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Rhodesite

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Big Photo

Caspar quarry, Bellerberg volcano, Ettringen, Mayen, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© DV Minerals

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Formula:
KHCa
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
19
 · 5H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:White
Hardness:3 - 4
Name:
Named after Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902), British colonial statesman and financier and the Rhodes University, South Africa. Do not confuse with Rhodizite.


Related to fivegite.

Classification of Rhodesite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.38-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
B : Double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID:72.5.1.1

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
5 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with corrugated and complex layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.6.7

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
6 : Silicates of Ca with alkali or Mg or both
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Type Occurrence of Rhodesite

Type Locality:Bultfontein, Free State Province, South Africa
Year of Discovery:1957

Occurrences of Rhodesite

Geological Setting:Kimberlite, altered silicic lavas

Physical Properties of Rhodesite

Lustre:Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:White
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {100}
Density (measured):2.27 - 2.36 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.26 g/cm3

Crystallography of Rhodesite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 23.42Å, b = 6.55Å, c = 7.01Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 3.576 : 1 : 1.07
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,075.34 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Matted silky fibers, flattened rosettes, irregular segregations, crusts.

Optical Data of Rhodesite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.501 - 1.504 nβ = 1.506 - 1.508 nγ = 1.513 - 1.518
2V:Calculated: 68.1°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012 - 0.014

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

Chemical Properties of Rhodesite

Formula:
KHCa
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
19
 · 5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, K, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, K, O, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mg,Na

Relationship of Rhodesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EB.05Macdonaldite
BaCa
 
4
Si
 
16
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.EB.10Delhayelite
(Na,K)
 
10
Ca
 
5
Al
 
6
Si
 
32
O
 
80
(Cl
 
2
,F
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 18H
 
2
O
9.EB.10Hydrodelhayelite
KCa
 
2
AlSi
 
7
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EB.15Monteregianite-(Y)
(Na,K)
 
6
(Y,Ca)
 
2
Si
 
16
O
 
38
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.EB.20Carletonite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
18
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH,F) · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.6.1Combeite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
 
0.5
14.6.2Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
14.6.3Pectolite-M2abc
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.4Denisovite
Ca
 
2
(K,Na)Si
 
3
O
 
8
(F,OH)
 
2
14.6.5Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
14.6.6Mountainite
KNa
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
(OH)] · 6H
 
2
O
14.6.8Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
14.6.9Åkermanite
Ca
 
2
Mg(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.6.10Monticellite
CaMgSiO
 
4
14.6.11Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
14.6.12Diopside
CaMgSi
 
2
O
 
6
14.6.13Tremolite
☐{Ca
 
2
}{Mg
 
5
}(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Rhodesite

Other Languages:
German:Rhodesit
Russian:Родзит
Spanish:Rhodesita

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 Rhodesite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1958): 43: 624.

American Mineralogist (1992): 77: 1308.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1992): 199: 25-48.

Internet Links for Rhodesite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Rhodesite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Rhodesite

    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.
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Bad Gleichenberg
        • Wilhelmsdorf
    		Postl, W. (1997); R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
      • Bad Radkersburg
        • Klöch
    		Taucher, J. et al. (1989)
      • Feldbach
        • Mühldorf
    		Postl, W. (1987); Exel, R. (1993)
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Maroldsweisach
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Hesse
      • Vogelsberg
        • Ortenberg
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
            • Bellerberg volcano
    		[Blass, G., Graf, H.W., Neue Mineralfunde - mineralogische Raritäten - aus der Vulkaneifel, Mineralien-Welt 7/5, 28, 1996] [A. Wittern: Mineralfundorte in Deutschland, Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001]
    Italy
     
    • Umbria
      • Terni Province
        • Marsciano
          • San Venanzo
    		Stoppa, F., Sharygin, V.V., and Cundari, A. (1997): Mineralogy and Petrology 61, 27-45.
    South Africa
     
    • Free State Province
    		Min.Soc. Notice no.95 (1956), and Min.Mag.(1957) 31, 607-610
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kimberley
    		Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • California
      • Trinity Co.
        • Trinity Center
    		Sheppard, R.A. and Gude, A.J. (1969a) Rhodesite from Trinity County, California. American Mineralogist: 54: 251-255; Barnes, I., J.B. Rapp & J.R. O’Neil (1972), Metamorphic assemblages and the direction of flow of metamorphic fluids in four instances of serpentinization: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 35: 264; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 441, 442; www.mineralsocal.org.
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. 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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