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Tobermorite

Big Photo

Buer, Bjørkedalen, Porsgrunn, Telemark, Norway
© OT. Ljostad 2005

Show Tobermorite Photos (12)
Formula:
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
·5H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:White, light pink
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland.


Tobermorite Group.

Two structural variants are known: Tobermorite-11 Å and Tobermorite-14 Å.

May appear visually similar to Tacharanite.

Classification of Tobermorite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.19-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DG.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
Dana 8th edition ID:72.3.2.1

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
3 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 3-, 4-, or 5-membered rings and 8-membered rings
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.5.23

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
5 : Silicates of Ca
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Type Occurrence of Tobermorite

Type Locality:Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Strathclyde (Argyllshire), Scotland, UK
Year of Discovery:1880

Physical Properties of Tobermorite

Lustre:Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White, light pink
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Tobermorite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.17Å, b = 7.38Å, c = 22.94Å
β = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.514 : 1 : 3.108
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,891.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Tobermorite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.570 nβ = 1.571 nγ = 1.575
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.005

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

Chemical Properties of Tobermorite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
·5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mg,Na,K,H2O

Relationship of Tobermorite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DG.05Bustamite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)[SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.05Cascandite
Ca(Sc,Fe
3+
 
)[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Ferrobustamite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DG.05Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Sérandite
Na(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Wollastonite
Ca[SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.05Wollastonite-1A
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.10Clinotobermorite
Ca
 
5
[Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
]2.4H
 
2
O - Ca
 
5
[Si
 
6
O17]·5H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·7H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Riversideite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
9.DG.15Foshagite
Ca
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.20Jennite
Ca
 
9
H
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
9.DG.25Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.DG.25Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.30Sørensenite
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
9.DG.35Xonotlite
Ca
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
9.DG.40Hillebrandite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.45Zorite
Na
 
2
Ti(Si,Al)
 
3
O
 
9
·nH
 
2
O
9.DG.45Chivruaiite
Ca
 
3
Ti
 
5
[(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
|O(OH)
 
4
]·14H
 
2
O
9.DG.50Haineaultite
(Na,Ca)
 
5
Ca(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(OH,F)
 
4
|Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.55Epididymite
NaBeSi
 
3
O
 
7
OH
9.DG.60Eudidymite
NaBeSi
 
3
O
 
7
OH
9.DG.65Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
·3H
 
2
O
9.DG.70Fenaksite
(K,Na)
 
4
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
9.DG.70Litidionite
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.70Manaksite
KNaMnSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.75Tinaksite
K
 
2
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.75Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.75Senkevichite
CsKNaCa
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.80Canasite
Ca
 
5
Na
 
4
K
 
2
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
(OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.80Fluorcanasite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
Si
 
12
O
 
30
F
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.85Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
9.DG.90Charoite
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba,Sr)
 
8
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
16
)(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
9.DG.90Frankamenite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)[F,(OH)]
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.95Yuksporite
(K,Ba)NaCa
 
2
(Si,Ti)
 
4
O
 
11
(F,OH)·H
 
2
O
9.DG.95Eveslogite
(Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)
 
48
 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
12
Si
 
48
O
 
144
(OH)
 
12
](F,OH,Cl)
 
14
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.5.1Wollastonite
Ca[SiO
 
3
]
14.5.2Wollastonite-7T
14.5.3Wollastonite-2M
CaSiO
 
3
14.5.4Rankinite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
7
14.5.5Kilchoanite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
7
14.5.6Larnite
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.5.7Bredigite
Ca
 
7
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
4
14.5.8Hatrurite
Ca
 
3
[O|SiO
 
4
]
14.5.9Rosenhahnite
HCa
 
3
[Si
 
3
O
 
9
(OH)]
14.5.10Dellaite
Ca
 
6
Si
 
3
O
 
11
(OH)
 
2
14.5.11Afwillite
Ca
 
3
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
14.5.12Xonotlite
Ca
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
14.5.13Foshagite
Ca
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.5.14Hillebrandite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
3
]
14.5.15Jaffeite
Ca
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.5.16Suolunite
Ca
 
2
[H
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
14.5.17Killalaite
Ca
 
3
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
14.5.18Okenite
CaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·2H
 
2
O
14.5.19Riversideite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
14.5.20Trabzonite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·2H
 
2
O
14.5.21Gyrolite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
14.5.22Foshallasite
Ca
 
3
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · 3H
 
2
O(?)
14.5.24Clinotobermorite
Ca
 
5
[Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
]2.4H
 
2
O - Ca
 
5
[Si
 
6
O17]·5H
 
2
O
14.5.25Nekoite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·7H
 
2
O
14.5.26Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·7H
 
2
O
14.5.27Jennite
Ca
 
9
H
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Tobermorite

German names:
Tobermorit
Russian names:
Тоберморит
Spanish names:
Tobermorita

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 Tobermorite

Reference List:Currie, J. (1905). Note on some new localities for Gyrolite and Tobermorite. Mineralogical Magazine, 14, 93-95.

McConnell, J.D.C. (1954), The hydrated calcium silicates riversideite, tobermorite and plombierite, Mineralogical Magazine: 30: 293-305.

American Mineralogist (1954): 39: 1038.

American Mineralogist (1999): 84: 1613-1621.

Internet Links for Tobermorite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Tobermorite on Google
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    • External Links:
  • Look for Tobermorite on Webmineral
  • Look for Tobermorite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Tobermorite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Tobermorite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Tobermorite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Tobermorite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Tobermorite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Cape Grim district
    		http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.49
      • Central Plateau
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
      • Marrawah district
        • Redpa
    		http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf
      • Moina District (Middlesex District)
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
      • Upper Mersey Valley
    		http://www.crocoite.com/mainadit/gadshill.htm
    • Victoria
    		Aust.Jour. Earth Sci. 46:251 (1999)
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Bad Radkersburg
        • Klöch
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Azerbaijan
     
    • Qobustan (Gobustan; Kobustan) Rayonu
      • Caspian Sea
    		Novgorodova M.I., Mamedov Yu.G.. Native aluminium from mud volcano at the Bulla island (caspian Sea), - Lithology and Mineral Resourses,1996,N4,p. 339-349
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Mégantic Co.
        • Black Lake
    		Canadian Museum of Nature & Horvath collections
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Vysočina Region
        • Havlíčkův Brod
    		Pauliš, P.: Nejzajímavější mineralogická naleziště Čech II. Kutná Hora: Kuttna, 2003, s. 96 - 98.
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Puy-de-Dôme
        • Clermont-Ferrand
          • Ceyrat
    		Queneau Patrice collection
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Aveyron
        • Espalion
    		Boutry C., Pelisson P., Pillard F. (1986), Les zéolites d'Espalion, Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, n°2, pp: 3-7
    • Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
      • Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
    		Favreau G., Meisser N., Chiappero P.J. (2004), Saint-Maime (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence): un exemple de pyrométamorphisme en région provençale, n°3, pp: 59-92
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Hegau
        • Immendingen
    		S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990; Tschernich, R. (1992), Zeolites of the World, p.42
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Maroldsweisach
    		Pöllmann, H. (1991): Die Afwillit-Portlandit Paragenese im Basalt des Zeilbergs bei Maroldsweisach/Unterfranken. Aufschluss, 42, 257-266
    • Hesse
      • Vogelsberg
        • Ortenberg
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Adenau
          • Hoffeld
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1987
        • Daun
          • Üdersdorf
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1983
        • Hillesheim
          • Zilsdorf
    		Hentschel, G.,Begleitmineralien des Basaltes vom Arensberg bei Zilsdorf/Eifel, Notizbl. Hess. L.-Amt Bodenforsch., 101, 310-316, 1973
        • 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]
        • Mendig
          • Bell
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1983
    Hungary
     
    • Veszprém Co.
      • Tapolcai Basin
        • Uzsabánya
    		Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min. Spec., 1993
        • Zalahaláp
    		Szakáll & Gatter: Hun. Min.Spec., 1993
    Israel
     
    Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Italy
     
    • Latium
      • Rome Province
    		Caponera, I., Fiori, S., Pucci, R., & Signoretti, E. (2007). I minerali dei Colli Albani. Un aggiornamento sugli ultimi dieci anni di ricerche. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 31 (2), 74-91.
        • Rome
          • Vallerano
    		Pucci, R. (2004): Vertumnite e tobermorite in un nodulo termometamorfosato nella leucitite di Vallerano (RM). Il Cercapietre, 1-2/2004, 70-71.
      • Viterbo Province
        • Montalto di Castro
          • Pietra Massa Locality
    		Passaglia, E. & Turconi, B. (1982): Silicati ed altri minerali di Montalto di Castro - VT. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/1982, 97-110.
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Tiglieto
    • Veneto
      • Vicenza Province
        • Gambellara
    		"Minerali del Vicentino - La natrolite" M. Boscardin, S. Pegoraro. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana n. 1 / 2000 pp. 4-11
    Lapis, 15 (12), 27-32+50.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chugoku Region
        • Okayama Prefecture
          • Takahashi
            • Bitchu-cho (Bicchu-cho)
      • Kanto Region
        • Chiba Prefecture
          • Awa-gun
            • Tawara-mura
    		Dr. Kameki Kinoshita collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
          • Tomiyama-machi
    		Masutomi Museum specimen (Kyoto)
        • Kanagawa Prefecture
          • Yamakita
    		Dr. Kameki Kinoshita collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
      • Kinki region
        • Mie Prefecture
          • Toba City
      • Tohoku Region
        • Fukushima Prefecture
    		Matsuyama, F. (2001)
    Mexico
     
    • Zacatecas
      • Mun. de Mazapil
        • Noche Buena
    		Panczner (1987): 100-378.
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Northland
        • Kaipara
    		Baker, C. K. & Black, P. M. (1980): Assimilation and metamorphism at a basalt-limestone contact, Tokatoka, New Zealand. Mineralogical Magazine 43, 797-807.
    Norway
     
    • Telemark
      • Porsgrunn
        • Bjørkedalen
    		Andersen, F.,Berge, S.A. & Burvald, I. (1996): Die Mineralien des Langesundsfjords und des umgebenden Larvikit-Gebietes, Oslo-Region, Norwegen. MineralienWelt 7(4):21-100
      • Skien
    		Jamtveit B., Dahlgren S. and Austrheim H., (1997): "High-grade contact metamorphism of calcareous rocks from the Oslo Rift, Southern Norway".
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Marincea, Ş., Bilal, E., Verkaeren, J., Pascal, M.-L., and Fonteilles, M. (2001) Superposed paragenesis in spurrite-, tilleyite- and gehlenite-bearing skarns from Cornet Hill, Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Canadian Mineralogist: 39: 1435-1453.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Khibiny Massif
    		Pekov, I.V. & Podlesnyi, A.S. (2004): Kukisvumchorr Deposit: Mineralogy of Alkaline Pegmatites and Hydrotermalites. Mineralogical Almanac, vol. 7, 140 pages + xxiv photo's pages
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast'
          • Sysert' District
            • Polevskoi (Polevskoi Zavod)
    		Zadov, A. E.; Grabezhev, A. I.; Pertsev, N. N.; Chukanov, N. V.; Pribavkin, S. V. (2006): Tobermorite-plombierite metasomatites of the Gumeshevsk skarn-porphyry copper deposit, Middle Urals. Doklady Earth Sciences 407A, 495-497.
    Slovakia
     
    • Prešov Region
      • Northern Slanské Mts
    		Ďuďa,R., et al., 1981: Mineralógia severnej časti Slanských vrchov. Min.Slovaca, Monografia 2, 98s
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kalahari manganese fields
        • Hotazel
    		No reference listed
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Barcelona
        • Maresme
          • Fogars de Tordera
    		Bareche, E. (2005) "Els minerals de Catalunya. Segle XX" Grup Mineralògic Català, Barcelona, 269 pages.
    Sweden
     
    • Skåne
      • Hässleholm
        • Häglinge
    Turkey
     
    • Black Sea Region
      • Rize Province
    		Am Min 73:11-12 p 1497
    UK
     
    • Northern Ireland
      • Co. Antrim
        • Glenoe
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Inverness-shire)
        • Isle of Skye
          • Trotternish
    		[Specimen in the Natural History Museum, London]
      • Strathclyde (Argyllshire)
        • Isle of Mull
    		MM 30 (1954), 293; HB2/2 (1995)
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Gila Co.
        • Dripping Spring Mts
          • Banner District
            • Christmas area
              • Christmas
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 397, 428; Cesbron, F.P. & S.A. Williams (1980), Apachite and gilalite, two new copper silicates from Christmas, AZ, Min.Mag.: 43: 639-641.
    • Arkansas
      • Hot Spring Co.
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Big Creek
    Bob Walstrom, p.c.
      • Riverside Co.
        • Crestmore
    		[micromounts@yahoogroups.com]; American Mineralogist: 51: 56-74
            • Sky Blue Hill
    		Woodford, A.O., Crippen, R.A., and Garner, K.B. (1941) Section Across Commercial Quarry, Crestmore, California. American Mineralogist: 26: 352-381.
    • Idaho
      • Adams Co.
    		Ream, Lanny R. 2004. Idaho Minerals, 2nd edition, Revised and Updated
      • Idaho Co.
        • Skookumchuck Creek
    		Ream, Lanny R. 2004. Idaho Minerals, 2nd edition, Revised and Updated
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
    		NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • North Carolina
      • Durham Co.
        • Durham
    		Kenny Gay message 15.09.2005
    • Oregon
      • Grant Co.
        • Ritter
    		Micro Probe Volume VII Number 8 Fall 1993
    • Texas
      • Culberson Co.
        • Apache Peak area
    		Rocks & Minerals: 66(3): 196-224.; Am Min 51:1766-1774
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake Co.
        • Oquirrh Mts
          • Bingham District (West Mountain District)
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    • Virginia
      • Highland Co.
        • Doe Hill
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
    Mineral and/or Locality
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