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Seamanite

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Chicagon mine, Menominee iron range, Iron Co., Michigan, USA
© J.A. Jaszczak

Show Seamanite Photos (7)
Formula:
Mn
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
|B(OH)
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Yellow, pink, ...
Hardness:4
Name:Named after Arthur Edmund Seaman (1858-1937) Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, Michigan College of Mining and Technology, who first drew attention to the mineral.


Moydite-Cahnite Group

Classification of Seamanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/G.11-20
Strunz 9th edition ID:6.AC.25
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.AC.65

6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
Dana 8th edition ID:43.4.5.1

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
4 : Anhydrous Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:10.2.4

10 : Borates with other anions
2 : Borates with phosphate or arsenate
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Type Occurrence of Seamanite

Type Locality:Chicagon mine, Menominee iron range, Iron Co., Michigan, USA
Year of Discovery:1930
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SussexiteCalcite

Physical Properties of Seamanite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Yellow, pink, yellow-brown; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):4
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {001}.
Density (measured):3.08 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.09 g/cm3

Crystallography of Seamanite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.81Å, b = 15.11Å, c = 6.69Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.517 : 1 : 0.443
Unit Cell Volume:V 789.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals acicular [001].

Optical Data of Seamanite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.640 nβ = 1.663 nγ = 1.665
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.025

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

Chemical Properties of Seamanite

Formula:
Mn
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
|B(OH)
 
4
]
Essential elements:B, H, Mn, O, P
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Mn, O, P

Relationship of Seamanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.AC.05Sinhalite
MgAl[O|BO
 
3
]
6.AC.10Pseudosinhalite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
3
[O
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
2
]
6.AC.15Behierite
(Ta
5+
 
,Nb
5+
 
)[O|BO
 
3
]
6.AC.15Schiavinatoite
(Nb,Ta)BO
 
4
6.AC.20Frolovite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
6.AC.25Hexahydroborite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
6.AC.30Henmilite
Ca
 
2
Cu[(OH)
 
2
|B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
6.AC.35Bandylite
Cu[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
]
6.AC.40Teepleite
Na
 
2
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
]
6.AC.45Moydite-(Y)
Y[CO
 
3
|B(OH)
 
4
]
6.AC.50Carboborite
Ca
 
2
Mg[CO
 
3
|B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
6.AC.55Sulfoborite
Mg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|{B(OH)
 
4
}
 
2
]
6.AC.60Lüneburgite
Mg
 
3
B
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
6.AC.70Cahnite
Ca
 
2
[AsO
 
4
|B(OH)
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
10.2.1Lüneburgite
Mg
 
3
B
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
10.2.2Cahnite
Ca
 
2
[AsO
 
4
|B(OH)
 
4
]
10.2.3Teruggite
Ca
 
4
Mg[AsO
 
4
|B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O

Other Names for Seamanite

Other Languages:
German:Seamanit
Russian:Симанит
Spanish:Seamanita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in cold, dilute acids.
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 Seamanite

Reference List:Kraus, Seaman, and Slawson (1930) American Mineralogist: 15: 220-225.

McConnell and Pondrom (1941) American Mineralogist: 26: 446.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 388-389.

American Mineralogist (1971): 56: 1527-1538.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Articles/Blogs about Seamanite

Internet Links for Seamanite

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    Localities for Seamanite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Eyre peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		Australian Jour.Min. v.6, no. 1
    USA
     
    • Michigan
      • Iron Co.
        • Menominee iron range
    		Palache et al (1951), Dana's System of Mineralogy, seventh ed., vol. II: 376, 389.
          • Stambaugh
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
    Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
      • Marquette Co.
        • Marquette iron range
          • Negaunee
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
    Mineral and/or Locality
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