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Armstrongite

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Dorozhnyi pegmatite, Khan Bogdo (Khan-Bogdinskii) massif, Gobi Desert, Mongolia
© Pavel M. Kartashov

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Formula:
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Dark to light brown
Hardness:4½
Name:
Named after Neil Armstrong (August 5 1930 Wapakoneta, Ohio - August 25 2012 Cincinnati Ohio), American astronaut, who landed on the moon.
This page provides mineralogical data about Armstrongite.

Classification of Armstrongite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.34-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EA.35

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
A : Single nets of tetrahedra with 4-, 5-, (6-), and 8-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID:72.5.4.1

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.:14.10.22

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
10 : Silicates of Zr or Hf
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Type Occurrence of Armstrongite

Type Locality:Dorozhnyi pegmatite, Khan Bogdo (Khan-Bogdinskii) massif, Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Fersman Museum
Year of Discovery:1973

Occurrences of Armstrongite

Geological Setting:Alkalic granites

Physical Properties of Armstrongite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Dark to light brown
Streak:Brownish white
Hardness (Mohs):4½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=310 - 330
Tenacity:Very brittle
Cleavage:Very Good
Perfect on {001}
Good on {100}
Density (measured):2.562 - 2.593 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.71 g/cm3

Crystallography of Armstrongite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 14.04Å, b = 14.16Å, c = 7.81Å
β = 109.55°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.992 : 1 : 0.552
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,463.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals to 2cm, aggregates
Twinning:Polysynthetic, by rotation on [100]

Optical Data of Armstrongite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.563 nβ = 1.569 nγ = 1.573
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

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

Chemical Properties of Armstrongite

Formula:
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, Si, Zr
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, Si, Zr
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Y,TR,Fe,Mg,Na,K

Relationship of Armstrongite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EA.05Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Effenbergerite
BaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Wesselsite
SrCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.10Ekanite
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KF)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(F,OH) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH,F) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)F · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.20Magadiite
NaSi
 
7
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.25Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.25Davanite
K
 
2
TiSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ce[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(La)
Na
 
3
La[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.40Okenite
CaSi
 
2
O
 
5
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.45Nekoite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·7H
 
2
O
9.EA.50Cavansite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.55Pentagonite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Penkvilksite
Na
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Tumchaite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
4
O
 
11
) · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.65Nabesite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.70Ajoite
(K,Na)Cu
 
7
AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Na
 
2
Cs
 
4
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
]*2H
 
2
O
9.EA.80Bussyite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
3
(Na,H
 
2
O)
 
6
MnSi
 
9
Be
 
5
(O,OH)
 
30
F
 
4
9.EA.85Plumbophyllite
Pb
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
 · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.10.1Zircon
ZrSiO
 
4
14.10.2Hafnon
HfSiO
 
4
14.10.3Zektzerite
LiNa(Zr,Ti,Hf)Si
 
6
O
 
15
14.10.4Parakeldyshite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.5Vlasovite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
4
O
 
11
14.10.6Keldyshite
(Na,H)
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.7Gaidonnayite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
) · 2H
 
2
O
14.10.8Terskite
Na
 
4
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
16
 · 2H
 
2
O
14.10.9Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
 · 3H
 
2
O
14.10.10Hilairite
Na
 
2
Zr[SiO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
14.10.11Petarasite
Na
 
5
Zr
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(Cl,OH) · 2H
 
2
O
14.10.12Khibinskite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.13Wadeite
K
 
2
Zr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
14.10.14Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
14.10.15Kostylevite
K
 
2
Zr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
) · H
 
2
O
14.10.16Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
 · H
 
2
O
14.10.17Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
14.10.18Georgechaoite
NaKZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
] · 2H
 
2
O
14.10.19Gittinsite
CaZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.20Calciocatapleiite
CaZr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
) · 2H
 
2
O
14.10.21Calciohilairite
CaZr[SiO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
14.10.23Lemoynite
(Na,K)
 
2
CaZr
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
26
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.10.24Catapleiite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
) · 2H
 
2
O
14.10.25Baghdadite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
14.10.26Lovozerite
Na
 
2
CaZr(H
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
18
) · H
 
2
O
14.10.27Låvenite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
14.10.28Penkvilksite
Na
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
 · 4H
 
2
O
14.10.29Darapiosite
KNa
 
2
(Zn,Li)
 
3
(Mn,Zr)
 
2
[Si
 
12
O
 
30
]
14.10.30Bazirite
BaZr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
14.10.31Komkovite
BaZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
] · 3H
 
2
O
14.10.32Zirsinalite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Zr(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
14.10.33Tranquillityite
(Fe
2+
 
,Ca)
 
8
(Zr,Y)
 
2
Ti
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
O
 
4

Other Names for Armstrongite

Synonyms:
IMA1972-018
Other Languages:
German:Armstrongit
Russian:Армстронгит
Spanish:Armstrongita

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 Armstrongite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 59: 208.

Soviet Physics – Crystallography: 23: 593.

Internet Links for Armstrongite

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

    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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Lincoln Co.
        • Dubbo
    		http://www.alkane.com.au/projects/nsw/dubbo/DZP%20Summary%20Jan08.pdf
    Canada
     
    • Québec & Newfoundland and Labrador
    		Powder Diffraction Jour. v.2 no.1, March1987; Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 34, pp.349-371 (1996); A. Kerr and H. Rafuse (2012) Rare-earth element (REE) geochemistry of the Strange Lake deposits: Implications for resource estimation and metallogenic models. Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources Current Research 2012 pp39-60
    Mongolia
     
    • Gobi Desert
    		Kynicky, J., Chakhmouradian, A.R., Xu, C., Krmicek & Galilova, M. (2011): Distribution aand evolution of zirconium mineralization in peralkaline granites and associated pegmatites of the Khan Bogd Complex, southern Mongolia. Canadian Mineralogist. 49, 947-965.; J Kynický, C Xu, J Mašek, O Jaroš, H Káňová (2009) Arfvedsonite pegmatites of Khan Bogd massif, Mongolia: Zr mineralization. pp222-224 in Czech
    Vladykin N.V., Kovalenko V.I., Dorfman M.D. (1981) Mineralogical and geochemical pecularities of Khan Bogdo massif of an alkaline granites (MPR), - Moscow, Nauka, p. 136 (in Rus.).
    • Hovd Aimag (Khovd Aimag)
      • Altai Mts
        • Khaldzan Buragtag massif
    		U. Kempe, J. Götze, S. Dandar and D. Habermann (1999) Magmatic and Metasomatic Processes During Formation of the Nb-Zr-REE Deposits Khaldzan Buregte and Tsakhir (Mongolian Altai): Indications from a Combined CL-SEM Study. Mineralogical Magazine 63:165-177.
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