles)
    • Aragón
      • Huesca
        • Estopiñán del Castillo
    		[Neues Jahrb.Min.(1876) 352-358; Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index, 3rd Edition"]
    Calvo, M. (2008). Minerales de Aragón. Prames (Zaragoza) 462 pages
    Calvo, M. (2008).Minerales de Aragón. Prames (Zaragoza). 463 pages
    • Catalonia
        • Les Avellanes i Santa Linya
    		Rius, J., Crespi, A., Roig, A., Melgarejo, J.C. (2009): Crystal structure refinement of Fe3+-rich aerinite from synchrotron powder diffraction and Moessbauer data. European Journal of Mineralogy, 21, 233-240.
    • Valencian Community
      • Alicante
    		Casanova Honrubia, Juan Miguel & Canseco Caballé, Manuel, 2002, Minerales de la Comunidad Valenciana : 237 p. Ed. Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo. Alicante
          • Hondón de los Frailes
    		Casanova Honrubia, Juan Miguel & Canseco Caballé, Manuel, 2002, Minerales de la Comunidad Valenciana : 237 p. Ed. Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo. Alicante
        • Orihuela
    		Casanova Honrubia, Juan Miguel & Canseco Caballé, Manuel, 2002, Minerales de la Comunidad Valenciana : 237 p. Ed. Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo. Alicante
      • Castellón
        • Altura
    		Adrian Pesudo collection
        • Torás
          • Mt. La Rocha de Piquer
    		Casanova Honrubia, Juan Miguel & Canseco Caballé, Manuel, 2002, Minerales de la Comunidad Valenciana : 237 p. Ed. Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo. Alicante
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Somerset Co.
        • Bernards Township
    		Maertens, J. (2007) Collecting Minerals at Tilcon's Millington Quarry. The Tilcon Times, Summer:10.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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