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Spurrite

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Christmas Mts, Brewster Co., Texas, USA
© Caltech

Show Spurrite Photos (8)
Formula:
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, grey-white, ...
Hardness:5
Name:Named after Josiah Edward Spurr (1870-1950), American economic geologist.
This page provides mineralogical data about Spurrite.

Classification of Spurrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.22-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AH.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
H : Nesosilicates with CO3, SO4, PO4, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:53.1.1.1

53 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions or Complex Cations
1 : Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions of Complex Cations with (CO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.4.2

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
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Type Occurrence of Spurrite

Type Locality:Terneras Mine, Velardeña, Velardeña District, Mun. de Cuencamé, Durango, Mexico
Year of Discovery:1908

Physical Properties of Spurrite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, grey-white, lilac-grey
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):5
Cleavage:Distinct/Good

Crystallography of Spurrite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.49Å, b = 6.7Å, c = 14.15Å
β = 101.32°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.566 : 1 : 2.112
Unit Cell Volume:V 975.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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.

Optical Data of Spurrite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.640 - 1.641 nβ = 1.674 - 1.676 nγ = 1.679 - 1.681
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.039 - 0.040

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

Chemical Properties of Spurrite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Essential elements:C, Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mn,Mg,Na,K

Relationship of Spurrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.AH.05Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
TiO
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)·2H
 
2
O
9.AH.15Paraspurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AH.20Ternesite
Ca
 
5
[SO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AH.25Britholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
[(OH,F)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Britholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca)
 
3
[(OH,F)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(Cl)
Ca
 
10
[Cl
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Fluorbritholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
[(F,OH)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(F)
Ca
 
10
[(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(OH)
Ca
 
10
[(OH,Cl,F)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Mattheddleite
Pb
 
5
(Si
 
1.2
S
 
1.8
)O
 
12
(Cl
 
0.6
OH
 
0.4
)
9.AH.25Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
9.AH.25Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
9.AH.25Fluorcalciobritholite
(Ca,Ce)
 
5
 (SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.4.1Tilleyite
Ca
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.4.3Paraspurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.4Scawtite
Ca
 
7
Si
 
6
(CO
 
3
)O
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
17.4.5Fukalite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.6Meionite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
)
 
3
]
17.4.7Cancrinite
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.4.8Carletonite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
18
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
17.4.9Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.4.10Kainosite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ce)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
17.4.11Caysichite-(Y)
Y
 
2
(Ca,Gd)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
17.4.12Lepersonnite-(Gd)
CaO(Gd,Dy)
 
2
O
 
3
·24UO
 
3
·8CO
 
2
·4SiO
 
2
·60H
 
2
O
17.4.13Ashburtonite
Pb
 
4
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl|(HCO
 
3
)
 
4
|Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · H
 
2
O
17.4.14Surite
Pb(Pb,Ca)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(Al,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
17.4.15Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
TiO
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
17.4.16Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Spurrite

German names:
Spurrit
Russian names:
Сперрит
Spanish names:
Spurrita

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 Spurrite

Reference List:American Journal of Science (1908), 4th. series: 26: 547-554.

Smith, J.V., Karle, I.L., Hauptman, H., and Karle, J. (1960) The crystal structure of spurrite, Ca5(SiO4)2CO3. II. Description of structure. Acta Crystallographica: 13: 454-458.

Grice, J.D. (2005) The structure of spurrite, tilleyite and scawtite, and relationships to other slicate-carbonate minerals. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1489-1500.

Internet Links for Spurrite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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    Localities for Spurrite

    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.
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    (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.
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
    		[Hentschel, G., Seltene Minerale in Calcium-reichen Auswürflingen vom Bellerberg bei Mayen/Eifel, Aufschluß 29, 77-83, 1978] [Lapis, 15 (5), 9-36]
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Sligo
      • Killala Bay
    		Min.Mag.(1974) 39, 544-548
    Israel
     
    Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Shulamit Gross (1977) The mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geol. Surv. of Israel, Bull. No. 70.
    • Northern Negev
    		Shulamit Gross (1977)
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chugoku Region
        • Hiroshima prefecture
    		Kusachi et al (1971) Koubutsugaku Zasshi, 10, 170-180.
        • Okayama Prefecture
          • Takahashi
            • Bitchu-cho (Bicchu-cho)
    		Mineralogical Record: 27: 303.
      • Tohoku Region
        • Fukushima Prefecture
    		Matsuyama, F. (2001)
    Mexico
     
    • Durango
      • Mun. de Cuencamé
        • Velardeña District
          • Velardeña
    		Panczner (1987): 357.
    Hey's Mineral Index (1993)
    Panczner (1987): 357.
    • Hidalgo
      • Mun. de Zimapán
        • Zimapán
    		Panczner(1987): 93-396.
    • Queretaro
      • Mun. de Cadereyta
        • Maconi
    		MinRec 32:421; Panczner(1987):357.
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Northland
        • Kaipara
    		Mason, B. (1957): Larnite, scawtite, and hydrogrossular from Tokatoka, New Zealand. American Mineralogist 42, 379-392.
    Palestine
     
    • West Bank
    		Shulamit Gross (1977)
    Poland
     
    • Upper Silesia (Śląskie)
      • Upper Silesian Coal Basin
        • Katowice area
          • Siemianowice Śląskie
    		Kruszewski L. 2006: Oldhamite-periclase-portlandite-fluorite assemblage and coexisting minerals of burnt dump in Siemianowice Śląskie - Dąbrówka Wielka area (Upper Silesia, Poland) - preliminary report. Mineralogia Polonica Special Papers, vol.28, 118-120
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Canadian Mineralogist: 39: 1435-1453.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Krasnoyarsk Territory (Krasnoyarsk Kray; Krasnoyarskii Krai)
        • Evenkia (Evenkiyskiy Autonomous okrug)
          • Nizhnyaya Tunguska River Basin (Lower Tunguska River)
    		No reference listed
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaykalye)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lake Baikal area
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    • Northern Caucasus Region
      • Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
        • Verkhnechegemskiy volcanic structure
    		A. E. Zadov data
    • Urals Region
      • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
        • Chelyabinsk coal basin
          • Kopeisk
    Turkey
     
    • Black Sea Region
      • Rize Province
    		Am Min 73:11-12 p 1497
    Uganda
     
    • Kabarole District
    		Barker, D.S. and Nixon, P.H. (1989) High-Ca, low-alkali carbonatite volcanism at Fort Portal, Uganda. Contributions to Minralogy and Petrology.: 103: 166-177.
    UK
     
    • Northern Ireland
      • Co. Antrim
        • Glenoe
        • Larne
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Argyllshire)
        • Ardnamurchan
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai Co.
        • Eureka District
    		Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 111.
    • California
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
          • Crestmore quarries
            • Sky Blue Hill
    		AmMin 26:352-381
    Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmore, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmore, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    • New Mexico
      • Luna Co.
        • Tres Hermanas District
          • South Sisters Peak
    		NMGS 21st Field Conference
    • Texas
      • Brewster Co.
        • Christmas Mts
    		Rocks & Minerals (1991): 66:3: 196-224.
      • Culberson Co.
        • Apache Peak area
    		Am Min 51:1766-1774
    Mineral and/or Locality
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