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Strontianite

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Dreislar Mine, Dreislar, Winterberg, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
© Peter Haas

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Formula:
SrCO
 
3
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white, gray, ...
Hardness:3½
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Strontian, Scotland.


Aragonite Group

Strontianite, strontium carbonate, is found as a low-temperature mineral in limestone and is also found as a gangue mineral in sulphide veins. Almost always fluorescent.

Classification of Strontianite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.04-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.15

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.1.3.3

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.5.1

11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
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Type Occurrence of Strontianite

Type Locality:Strontian, North West Highlands (Argyllshire), Scotland, UK
Year of Discovery:1790
Geological Setting of type material:In veins in gneiss.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
HarmotomeGalenaCalciteBrewsterite-SrBaryte

Occurrences of Strontianite

Geological Setting:Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal deposits in limestone and marl or as a gangue mineral in sulfide veins; as geodes or concretionary masses in limestone or clay.

Physical Properties of Strontianite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, gray, light yellow, green, brown; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Very Good
On {110} nearly perfect; on {021} poor; on {010} in traces.
Parting:None noted.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.74 - 3.78 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.722 g/cm3

Crystallography of Strontianite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 5.1Å, b = 8.41Å, c = 6.02Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.606 : 1 : 0.716
Unit Cell Volume:V 258.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals short to long prismatic [001], often acicular. Often pseudohexagonal in aspect due to equal development of {110} and {010} or of {hhl} and {0.2h.l}. {110} and {010} are striated horizontally, the steep {hhl} and {0kl} forms are rounded at times. Massive, columnar to fibrous; granular; rounded masses.
Twinning:Very common. Twin plane {110}, usually as contact twins, rarely as penetration twins; also repeated, as trillings, fourlings, or polysynthetic, yielding enclosed twin lamellae.
Crystal Atlas:
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Strontianite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Strontianite no.13 - 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.

Optical Data of Strontianite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.516 - 1.520 nβ = 1.664 - 1.667 nγ = 1.666 - 1.668
2V:Measured: 7° , Calculated: 12° to 8°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.150

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

Chemical Properties of Strontianite

Formula:
SrCO
 
3
Essential elements:C, O, Sr
All elements listed in formula:C, O, Sr
Common Impurities:Ca

Relationship of Strontianite to other Species

Related to:
  • Aragonite Group
    • Common Associates:
    CelestineCalciteBaryte
    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.05Siderite
    FeCO
     
    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.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:
    11.5.2Witherite
    BaCO
     
    3
    11.5.3Norsethite
    BaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    11.5.4Alstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    11.5.5Paralstonite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    11.5.6Barytocalcite
    BaCa(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    11.5.7Benstonite
    (Ba,Sr)
     
    6
    		(Ca,Mn)
     
    6
    		Mg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    13

    Other Names for Strontianite

    Synonyms:
    StronthianiteStrontianStrontian Spar
    French names:
    Strontiane carbonatée
    German names:
    Kohlensaure StrontianerdeStronthianitStrontianit
    Italian names:
    Stronzianite
    Japanese names:
    ストロンチアン鉱
    Russian names:
    Стронцианит
    Spanish names:
    StronthianitaStrontianita
    Varieties:
    Emmonite

    Other Information

    Fluorescence in UV light:Fluorescent and phosphorescent in UV, X-rays, and electron beams.
    Thermal Behaviour:Inverts to a hexagonal modification upon heating.

    Thermoluminescent at times.
    Other Information:Soluble in dilute HCl.

    Alters to Celestine and found as an alteration of celestine.
    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 Strontianite

    Reference List:Sulzer (1791) Lichtenberg's Magazine: 7, 3, 68.

    Sulzer (1791) Bergmaennusches Journal, Freiberg (Neues Bergmannische Journal): 1: 5, 433.

    Macadam (1885) Mineralogical Magazine: 6: 173.

    CAthrein (1888) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 14: 366.

    Buchrucker (1891) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 19: 146.

    Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 285.

    Jackson (1894) Journal of the Chemical Society, London: 65: 734.

    Mallard (1895) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 18: 12.

    Zirngibl (1897) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 27: 543.

    Bary (1900) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 130: 776.

    Beykirch (1900) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Beil.-Bd., Heidelberg, Stuttgart: 13: 427.

    Kunz and Baskerville (1903) Science: 769.

    Doelter, C. (1911) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 1: 481.

    Boeke (1913) Mitt. naturfor. Ges. Halle: 3: 10.

    Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 8: 91.

    Hintze, Carl (1926) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1[3A]: 3034.

    Szebellédy (1926) Inaugural Dissertation, Budapest [Min. Abs.: 3: 261 (1927)].

    Wilson (1928) Physical Review, a Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics: 31: 305.

    Cork and Gerhard (1931) American Mineralogist: 16: 71.

    Köhler and Leitmeier (1934) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 87: 146.

    Krejci-Graf (1934) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 88: 260.

    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: 196-200.

    American Mineralogist (1971): 56: 758-772.

    American Mineralogist (1976): 61: 1001.

    Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.

    Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1988): 111: 139.

    Internet Links for Strontianite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Strontianite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Strontianite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Strontianite

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