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Smirnite

Big Photo

Shilovo-Isetskii mine, Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk), Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Formula:
(BiO)
 
2
[TeO
 
3
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, gray, light ...
Hardness:3½ - 4
Name:Named after Vladimir Ivanovich Smirnov (1910-1988), chief of department Moscow state university, a specialist in ore deposits geology.
This page provides mineralogical data about Smirnite.

Classification of Smirnite

IMA status:Approved 1982
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/K.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.JK.40

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
K : Tellurites without additional anions, without H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:34.1.9.1
Dana 8th edition ID:34.1.8.1

34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:28.3.16

28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
3 : Tellurites
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Type Occurrence of Smirnite

Type Locality:Zod Mine (Sotk deposit), Vardenis, Gelark'unik' (Geghark'unik') Province, Armenia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:A E Fernsman Museum, Moscow, Russia 82767
Year of Discovery:1984

Occurrences of Smirnite

Geological Setting:Oxidation zone of tellurium bearing hydrothermal ore deposits.

Physical Properties of Smirnite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, gray, light yellow
Comment:Darkens on exposure to sunlight
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness (Vickers):VHN20=142 - 227 kg/mm2
Comment:Great anisotropy
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {010}
Distinct in other directions
Density (measured):7.78 g/cm3
Density (calculated):7.72 g/cm3

Crystallography of Smirnite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 16.447(19) Å, b = 5.513(3) Å, c = 11.579(15) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.983 : 1 : 2.1
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,049.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Crystals tabular to 2mm, aggregates and incrustations.

Optical Data of Smirnite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.350 nβ = 2.360 nγ = 2.460
2V:Measured: 35° to 40°, Calculated: 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.110

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

Chemical Properties of Smirnite

Formula:
(BiO)
 
2
[TeO
 
3
]
Essential elements:Bi, O, Te
All elements listed in formula:Bi, O, Te

Relationship of Smirnite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.JK.05Winstanleyite
TiTe
 
3
O
 
8
4.JK.05Walfordite
(Fe
3+
 
,Te
6+
 
)Te
4+
3
O
 
8
4.JK.10Spiroffite
(Mn,Zn)
 
2
Te
 
3
O
 
8
4.JK.10Zincospiroffite
Zn
 
2
[Te
 
3
O
 
8
]
4.JK.15Balyakinite
CuTeO
 
3
4.JK.20Rajite
Cu[Te
4+
2
O
 
5
]
4.JK.25Carlfriesite
CaTe
 
3
O
 
8
4.JK.30Denningite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca,Zn)[Te
4+
2
O
 
5
]
4.JK.35Chekhovichite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
4
O
 
11
4.JK.45Choloalite
PbCu[TeO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
4.JK.50Fairbankite
PbTeO
 
3
4.JK.55Plumbotellurite
PbTeO
 
3
4.JK.60Magnolite
Hg
 
2
TeO
 
3
4.JK.65Moctezumite
PbUO
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
2
4.JK.70Schmitterite
(UO
 
2
)[TeO
 
3
]
4.JK.75Cliffordite
UTe
 
3
O
 
9
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
28.3.1Balyakinite
CuTeO
 
3
28.3.2Rajite
Cu[Te
4+
2
O
 
5
]
28.3.3Graemite
Cu[TeO
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
28.3.4Teineite
Cu[TeO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
28.3.5Cesbronite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|TeO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
28.3.6Mroseite
CaTeO
 
2
CO
 
3
28.3.7Quetzalcoatlite
Zn
 
6
Cu
 
3
(TeO
 
6
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·Ag
 
x
Pb
 
y
Cl
 
x+2y
28.3.8Zemannite
(H,Na)
 
2
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
3
·nH
 
2
O
28.3.9Kinichilite
(Fe,Mg,Zn)
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
3
(Na
 
x
H
 
2-x
)·3H
 
2
O
28.3.10Denningite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca,Zn)[Te
4+
2
O
 
5
]
28.3.11Spiroffite
(Mn,Zn)
 
2
Te
 
3
O
 
8
28.3.12Winstanleyite
TiTe
 
3
O
 
8
28.3.13Fairbankite
PbTeO
 
3
28.3.14Plumbotellurite
PbTeO
 
3
28.3.15Choloalite
PbCu[TeO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
28.3.17Chekhovichite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
4
O
 
11
28.3.18Cliffordite
UTe
 
3
O
 
9
28.3.19Schmitterite
(UO
 
2
)[TeO
 
3
]
28.3.20Moctezumite
PbUO
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
2
28.3.21Emmonsite
Fe
3+
2
[TeO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
28.3.22Blakeite
Fe
3+
2
[TeO
 
3
]
 
3
 (?)
28.3.23Mackayite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|Te
4+
2
O
 
5
]
28.3.24Poughite
Fe
3+
2
[SO
 
4
|(TeO
 
3
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
28.3.25Sonoraite
Fe
3+
 
[OH|TeO
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
28.3.26Rodalquilarite
H
 
3
Fe
 
2
(TeO
 
3
)
 
4
Cl
28.3.27Eztlite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
6
[(OH)
 
10
|(Te
4+
 
O
 
3
)
 
3
|Te
6+
 
O
 
6
] · 8H
 
2
O
28.3.28Keystoneite
(Ni,Mg,Fe,Mn)
 
3
Te
 
3
O
 
9
·5H
 
2
O

Other Names for Smirnite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-104
Other Languages:
German:Smirnit
Spanish:Smirnita

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 Smirnite

Reference List:Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR (1984), 278(1), 199-202.

American Mineralogist (1985): 70: 876-877.

Internet Links for Smirnite

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    Localities for Smirnite

    (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.
    Armenia
     
    • Gelark'unik' (Geghark'unik') Province
      • Vardenis
    		DAN-SSSR,(1984) 278, 199-202; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Aqmola Oblysy (Akmola [Tselinograd] Oblast')
      • Aksu ore field
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Russia
     
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast'
          • Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk)
    		Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Ukraine
     
    • Transcarpathian Oblast'
      • Vygorlat-Gutinsk Range
        • Il'kovtsy Village
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Mineral and/or Locality
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