Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (6 online) Mindat Auctions

Armenite

Big Photo

Isenwegg, Wasen Alp, Ganter valley, Simplon pass area, Brig, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Armenite Photos (8)
Formula:
BaCa
 
2
Al
 
6
Si
 
9
O
 
30
·2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless
Hardness:7½
This page provides mineralogical data about Armenite.

Classification of Armenite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.22-150
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CM.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
M : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered double rings (sechser-Doppelringe)
Dana 8th edition ID:63.2.1b.1

63 : CYCLOSILICATES Condensed Rings
2 : Condensed Rings (Milarite - Osumilite group)
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.12.12

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
12 : Aluminosilicates of Sr, Ba and Zn
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-343.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Armenite

Type Locality:Armen Mine, Overbergets Mine-field, Kongsberg Silver Mines, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway
Year of Discovery:1939

Physical Properties of Armenite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):7½

Crystallography of Armenite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.87Å, b = 18.66Å, c = 10.69Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.743 : 1 : 0.573
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,766.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Armenite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.550 nβ = 1.552 nγ = 1.556
2V:Measured: 59° to 60°, Calculated: 72°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.006

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

Chemical Properties of Armenite

Formula:
BaCa
 
2
Al
 
6
Si
 
9
O
 
30
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ba, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ba, Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Sr,Na,K

Relationship of Armenite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.CM.05Brannockite
(K,Na)Li
 
3
Sn
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Chayesite
K(Mg,Fe)
 
4
FeSi
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Darapiosite
KNa
 
2
Li(Mn,Zn)
 
2
ZrSi
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Eifelite
KNa
 
3
Mg
 
4
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Merrihueite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Fe,Mg)
 
5
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Milarite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Al
 
2
Be
 
4
Si
 
24
O
 
60
·H
 
2
O
9.CM.05Osumilite-(Mg)
(K,Na)(Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Al,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
12
O
 
30
·H
 
2
O
9.CM.05Osumilite
(K,Na)(Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Al,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
12
O
 
30
·H
 
2
O
9.CM.05Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Roedderite
(Na,K)
 
2
(Mg,Fe)
 
5
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Sogdianite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Li,Fe)
 
3
(Zr,Ti,Fe)Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Sugilite
KNa
 
2
(Fe,Mn,Al)
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Yagiite
(Na,K)
 
3
Mg
 
4
(Al,Mg)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
60
9.CM.05Berezanskite
KLi
 
3
Ti
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Dusmatovite
K(K,Na,[ ])(Mn
2+
 
,Y,Zr)
 
2
(Zn,Li)
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Shibkovite
K(Ca,Mn,Na)
 
2
(K
 
2-x
,□
 
x
)
 
2
ZnSi
 
12
O
 
30
9.CM.05Almarudite
(K,Na)(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Be,Al)
 
3
[Si
 
12
O
 
30
]
9.CM.05Trattnerite
([],K)(Mg, Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[Si
 
12
O
 
30
]
9.CM.05Oftedalite
(Sc,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
K[(Be,Al)
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
]
9.CM.10Faizievite
K
 
2
Na(Ca
 
6
Na)Ti
 
4
Li
 
6
[F
 
2
|Si
 
24
O
 
66
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.12.1Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
16.12.2Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.3Brewsterite
16.12.4Celsian
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.5Paracelsian
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.6Cymrite
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
(O,OH)
 
8
·H
 
2
O
16.12.7Edingtonite
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
16.12.8Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
16.12.9Harmotome
(Ba
 
0.5
,Ca
 
0.5
,K,Na)
 
5
[Al
 
5
Si
 
11
O
 
32
] ·12H
 
2
O
16.12.10Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.11Balipholite
BaLiMg
 
2
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
16.12.13Wellsite
(Ba,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·6H
 
2
O
16.12.14Merlinoite
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba)
 
2
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
·23H
 
2
O
16.12.15Anandite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(O,OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al,Fe)
 
4
O
 
10
]
16.12.16Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
]
16.12.17Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
16.12.18Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
16.12.19Hendricksite
K(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.12.20Baileychlore
(Zn,Fe,Al,Mg)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8

Other Names for Armenite

Synonyms:
Calciocelsian
German names:
Armenit
Russian names:
Арменит
Spanish names:
Armenita

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 Armenite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 26: 235.

American Mineralogist: 77: 422-430, 1119.

Internet Links for Armenite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Armenite on Google
  • Look for Armenite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Armenite on Webmineral
  • Look for Armenite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Armenite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Armenite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Armenite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Armenite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • Find Armenite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Armenite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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.
    		Birch BH Book
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Témiscamingue Co.
    		Canadian Mineralogist 22, 453-464 (1984)
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Carbonia-Iglesias Province
        • Fluminimaggiore
    		• Stara, P. Rizzo, R., Tanca, G., Vinci A. (1994): Su Zurfuru. 1° parte. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/1993, 215-236.
    Norway
     
    • Buskerud
    		Mineralogical Record: 17: 19-35.
        • Kongsberg Silver Mines
          • Overbergets Mine-field
    		Neumann, H.(1941): " Armenite, a water-bearing barium-calcium-alumo-silicate". Norsk Geologisk Tidskrift 21, 19-24
    R. Kristiansen (2005) "Milarittgruppens mineraler i Norge" (The Milaritegroup minerals in Norway), Bergverksmuseets skrifter #30, p. 21.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/lovo.htm
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Tarragona
        • Conca de Barberà
          • Vimbodí
            • Poblet Monastery
    		C.. Canet et al. , The Canadian Mineralogist, 2003, V41, pp. 581-595
    C.. Canet et al. , The Canadian Mineralogist, 2003, V41, pp. 581-595
    C.. Canet et al. , The Canadian Mineralogist, 2003, V41, pp. 581-595
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Brig
        • Simplon pass area
          • Ganter valley
            • Wasen Alp
    		No reference listed
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • Buchan Grampian (Aberdeenshire)
        • Braemar
    		BMS Database
    USA
     
    • Washington
      • King Co.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.