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Serendibite

Big Photo

Mogok, Sagaing District, Mandalay Division, Burma (Myanmar)
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Serendibite Photos (12)
Formula:
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
System:TriclinicColour:pale yellow, blue-green, ...
Hardness:6½ - 7
Name:Named after Serendib, the old Arabic name for Sri Lanka.


Aenigmatite Group.

Classification of Serendibite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.14-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DH.40

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12
Dana 8th edition ID:69.2.1a.6

69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.5.17

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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Type Occurrence of Serendibite

Type Locality:Gangapitiya, Ambakotte, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Year of Discovery:1902

Physical Properties of Serendibite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:pale yellow, blue-green, greyish blue
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):6½ - 7
Cleavage:None Observed

Crystallography of Serendibite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.01Å, b = 10.39Å, c = 8.63Å
α = 106.36°, β = 96.06°, γ = 124.36°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.963 : 1 : 0.831
Unit Cell Volume:V 670.11 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Serendibite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.701 nβ = 1.703 nγ = 1.706
2V:Measured: 80° , Calculated: 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.005

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

Chemical Properties of Serendibite

Formula:
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
Essential elements:Ca, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Fe,Mn,Na,K,F,H2O,P

Relationship of Serendibite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DH.05Leucophanite
NaCaBeSi
 
2
O
 
6
F
9.DH.10Ohmilite
Sr
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)[(O,OH)|(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
] · 2-3H
 
2
O
9.DH.15Haradaite
SrVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.15Suzukiite
BaVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.20Batisite
Na
 
2
BaTi
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.20Shcherbakovite
Na(K,Ba)
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.25Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.30Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·3H
 
2
O
9.DH.35Balangeroite
(Mg,Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
42
Si
 
16
O
 
54
(OH)
 
40
9.DH.35Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
9.DH.40Aenigmatite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
5
TiO
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
9.DH.40Dorrite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
[O
 
2
|Al
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Høgtuvaite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|Be(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Krinovite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
4
Cr
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Makarochkinite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
 
Ti[O
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
4
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Rhönite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Welshite
Ca
 
4
Mg
 
9
Sb
 
3
O
 
4
[Si
 
6
Be
 
3
AlFe
 
2
O
 
36
]
9.DH.40Wilkinsonite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.45Sapphirine
(Mg,Fe)
 
4-x
Al
 
4+x
[Al
 
4+x
Si
 
2-x
O
 
18
]O
 
2
9.DH.50Khmaralite
(Mg,Al,Fe)
 
16
[(Al,Si,Be)
 
12
O
 
36
]O
 
4
9.DH.55Surinamite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
Al
 
4
BeSi
 
3
O
 
16
9.DH.60Deerite
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Fe,Al)
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
20
(OH)
 
5
9.DH.65Howieite
Na(Fe,Mn)
 
10
(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
31
(OH)
 
13
9.DH.65Taneyamalite
(Na,Ca)(Mn,Mg,Fe)
 
12
Si
 
12
(O,OH)
 
44
9.DH.70Johninnesite
Na
 
2
Mn
2+
9
Mg
 
7
(OH)
 
8
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
[Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
9.DH.75Agrellite
NaCa
 
2
[F|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.5.1Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
17.5.2Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
17.5.3Searlesite
NaBSi
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
17.5.4Olenite
(Na,[ ])[(Al,Li)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(O,OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.5Elbaite
[Na][(Li,Al)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.6Kalborsite
K
 
6
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
|Al
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
20
]
17.5.7Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.5.8Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
17.5.9Liddicoatite
[Ca][Li
 
2
Al][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.10Datolite
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.11Danburite
CaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
17.5.12Howlite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
SiO
 
9
(OH)
 
5
17.5.13Bakerite
Ca
 
4
B
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|HBO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.14Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
·12.5H
 
2
O
17.5.15Kornerupine
Mg
 
3
Al
 
6
(Si,Al,B)
 
5
O
 
21
(OH)
17.5.16Harkerite
Ca
 
24
Mg
 
8
Al
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
32
(BO
 
3
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
(H
 
2
O,Cl)
17.5.18Stillwellite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
 
5
17.5.19Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ce,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
](OH)
 
2
17.5.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
O
 
12
(OH,F)·nH
 
2
O
17.5.21Okanoganite-(Y)
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Y,Ce)
 
12
Si
 
6
B
 
2
O
 
27
F
 
14
17.5.22Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.23Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.24Cappelenite-(Y)
Ba(Y,Ce)
 
6
Si
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
24
F
 
2
17.5.25Dumortierite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
7
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.26Holtite
(Ta,Sb)Al
 
6
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.27Dravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.28 Ferridravite
17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.30Uvite
[Ca][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.31Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
17.5.32Tienshanite
KNa
 
3
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
6
Mn
 
6
(Ti
4+
 
,Nb)
 
6
B
 
12
Si
 
36
O
 
114
(O,OH,F)
 
11
17.5.33Leucosphenite
BaNa
 
4
Ti
 
2
B
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
30
17.5.34Taramellite
Ba
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.35Titantaramellite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.36Nagashimalite
Ba
 
4
(V,Ti)
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
17.5.37Chromdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.38Wawayandaite
Ca
 
6
Mn
 
2
BBe
 
9
Si
 
6
O
 
23
(OH,Cl)
 
15
17.5.39Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
17.5.40Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.41Axinite
17.5.42Tinzenite
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.44Schorl
[Na][Fe
2+
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.45Buergerite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Al
 
6
][O
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.46Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.48Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.5.49Grandidierite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.50Hyalotekite
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
 
6
(B,Si,Al)
 
2
(Si,Be)
 
10
O
 
28
(F,Cl)
17.5.51Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Serendibite

Other Languages:
German:Serendibit
Russian:Серендибит
Spanish:Serendibita

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 Serendibite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1993): 78: 195-203.

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

Internet Links for Serendibite

Search Engines:
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  • Look for Serendibite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Serendibite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Serendibite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Serendibite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Serendibite

    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.
    (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.
    Burma (Myanmar)
     
    • Mandalay Division
      • Sagaing District
    		Rob Lavinsky collection; Greg Dainty collection
    Madagascar
     
    • Fianarantsoa Province
      • Horombe region
        • Ihosy District
          • Ihosy
            • Amboarohy
              • Ambahatraso
    Nicollet, Christian (1990): Occurences of grandidierite, serendibite and tourmaline near Ihosy, southern Madagascar. Mineralogical Magazine 54: 131-133
    • Tuléar (Toliara) Province
      • Southwestern Region
        • Benenitra District
          • Ianapera (Janapera) area
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Aldan Shield
    Sri Lanka
     
    • Central Province
      • Ambakotte
    		Nature (1902) 65, 383; Min.Mag.(1903) 13, 224
    Tanzania
     
    • Tanga Region
    		Research Institute for African Geology, University of Leeds, 11th Annual Report, 40.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
    		[micromounts@yahoogroups.com]
    Cal Div of Mines & Geo Bulletin 189 " Minerals of California"
    • New York
      • Orange Co.
        • Town of Warwick
    		http://departments.colgate.edu/geology/research/Rader&Peck06.pdf
    http://departments.colgate.edu/geology/research/Rader&Peck06.pdf
      • Warren Co.
    		www.excaliburmineral.com
    Jensen (1978) Minerals of New York State, p.129; Harvard Museum of Natural History, no.115941
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 13th Nov 2009 06:39:28