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Ringwoodite

Formula:
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
System:IsometricColour:Bluish- to smoke- gray, ...
Name:Named after Alfred Edward Ringwood (1930-1993), noted geochemist and Professor of Geology, Australian National University, Canberra.
Polymorph of:Forsterite, Wadsleyite


Olivine Group.

The isometric polymorph of Wadsleyite and Forsterite.

Classification of Ringwoodite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.06-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AC.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
C : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.3.3.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.21.2

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
21 : Silicates of Fe and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Ringwoodite

Type Locality:Tenham meteorite, Tenham Station, South Gregory, Queensland, Australia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1935,792.
Year of Discovery:1969
Geological Setting of type material:Tenham meteorite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Majorite

Occurrences of Ringwoodite

Geological Setting:Meteorites

Physical Properties of Ringwoodite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Bluish- to smoke- gray, purple, colourless
Density (calculated):3.9 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ringwoodite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Ia3d (I41/a 3 2/d)
Cell Parameters:a = 8.113Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 534.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Rounded grains, to 100 μm, or massive
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.447 (100)
1.434 (60)
2.028 (40)
2.872 (20)
1.560 (20)
1.0559 (10)

Optical Data of Ringwoodite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 1.768
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:High

Chemical Properties of Ringwoodite

Formula:
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Fe, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Mn,Ca

Relationship of Ringwoodite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.AC.05Fayalite
Fe
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Forsterite
Mg
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Glaucochroite
CaMn
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Kirschsteinite
CaFe
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Laihunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AC.05Liebenbergite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.05Tephroite
Mn
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.10Monticellite
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
9.AC.20Chesnokovite
Na
 
2
[SiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.21.1Olivine
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.21.3Wadsleyite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.21.4Clinoferrosilite
Fe
2+
 
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.21.5Anthophyllite
☐[Mg
 
2
][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.21.6Cummingtonite
[ ][Mg
 
2
][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.21.7 Magnesiocummingtonite
14.21.8Grunerite
[ ][Fe
2+
2
][Fe
2+
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.21.9Minnesotaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
14.21.10Chesterite
(Mg,Fe)
 
17
Si
 
20
O
 
54
(OH)
 
6
14.21.11Jimthompsonite
(Mg,Fe)
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
14.21.12Clinojimthompsonite
(Mg,Fe)
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
14.21.13Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
14.21.14Balangeroite
(Mg,Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
42
Si
 
16
O
 
54
(OH)
 
40

Other Names for Ringwoodite

Synonyms:
IMA1968-036
German names:
Ringwoodit
Russian names:
Рингвудит
Spanish names:
Ringwoodita

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.
Industrial Uses:None.

References for Ringwoodite

Reference List:Binns, R.A., Davis, R.J., and Reed, S.J.B. (1969) Ringwoodite, natural (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 spinel in the Tenham meteorite. Nature: 221: 943-944.

American Mineralogist (1969): 54: 1219.

Coleman, L.C. (1977) Ringwoodite and majorite in the Catherwood meteorite. Canadian Mineralogist: 15: 97-101.

Boctor, N.Z., Bell, P.M., and Mao, H.K. (1982) Petrology and shock metamorphism of Pampa del Infierno chondrite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 46: 1903-1911.

Sinogeikin, S.V., Katsura, T., and Bass, J.D. (1998) Sound velocities and elastic properties of Fe-bearing wadsleyite and ringwoodite. Journal of Geophysical Research: 103: 20819-20825.

Internet Links for Ringwoodite

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

    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.
    Argentina
     
    • Chaco
      • Pampa del Infierno
    		Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 46: 1903-1911.
    Australia
     
    • Queensland
      • South Gregory
        • Tenham Station
    		CM 15 (1977), 97; HB2/2 (1995); Nature 1969, 943-4
    • Western Australia
      • Eucla
    		www.britannica.com
    Canada
     
    • Saskatchewan
      • Catherwood
    		Canadian Mineralogist (1977): 15: 97-101.
    China
     
    • Hubei Province
      • Suizhou Prefecture
        • Zengdu District
          • Dayanpo
    		American Mineralogist (2000): 85: 1564.
    • Jiangsu Province
      • Taizhou Prefecture
        • Taizhou City
          • Sixiangkou
    		Zhang, A., et al (2006): Lunar and Planetary Science, 37, 1069; Miyajima, N., El Goresy, A., Dupas-Bruzek, C., Seifert, F., Rubie, D.C., Chen, M., Xie, X. (2007): Ferric iron in Al-bearing akimotoite coexisting with iron-nickel metal in a shock-melt vein in an L-6 chondrite. American Mineralogist, 92, 1545-1549.
    Libya
     
    • Jabal Al Gharb
    Oman
     
    • Dhofar (Al Janubiyah) Province
    		D.D. Badjukov et al. , Lunar and Planetary Science, XXXVI (2005), 1684.pdf
    USA
     
    • New Mexico
      • De Baca Co.
      • Harding Co.
    		Zhidong Xie et al. , Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI (2005), 1216.pdf
      • Roosevelt Co.
        • Rogers
    • Oregon
      • Josephine Co.
        • Josephine Creek District
    		www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/faculty/Bird.html
    • Texas
      • Randall Co.
    		Zhidong Xie et al. , Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI (2005), 1216.pdf
    Mineral and/or Locality
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