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Siderite

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Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry), Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville Co., Québec, Canada
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
FeCO
 
3
System:TrigonalColour:Yellowish-brown to ...
Lustre:Vitreous, Silky, PearlyHardness:3½ - 4½
Name:Named in 1845 from the Greek σίδηρος, "iron", in allusion to its composition.


Calcite Group. Magnesite-Siderite Series and Rhodochrosite-Siderite Series.

Crystals typically found as brown to tan rhombohedrons in clusters, faces often curved or composites; more often found as medium to dark brown massive fine grained material or as massive crystalline material with exposed curved cleavage surfaces.

Classification of Siderite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.02-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 7th edition ID:14.1.1.3
Dana 8th edition ID:14.1.1.3

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.13.1

11 : Carbonates
13 : Carbonates of Fe
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Occurrences of Siderite

Geological Setting:Most often found in bedded sedimentary deposits with a biological component, with shales, clays and coal beds - suggesting that the siderite is biogenically created under low-oxygen and low-Ph conditions. It is also found in metamorphosed sedimentary rocks as more massively crystalline material, as a primary gangue mineral in hydrothermal deposits, and in pegmatites, including nepheline syenite pegamtites; as bog deposits.

Physical Properties of Siderite

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Translucent on thin edges
Colour:Yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, pale yellow to tannish, grey, brown, green, red, black and sometimes nearly colourless; tarnished iridescent at times; colourless to yellow and yellow-brown in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4½
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {1011}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.96(1) g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.932 g/cm3

Crystallography of Siderite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:R3c (R3 2/c)
Cell Parameters:a = 4.6916Å, c = 15.3796Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 3.278
Unit Cell Volume:V 293.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:6
Morphology:Crystals usually rhombohedral {1011} or {0112}, often curved or with composite faces; also more rarely thi to thick tabular {0001}, prismatic [0001] with {1120}, or scalenohedral; most often found as massive material, either fine-grained in sedimentary settings or massively crystalline in metamorphic settings; may also be botryoidal or globular with a fibrous internal structure.
Twinning:On {0112}, lamellar,uncommon, with translation gliding on {0001} or {1011}. On {0001}, rare.
Crystal Atlas:
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Siderite no.27 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Siderite no.50 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.59(30)
2.80(100)
2.35(20)
2.13(20)
1.965(20)
1.738(30)
1.732(40)

Optical Data of Siderite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.875 nε = 1.633
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.242

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 Siderite

Formula:
FeCO
 
3
Essential elements:C, Fe, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Fe, O
Common Impurities:Mn,Mg,Ca,Zn,Co

Relationship of Siderite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Rhodochrosite (see here)
Forms a series with Magnesite (see here)
Related to:
  • Calcite Group
    • Common Associates:
    CoalClay
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    5.AB.05Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Gaspéite
    (Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Magnesite
    MgCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Otavite
    CdCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Rhodochrosite
    MnCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Smithsonite
    ZnCO
     
    3
    5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
    CoCO
     
    3
    5.AB.10Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Dolomite
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Kutnohorite
    Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.10Minrecordite
    CaZn(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.15Aragonite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Cerussite
    PbCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Strontianite
    SrCO
     
    3
    5.AB.15Witherite
    BaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.20Vaterite
    CaCO
     
    3
    5.AB.25Huntite
    CaMg
     
    3
    		(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    4
    5.AB.30Norsethite
    BaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.35Alstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.40Olekminskite
    Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.40Paralstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.45Barytocalcite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.50Carbocernaite
    (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    5.AB.55Benstonite
    (Ba,Sr)
     
    6
    		(Ca,Mn)
     
    6
    		Mg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    13
    5.AB.60Juangodoyite
    Na
     
    2
    		Cu(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    11.13.2Pyroaurite
    Mg
     
    6
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    16
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    11.13.3Sjögrenite
    Mg
     
    6
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    16
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    11.13.4Brugnatellite
    Mg
     
    6
    		Fe
    3+
     
    		[(OH)
     
    13
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    11.13.5Coalingite
    Mg
     
    10
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    24
    		|CO
     
    3
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    11.13.6Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):
    14.1.1.1Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3

    Other Names for Siderite

    Synonyms:
    AerosideriteBemmeleniteCalcareous Iron OreCarbonate of IronChalybite
    GyriteIron SparJunckéritePelosideriteSiderite (of Haidinger)
    Sparry Iron OreSpathic IronSpathose IronSteel OreThomaîte
    French names:
    Fer carbonatéSidérose
    German names:
    AerosideritBemmelenitChalybitEisenkalkEisenspat
    Eisenspath (of Hausmann)GyritJärn med Kalkjord förenadtJunckéritKohlensaures Eisen
    PelosideritSideritSpateisensteinSpathiger EisenStahelreich Eisen
    StahlsteinThomaîtWeißeisenerz
    Latin names:
    Minera ferri alba spathiformis
    Russian names:
    Сидерит
    Spanish names:
    AerosideritaBemmelenitaChalybitaGyritaJunckérita
    PelosideritaSideritaThomaîta
    Swedish names:
    Spatformig Jernmalm
    Varieties:
    Ca-rich SideriteKobalt-oligonspathKolloid-sideriteLady's SlipperManganoan Siderite
    Mg-rich SideritePistomesiteSideroplesiteSphärosideriteZincian Siderite

    Other Information

    Magnetism:Paramagnetic
    Other Information:Slighty soluble in water.
    Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
    Industrial Uses:An ore of iron when found in sufficient volumes to be economically recoverable.

    References for Siderite

    Reference List:Gesner, C. (1565) De omni rerum fossilium genere, gemmis, lapidibus, metallis, etc. Tiguri (as Stahelreich Eisen).

    Wallerius, J.G (1747) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm (as Spatformig Jernmalm.

    Cronstedt, A. (1758) Mineralogie; eller Mineral-Rikets Upstallning. Stockholm: 29 (as Stahlstein).

    de Lisle, R. (1783) Cristallographie, ou description des formes propres à tous les corps du regne minéral. 4 volumes, Paris: 3: 281 (as Fer spatique).

    Wollaston (1812) Phil. Trans.: 159.

    Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: 951, 952 (as Eisenspath).

    Glocker, E.F. (1847) Generum et specierum mineralien secundum ordines naturals digestorum synopsis. Halle: 241.

    Johnsen (1902) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: II: 133.

    Hutchinson (1903) Mineralogical Magazine: 13: 209.

    Kreutz (1909) Mineralogical Magazine: 15: 232.

    Goldschmidt, V. (1916) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 3: 107.

    Honess (1918) American Journal of Science: 45: 201.

    Wyckoff (1920) American Journal of Science: 50: 317.

    Niggli (1921) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 56: 224.

    Klerk (1926) Beiträge zur Krystallographie und Mineralogie, Heidelberg: 3: 85.

    Schoklitsch (1935) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 90: 433.

    Fornaseri (1941) Rendus soc. min. ital. (1941): 1: 60.

    Wayland (1942) American Mineralogist: 27: 614.

    Rowland and Jonas (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 550.

    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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 166-171.

    Henderson, E.P. & S.H. Perry (1958), Studies of seven siderites: Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 107: 339-403.

    Goldsmith, J.R., D.L. Graf, J. Witters & D.A. Northrop (1962), Studies in the system CaCO3•MgCO3•FeCO3: (1) Phase relations; (2) A method for major element spectrochemical analyses; and (3) Composition of some ferroan dolomites. Journal of Geology: 70: 659-688.

    Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1981): 156: 233-243.

    Gaines, Richard V., H. Catherine, W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, Abraham Rosenzweig (1997), Dana's New Mineralogy : The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 435.

    Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.

    Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 644.

    Internet Links for Siderite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Siderite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Siderite

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