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Rhönite

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Nickenicher Sattel (Eicher Sattel), Eich, Andernach, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Saul Krotki 2003

Show Rhönite Photos (9)
Formula:
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
6
O
 
18
]
System:TriclinicColour:Brown-red, black to ...
Hardness:5 - 6
Name:Named for the type locality in the Rhön Mountains, near Fulda, Hesse, Germany.


Aenigmatite Group.

Classification of Rhönite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Explanation of status:Originally believed to be a variety of aenigmatite, but a composition gap was established in 1970
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.14-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DH.40

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12
Dana 8th edition ID:69.2.1a.5

69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.14.3

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
14 : Aluminosilicates of Ti, Zr, Sn and Pb
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Type Occurrence of Rhönite

Type Locality:Rhön Mts, Fulda, Hesse, Germany
Year of Discovery:1907
Geological Setting of type material:nepheline basanite

Occurrences of Rhönite

Geological Setting:Silica undersaturated, alkalic, mafic to intermediate igneous rocks.

Physical Properties of Rhönite

Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Brown-red, black to reddish black
Streak:reddish brown
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Density (measured):3.4 - 3.76 g/cm3

Crystallography of Rhönite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1

Optical Data of Rhönite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.795 - 1.810 nβ = 1.806 - 1.825 nγ = 1.830 - 1.845
2V:Measured: 50° to 90°, Calculated: 70° to 84°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.035

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r > v extreme

Chemical Properties of Rhönite

Formula:
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
6
O
 
18
]
Essential elements:Ca, Fe, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, O, Si, Ti

Relationship of Rhönite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DH.05Leucophanite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(F,OH)]
9.DH.10Ohmilite
Sr
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)[(O,OH)|(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
] · 2-3H
 
2
O
9.DH.15Haradaite
SrVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.15Suzukiite
BaVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.20Batisite
Na
 
2
BaTi
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.20Shcherbakovite
Na(K,Ba)
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.25Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.30Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·3H
 
2
O
9.DH.35Balangeroite
(Mg,Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
42
Si
 
16
O
 
54
(OH)
 
40
9.DH.35Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
9.DH.40Aenigmatite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
5
TiO
 
2
]Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Dorrite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
[O
 
2
|Al
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Høgtuvaite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|Be(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Krinovite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
4
Cr
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Makarochkinite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
 
Ti[O
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
4
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Welshite
Ca
 
4
Mg
 
9
Sb
 
3
O
 
4
[Si
 
6
Be
 
3
AlFe
 
2
O
 
36
]
9.DH.40Wilkinsonite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.45Sapphirine
(Mg,Fe)
 
4-x
Al
 
4+x
[Al
 
4+x
Si
 
2-x
O
 
18
]O
 
2
9.DH.50Khmaralite
(Mg,Al,Fe)
 
16
[(Al,Si,Be)
 
12
O
 
36
]O
 
4
9.DH.55Surinamite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
Al
 
4
BeSi
 
3
O
 
16
9.DH.60Deerite
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Fe,Al)
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
20
(OH)
 
5
9.DH.65Howieite
Na(Fe,Mn)
 
10
(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
31
(OH)
 
13
9.DH.65Taneyamalite
(Na,Ca)(Mn,Mg,Fe)
 
12
Si
 
12
(O,OH)
 
44
9.DH.70Johninnesite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
5
Mn
 
12
As
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
43
(OH)
 
6
9.DH.75Agrellite
NaCa
 
2
[F|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.14.1Zorite
Na
 
2
Ti(Si,Al)
 
3
O
 
9
·nH
 
2
O
16.14.2Vinogradovite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
4
Ti
 
4
AlSi
 
6
O
 
23
(OH)·2H
 
2
O
16.14.4Kaersutite
[Na][Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
4
Ti][O|OH|Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
]
16.14.5Ferrokaersutite
[Na][Ca
 
2
][Fe
2+
4
Ti][O|OH|Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
]
16.14.6Jonesite
Ba
 
4
(K,Na)
 
2
Ti
 
4
Al
 
2
[O|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
|Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
16.14.7Lourenswalsite
(K,Ba)
 
2
(Ti,Mg,Ca,Fe)
 
4
(Si,Al,Fe)
 
6
O
 
14
(OH)
 
12
16.14.8Labuntsovite-Mn
Na
 
4
K
 
4
(Ba,K)
 
2
Mn
2+
 
(Ti,Nb)
 
8
[(O,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
4
 · 10-12H
 
2
O
16.14.9Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
[(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
16.14.10Ellenbergerite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
6
Ti[(OH)
 
6
|(HSiO
 
4
)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
16.14.11Carlosturanite
(Mg,Fe,Ti)
 
21
(Si,Al)
 
12
O
 
28
(OH)
 
34
16.14.12Eakerite
Ca
 
2
SnAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
16.14.13Plumalsite
Pb
 
4
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
3
)
 
7
16.14.14Wickenburgite
CaPb
 
3
Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
16.14.15Maricopaite
Pb
 
7
Ca
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
48
O
 
100
·32H
 
2
O
16.14.16Epidote-(Pb)
{CaPb}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.14.17Burckhardtite
Pb
 
2
(Fe,Mn)AlTeO
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
16.14.18Mathewrogersite
Pb
 
7
(Fe
2+
 
,Cu)Al
 
3
Ge[(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
6
|(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
4
]

Other Names for Rhönite

Synonyms:
Rhoenite
German names:
RhoenitRhönit
Russian names:
Ронит
Spanish names:
RhoenitaRhönita

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 Rhönite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1970): 55: 864-874.

European Journal of Mineralogy: 2: 203-218.

Canadian Mineralogist (1994): 32: 439.

Soellner, J. (1907): Über Rhönit, ein neues aenigmatitähnliches Mineral und über das Vorkommen desselben in basaltischen Gesteinen, Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie und Geologie, Beilage, 24, 1-57.

Internet Links for Rhönite

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

    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.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Victoria Land
        • Ross Island
    		Am Min 60:722-725
    • Western Antarctica
      • Marie Byrd Land
        • Executive Committee Range
    		R.H. Grapes et al. , Min. Mag. , August 2003, Vol. 67, N°4, pp. 639-651.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Scottsdale District
    		http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf
    Austria
     
    • Burgenland
      • Oberpullendorf
        • Kobersdorf
          • Pauliberg Mt.
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Puy-de-Dôme
        • Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise
          • Murol
    		Queneau Patrice collection
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Ardèche
        • Plateau des Coirons
          • Alissas
    		Bull. Soc. Franç. Minéralo. Cristallo. , 1974, 97, pp. 450-464.
          • Road from Taverne to Freyssenet
    		Bull. Soc. Franç. Minéralo. Cristallo. , 1974, 97, pp. 450-464.
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • Fulda
      • Vogelsberg
        • Schotten
          • Gonterskirchen
    		S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Andernach
          • Eich
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der basaltischen Gesteine im Laacher Vulkangebiet, Der Aufschluß, Heft 2, 1975
          • Kruft
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der basaltischen Gesteine im Laacher Vulkangebiet, Der Aufschluß, Heft 2, 1975
          • Nickenich
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1983
        • Daun
          • Neroth
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1983
          • Üdersdorf
    		Schüller, W., Betz, V., Die Mineralien vom Emmelberg, Lapis 12/1986
        • Kelberg
          • Drees
    		Schüller, W., Die Mineralien des Niveligsberges bei Drees in der Eifel, Der Aufschluß SB 33, 1990
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
    		[Hentschel, G., Seltene Minerale in Calcium-reichen Auswürflingen vom Bellerberg bei Mayen/Eifel, Aufschluß 29, 77-83, 1978] [Lapis, 15 (5), 9-36]
        • Niederzissen
          • Wassenach
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der basaltischen Gesteine im Laacher Vulkangebiet, Der Aufschluß, Heft 2, 1975
    Soellner, J. (1907): Über Rhönit, ein neues aenigmatitähnliches Mineral und über das Vorkommen desselben in basaltischen Gesteinen, Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie und Geologie, Beilage, Vol. 24, 1-57
        • Polch
          • Ochtendung
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    Lapis 1988(7+8), 70-72
    Greenland
     
    • Tunu (East Greenland) Province
    		http://www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/green.htm
    Hungary
     
    • Nógrád Co.
      • Karancs-Medves Mts.
        • Bárna
    		Mineral Species of Hungary, 2005
        • Salgótarján
    		EGU / EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly, Abstracts from the meeting held in Nice, France, 6 - 11 April 2003, abstract #748 "Silicate melt inclusions in olivine phenocrysts from Hegyestu (Bakony-Balaton Highland) and Pecsko alkaline basalts (Nograd-Gomor), Hungary"
    • Veszprém Co.
      • Balaton Uplands
        • Zánka
    		XVI ECROFI European Current Research On Fluid Inclusions, Porto 2001, Abstracts (Eds F. Noronha, A. Dória and A. Guedes), Faculdade de Ciências do Porto, Departamento de Geologia, Memória nº 7, pp. 237-240. Porto, 2001
    Italy
     
    • Sicily
      • Catania Province
        • Etna Volcanic Complex
    		 http://perso.club-internet.fr/rivierec/decembre_-_novembre_2001.htm.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chugoku region
        • Shimane Prefecture
    		Monkawa et al. (2002) Abstract of the Meeting of the Mineralogical Society of Japan, 65.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Pavlodar Oblysy (Pavlodar [Pavlodarskaya] Oblast')
    		Lunar and Planetary Science XXXI
    Mexico
     
    • Chihuahua
      • Pueblito de Allende
    		AmMin 56:2053
    New Zealand
     
    • South Island
      • Otago
        • Dunedin District
    		Am Min 60:722-725
    Slovakia
     
    • Banská Bystrica Region
      • Cérová Mts
    		Koděra et all.,1990: Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, I-III, 1590p
    Koděra et all.,1990: Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, I-III, 1590p
    Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
    USA
     
    • Hawaii
      • Kauai Co.
    		AmMin 69:57
    • Texas
      • Brewster Co.
        • Big Bend National Park
    		Am Min 55:5-6 pp 864-874
    Mineral and/or Locality
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