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Surinamite

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Formula:
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
Al
 
4
BeSi
 
3
O
 
16
System:MonoclinicColour:Blue-green
Member of:Sapphirine Supergroup
Name:Named after Surinam where the mineral was discovered in the Bakhuis Mountains.


Aenigmatite Group.

Only the 1M-polytype is known in nature.

Classification of Surinamite

IMA status:Approved 1974
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.15-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DH.55

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12
Dana 8th edition ID:69.2.1b.2

69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.6.7

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
6 : Aluminosilicates of Be
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Type Occurrence of Surinamite

Type Locality:Bakhuis Mts., Sipaliwini District, Surinam
Year of Discovery:1974

Physical Properties of Surinamite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Blue-green

Crystallography of Surinamite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.91Å, b = 11.38Å, c = 9.63Å
β = 109.3°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.871 : 1 : 0.846
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,025.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Surinamite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.738 nβ = 1.743 nγ = 1.746
2V:Measured: 67° to 68°, Calculated: 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

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

Chemical Properties of Surinamite

Formula:
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
Al
 
4
BeSi
 
3
O
 
16
Essential elements:Al, Be, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Be, Fe, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Mn,Zn,Ca,F

Relationship of Surinamite to other Species

Member of:Sapphirine Supergroup
Other Members of Group:

- +
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DH.05Leucophanite
NaCaBeSi
 
2
O
 
6
F
9.DH.10Ohmilite
Sr
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)(O,OH) · 2-3H
 
2
O
9.DH.15Haradaite
SrVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.15Suzukiite
BaVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.20Batisite
BaNaNaTi
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
9.DH.20Shcherbakovite
(K,Ba)KNa(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
9.DH.25Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
9.DH.30Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
· 3H
 
2
O
9.DH.35Balangeroite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
42
Si
 
16
O
 
54
(OH)
 
40
9.DH.35Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
9.DH.40Aenigmatite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
5
Ti(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)O
 
2
9.DH.40Dorrite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
[O
 
2
|Al
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Høgtuvaite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|Be(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Krinovite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
4
Cr
3+
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)O
 
2
9.DH.40Makarochkinite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
 
Ti[O
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
4
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Rhönite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Welshite
Ca
 
4
Mg
 
9
Sb
 
3
O
 
4
[Si
 
6
Be
 
3
AlFe
 
2
O
 
36
]
9.DH.40Wilkinsonite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)O
 
2
9.DH.45Sapphirine
(Mg,Fe)
 
4-x
Al
 
4+x
[Al
 
4+x
Si
 
2-x
O
 
18
]O
 
2
9.DH.50Khmaralite
(Mg,Al,Fe)
 
16
[(Al,Si,Be)
 
12
O
 
36
]O
 
4
9.DH.60Deerite
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Fe,Al)
 
3
[Si
 
6
O
 
17
]O
 
3
(OH)
 
5
9.DH.65Howieite
Na(Fe,Mn)
 
10
(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
31
(OH)
 
13
9.DH.65Taneyamalite
(Na,Ca)(Mn,Mg,Fe)
 
12
Si
 
12
(O,OH)
 
44
9.DH.70Johninnesite
Na
 
2
Mn
2+
9
Mg
 
7
(OH)
 
8
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
[Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
9.DH.75Agrellite
NaCa
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
F
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.6.1Beryl
Be
 
3
Al
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
16.6.2Euclase
BeAl(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
16.6.3Bavenite
Ca
 
4
Be
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
9
O
 
26
(OH)
 
2
16.6.4Aminoffite
Ca
 
2
(Be,Al)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(H
 
2
O,OH)
16.6.5Milarite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Al
 
2
Be
 
4
Si
 
24
O
 
60
· H
 
2
O
16.6.6Lovdarite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
4
(Be,Al)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
· 4H
 
2
O
16.6.8Ferrotaaffeite-6N'3S
(Be,Zn,Mg)FeAl
 
4
O
 
8

Other Names for Surinamite

Synonyms:
IMA1974-053
Other Languages:
German:Surinamit
Russian:Суринамит
Spanish:Surinamita

Polytypes for Surinamite

Polytypes:
Surinamite-1M

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 Surinamite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1976) 61: 193-199.

American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 418.

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 804-810.

Barbier, J., Grew, E.S., Hålenius E., Hålenius, U., and Yates, M.G. (2002) The role of Fe and cation order in the crystal chemistry of surinamite, (Mg,Fe 2+)3(Al,Fe 3+)3O[AlBeSi3O15]L: A crystal structure, Mössbauer spectroscopic, and optical spectroscopic study. American Mineralogist: 87: 501-513.

Internet Links for Surinamite

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  • Localities for Surinamite

    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.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Enderby Land
    http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003AM/finalprogram/abstract_60995.
          • Casey Bay
            • Khmara Bay
    Edward S. Grew Surinamite, taafeite and beryllian saphirine from pegmatites in graulite-facies rocks of Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica, - Am. Miner., 1981,v.66, p.1022-1033.
    PLEASE ADD REFERENCE
    Grew, E. S. (1981): Surinamite, taaffeite and beryllian sapphirine from pegmatites in granulite-facies rocks of Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica. American Mineralogist, 66, 1022-1033
    Australia
     
    • Northern Territory
    Neues Jahrb Mineral Monatsh1:15-35. (1976)
    Surinam
     
    • Sipaliwini District
    Am Min 61:193
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • Outer Hebrides
        • Isle of Harris
    AmMin 85: 1474-1484
    Zambia
     
    • Eastern Province
      • Chipata District
    American Mineralogist, Volume 70, pages 710-713, 1985
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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