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Saponite

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Calumet, Calumet Township, Houghton Co., Michigan, USA
© T.Kennedy 2002

Show Saponite Photos (41)



Formula:
Ca
 
0.25
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White, gray-green, ...
Hardness:1½ - 2
Member of:Smectite Group
Name:From Latin, sap, soap, alluding to its greasy or soapy feel and appearance.


Smectite Group.
Beidellite-Saponite Series.
See also the Fe-dominant end-member ferrosaponite.

Classification of Saponite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.20-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EC.45

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.3.1b.2

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
3 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 2:1 clays
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.7.7

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
7 : Aluminosilicates of Mg
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3528.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Saponite

Type Locality:Lizard Point, Landewednack, Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, England, UK
Year of Discovery:1840

Physical Properties of Saponite

Lustre:Greasy, Dull
Colour:White, gray-green, bluish, yellow
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2

Crystallography of Saponite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.3Å, b = 9.14Å, c = 16.9Å
β = 97°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.58 : 1 : 1.849
Unit Cell Volume:V 812.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Saponite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.479 - 1.490 nβ = 1.510 - 1.525 nγ = 1.511 - 1.527
2V:Calculated: 20° to 26°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.032 - 0.037

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Saponite

Formula:
Ca
 
0.25
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, Fe, H, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Mn,Ni,K,P

Relationship of Saponite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Beidellite (see here)
Member of:Smectite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
Beidellite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
0.3
Al
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
Ferrosaponite
Ca
 
0.3
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Hectorite
Na
 
0.3
(Mg,Li)
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
Nontronite
Na
 
0.3
Fe
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
Pimelite
Ni
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
Saliotite
(Li,Na)Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
5
Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Stevensite
(Ca,Na)
 
x
Mg
 
3-x
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
Swinefordite
Li(Al,Li,Mg)
 
4
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
Volkonskoite
Ca
 
0.3
(Cr,Mg,Fe)
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Yakhontovite
(Ca,Na)
 
0.5
(Cu,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EC.05Minnesotaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Talc
Mg
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Willemseite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.10Ferripyrophyllite
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.10Pyrophyllite
Al
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Celadonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Chernykhite
(Ba,Na)(V
3+
 
,Al,Mg)
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Montdorite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
4
9.EC.15Muscovite
KAl
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Nanpingite
CsAl
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,F)
 
2
9.EC.15Paragonite
NaAl
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Roscoelite
K(V
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Tobelite
(NH
 
4
,K)Al
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Aluminoceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Chromphyllite
K(Cr,Al)
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,F)
 
2
9.EC.15Ferro-aluminoceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Ferroceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Chromceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Cr,Al)(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Tainiolite
KLiMg
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)F
 
2
9.EC.15Ganterite
(Ba,Na,K)(Al,Mg)
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Annite
KFe
2+
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Ephesite
LiNaAl
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Hendricksite
K(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Masutomilite
(K,Rb)(Li,Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Norrishite
KLiMn
3+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)O
 
2
9.EC.20Phlogopite
KMg
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,F)
 
2
9.EC.20Polylithionite
KLi
 
2
Al(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Preiswerkite
NaMg
 
2
Al(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Siderophyllite
KFe
2+
2
Al(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Tetraferriphlogopite
KMg
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
Si
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,F)
 
2
9.EC.20Fluorotetraferriphlogopite
KMg
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
Si
 
3
O
 
10
)F
 
2
9.EC.20Wonesite
(Na,K)(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
6
((Al,Si)
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
4
9.EC.20Eastonite
KMg
 
2
Al(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Tetraferriannite
KFe
2+
3
((Fe
3+
 
,Al)Si
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Trilithionite
K(Li,Al)
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Fluorannite
KFe
2+
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Shirokshinite
KNaMg
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)F
 
2
9.EC.20Shirozulite
K(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Sokolovaite
CsLi
 
2
Al(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)F
 
2
9.EC.20Aspidolite
NaMg
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Fluorophlogopite
KMg
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20UM2004-49-SiO:AlCsFHKLi
(Cs,K)(Al,Li)
 
2.6
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Suhailite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
2+
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Yangzhumingite
KMg
 
2.5
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)F
 
2
9.EC.20IMA2009-006
KLi
 
2
Ti(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)OF
9.EC.20Oxyphlogopite
K(Mg,Ti,Fe)
 
3
[(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
](O,F)
 
2
9.EC.25Brammallite
(Na,H
 
3
O)(Al,Mg,Fe)
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.30Margarite
CaAl
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.35Anandite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
((Si,Al,Fe)
 
4
O
 
10
)(S,OH)
 
2
9.EC.35Bityite
LiCaAl
 
2
(AlBeSi
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.35Clintonite
Ca(Mg,Al)
 
3
(Al
 
3
SiO
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.35Kinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Al)
 
3
(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.35Ferrokinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH,F)
 
2
9.EC.35Oxykinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
9.EC.35Fluorokinoshitalite
BaMg
 
3
(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)F
 
2
9.EC.40Beidellite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
0.3
Al
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Kurumsakite
(Zn,Ni,Cu)
 
8
Al
 
8
V
5+
2
Si
 
5
O
 
35
 · 27H
 
2
O (?)
9.EC.40Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Nontronite
Na
 
0.3
Fe
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Volkonskoite
Ca
 
0.3
(Cr,Mg,Fe)
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EC.40Yakhontovite
(Ca,Na)
 
0.5
(Cu,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Hectorite
Na
 
0.3
(Mg,Li)
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Spadaite
MgSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O (?)
9.EC.45Stevensite
(Ca,Na)
 
x
Mg
 
3-x
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Swinefordite
Li(Al,Li,Mg)
 
4
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.45Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Ferrosaponite
Ca
 
0.3
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EC.50Vermiculite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
3
((Al,Si)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EC.55Baileychlore
(Zn,Fe,Al,Mg)
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Chamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
Al(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Clinochlore
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Al(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Cookeite
LiAl
 
4
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
 
Mn
2+
3
Mn
3+
 
(Zn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Gonyerite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
Fe
3+
 
(Fe
3+
 
Si
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Nimite
(Ni,Mg,Al)
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Orthochamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
5
Al(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,O)
 
8
9.EC.55Pennantite
Mn
2+
5
Al(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Sudoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Donbassite
Al
 
4.33
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Glagolevite
Na(Mg,Al)
 
6
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,O)
 
8
9.EC.55Borocookeite
Li
 
1+3x
Al
 
4-x
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8
9.EC.60Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Corrensite
(Mg,Fe)
 
9
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
10
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.60Dozyite
Mg
 
7
Al
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
12
9.EC.60Hydrobiotite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
4
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.60Karpinskite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
 (?)
9.EC.60Kulkeite
Mg
 
8
Al(AlSi
 
7
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
10
9.EC.60Lunijianlaite
Li
 
0.7
Al
 
6.2
(AlSi
 
7
lO
 
20
)(OH,O)
 
10
9.EC.60Rectorite
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Saliotite
(Li,Na)Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
5
9.EC.60Tosudite
Na
 
0.5
(Al,Mg)
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
18
)(OH)
 
12
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Brinrobertsite
Na
 
0.3
Al
 
4
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 3.5 H
 
2
O
9.EC.65Macaulayite
(Fe,Al)
 
24
Si
 
4
O
 
43
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.70Burckhardtite
Pb
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)Te
4+
 
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)O
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.EC.75Ferrisurite
(Pb,Ca)
 
2.4
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(CO
 
3
)
 
1.7
(OH)
 
3
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.75Surite
(Pb,Ca)
 
3
(Al,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.75Niksergievite
(Ba,Ca)
 
2
Al
 
3
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
 · nH
 
2
O
9.EC.80Kegelite
Pb
 
8
Al
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.7.1Pyrope
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
16.7.2Sapphirine
(Mg,Fe)
 
4-x
Al
 
4+x
[Al
 
4+x
Si
 
2-x
O
 
18
]O
 
2
16.7.3Sapphirine-1A
(Mg,Al,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
[(Al,Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
O
 
18
]O
 
2
16.7.4Magnesiochloritoid
MgAl
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)O(OH)
 
2
16.7.5Kulkeite
Mg
 
8
Al(AlSi
 
7
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
10
16.7.6Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
16.7.8Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
((Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
16.7.9Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
16.7.10Baumite
(Mg,Al,Mn,Zn,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Saponite

Synonyms:
AuxiteCathkiniteLaponiteLicianiteLucianite
MauritzitePiotine
Other Languages:
German:Afrodit
Auxit
Cathkinit
Licianit
Lucianit
Saponit
Simplified Chinese:皂石
Spanish:Auxita
Cathkinita
Licianita
Lucianita
Saponita
Varieties:
Aluminium-saponiteBowlingiteCuprian SaponiteFerroan SaponiteLithian Saponite
Sobotkite

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 Saponite

Reference List:

- +
Journal of the Mineral Society of Japan (1971): 6: 299-312.

Internet Links for Saponite

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  • Look for Saponite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Saponite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Find Saponite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
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    • Localities for Saponite

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    Locality Updated: Trübenbach, Gaming, Mostviertel, Lower Austria, AustriaFrom Harald Schillhammer, 23rd May 2013 08:47:24