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Siderite

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

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


Calcite Group. Magnesite-Siderite Series, Rhodochrosite-Siderite Series, Siderite-Smithsonite 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.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Siderite. Currently in public beta-test.

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
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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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

The 3d models and java code are kindly provided by www.smorf.nl. You can control the movement of the models by holding down the left mouse-button over the 3d model and moving your mouse. Keyboard controls are:

: default positions
t/T: decrease/increase transparency x/X: next/previous texture
b/B: next/previous background w: toggle wireframe
s: toggle sticks m: toggle miller indices
k: toggle crystallographic axes =/-: zoom in/out
r: stop/start rotation 1/2/3
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
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)
1.506(10)

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)
Forms a series with Smithsonite (see here)
Member of:Calcite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Calcite
CaCO
 
3
Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
Otavite
CdCO
 
3
Rhodochrosite
MnCO
 
3
Smithsonite
ZnCO
 
3
Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
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)(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,Ca,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
11.13.3Pyroaurite-2H
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
11.13.4Brugnatellite
Mg
 
6
Fe
3+
 
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
13
 · 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)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
14.1.1.1Calcite
CaCO
 
3

Other Names for Siderite

Synonyms:
AerosideriteBemmeleniteCalcareous Iron OreCarbonate of IronChalybite
GyriteIron SparJunckériteJunkeritePelosiderite
Siderite (of Haidinger)Sparry Iron OreSpathic IronSpathose IronSteel Ore
Thomaîte
Other Languages:
French:Fer carbonaté
Sidérose
German:Aerosiderit
Bemmelenit
Brachytyper Parachrosbaryt
Chalybit
Eisenkalk
Eisenspat
Eisenspath (of Hausmann)
Gyrit
Järn med Kalkjord förenadt
Junckérit
Kohlensaures Eisen
Pelosiderit
Siderit
Spateisenstein
Spatheisenstein
Spathiger Eisen
Stahelreich Eisen
Stahlstein
Thomaît
Weißeisenerz
Latin:Minera ferri alba spathiformis
Russian:Сидерит
Simplified Chinese:菱铁矿
Spanish:Aerosiderita
Bemmelenita
Chalybita
Gyrita
Pelosiderita
Siderita
Thomaîta
Swedish:Spatformig Jernmalm
Varieties:
Ca-rich SideriteKobalt-oligonspathKolloid-sideriteLady's SlipperManganoan Siderite
Mg-rich SideriteOligonitePistomesiteSideroplesiteSphärosiderite
Zincian 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.

Mindat.org articles about Siderite

Article entries:
Siderite Along the Clackamas River, OregonBill Tompkins

Internet Links for Siderite

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