Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Spiroffite

Big Photo

Moctezuma Mine (Bambolla Mine), Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
© Brent Thorne

Show Spiroffite Photos (7)
Formula:
(Mn,Zn)
 
2
Te
 
3
O
 
8
System:MonoclinicColour:Purplish red to pink
Hardness:3½
Name:Named after Kiril Spiroff (1901-1981), mineralogist, Michigan college of Mining and Technology, Houghton, Michigan (USA).
This page provides mineralogical data about Spiroffite.

Classification of Spiroffite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/K.13-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.JK.10

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 8th edition ID:34.5.1.1

34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
5 : A(X3O8)
Hey's CIM Ref.:28.3.11

28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
3 : Tellurites
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3731.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Spiroffite

Type Locality:Moctezuma Mine (Bambolla Mine), Moctezuma, Mun. de Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University, Boston Massachusetts 108109
Year of Discovery:1962

Occurrences of Spiroffite

Geological Setting:Oxidation zone of Au-Te deposits.

Physical Properties of Spiroffite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Purplish red to pink
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
Noted in two directions.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.01(2) g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.059 g/cm3

Crystallography of Spiroffite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/b {B1 1 2/b} {C2/c} {C1 2/c 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 12.87(2) Å, b = 5.3813(5) Å, c = 11.888(2) Å
β = 98.22(1)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.392 : 1 : 2.209
Unit Cell Volume:V 814.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Anhedral crystals to 1cm.

Optical Data of Spiroffite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.850(1) nβ = 1.910(1) nγ = 2.200
2V:Measured: 55°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.350

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

Chemical Properties of Spiroffite

Formula:
(Mn,Zn)
 
2
Te
 
3
O
 
8
Essential elements:Mn, O, Te
All elements listed in formula:Mn, O, Te, Zn
Empirical Formula:
(Mn,Zn)
 
2
Te
4+
3
O
 
8

Relationship of Spiroffite 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.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.40Smirnite
(BiO)
 
2
[TeO
 
3
]
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
]
28.3.12Winstanleyite
TiTe
 
3
O
 
8
28.3.13Fairbankite
PbTeO
 
3
28.3.14Plumbotellurite
PbTeO
 
3
28.3.15Choloalite
PbCu[TeO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
28.3.16Smirnite
(BiO)
 
2
[TeO
 
3
]
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 Spiroffite

Other Languages:
German:Spiroffit
Russian:Спирофит
Spanish:Spiroffita

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 Spiroffite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1962): 47: 196.

American Mineralogist (1964): 49: 444.

Canadian Mineralogist (1996): 34: 21-826.

Mineralogical Society of America, Special Paper: 1.

Internet Links for Spiroffite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Spiroffite on Google
  • Look for Spiroffite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Spiroffite on Webmineral
  • Look for Spiroffite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Spiroffite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Spiroffite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Spiroffite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Spiroffite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Find Spiroffite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Search for - Spiroffite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Spiroffite specimens
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Spiroffite

    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.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Shizuoka Prefecture
          • Shimoda City
            • Rendaiji
    		Sakurai & Kato (1965) Kobutsugaku Zasshi (Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Japan) 7, 348-350; Rocks & Min.: 62:167
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Moctezuma
        • Moctezuma
    		Amer.Min.(1962) 47, 196; Lapis 2001(1), 11-40
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Tombstone Hills
          • Tombstone District
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 379.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    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: 9th Oct 2009 09:29:59