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Torreyite

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Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
9
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
11
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white, very ...
Hardness:3
Name:
Named after John Torrey (1796-1873), American medical doctor, botanist, mineralogist and chemist; a founding member of the New York Lyceum of Natural History and its first Curator, and subsequently its President. He was a Professor of Chemistry, an author, and was appointed U.S. Assayer for the new U.S. mint in New York City in 1853. He studied the minerals of the Franklin deposits in New Jersey.


The magnesium analogue of Lawsonbauerite.

A secondary mineral occurring in manganese-rich veinlets and fractures in the Precambrian metamorphosed Zn-Mn-Fe deposit at Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, NJ.

Classification of Torreyite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.04-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DD.40

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:31.1.4.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : (AB)m(XO4)pZq·xH2O, where m:p > 6:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.9.11

25 : Sulphates
9 : Sulphates of Mn
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Type Occurrence of Torreyite

Type Locality:Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University 113732
Year of Discovery:1949
Geological Setting of type material:Secondary veinlets and fractures in a Pre-cambrian metamorphosed Zn-Mn-Fe deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ZinciteRhodochrositePyrochroiteMooreiteFluoborite

Physical Properties of Torreyite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, very light bluish; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {010}, good.
Density (measured):2.665 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.65 g/cm3

Crystallography of Torreyite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.522Å, b = 9.433Å, c = 16.443Å
β = 94.91°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.115 : 1 : 1.743
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,626.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Massive; granular to foliated.
Twinning:Intricately polysynthetically twinned with twin plane in the zone [010] (visible under magnification).

Optical Data of Torreyite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.570 nβ = 1.584 nγ = 1.585
2V:Measured: 40° , Calculated: 28°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.015

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

Chemical Properties of Torreyite

Formula:
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
9
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
11
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, O, S, Zn
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, Mn, O, S, Zn

Relationship of Torreyite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DD.05Felsőbányaite
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Langite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.15Spangolite
Cu
 
6
Al[(OH)
 
12
|Cl|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.20Ktenasite
Zn(Cu,Zn)
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.25Christelite
Cu
 
2
Zn
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Orthoserpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Serpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Niedermayrite
CdCu
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Carrboydite
(Ni,Cu)
 
14
Al
 
9
[(OH)
 
43
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Glaucocerinite
(Zn,Cu)
 
10
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
32
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 18H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Honessite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Hydrohonessite
Ni
 
6
Fe
3+
2
[(OH)
 
16
|SO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Motukoreaite
NaMg
 
19
Al
 
12
(CO
 
3
)
 
6.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
54
·28H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Mountkeithite
(Mg,Ni)
 
11
(Fe
3+
 
,Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
24
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3.5
] · 11H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Shigaite
Al
 
4
Mn
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
22
·8H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Wermlandite
Mg
 
7
(Ca,Mg)(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
18
(H
 
2
O)
 
12
7.DD.35Woodwardite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 2-4H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Zincaluminite
Zn
 
6
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
13
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Hydrowoodwardite
Cu
 
1-x
Al
 
x
[(OH)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
x/2
] · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Zincowoodwardite
Zn
 
1-x
Al
 
x
(SO
 
4
)
 
x/2
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O (?)
7.DD.35Natroglaucocerinite
[(Zn,Cu)
 
5
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
16
][(SO
 
4
)
 
1.5
Na
 
1.5
(SO
 
4
)
 
0.75
(H
 
2
O)
 
9
]
7.DD.35Nikischerite
[AlFe
 
2
(OH)
 
6
]
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Na(H
 
2
O)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
7.DD.40Lawsonbauerite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
9
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
11
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.45Mooreite
(Mg,Zn,Mn
2+
 
)
 
15
[(OH)
 
13
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.50Namuwite
(Zn,Cu)
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.55Bechererite
(Zn,Cu)
 
6
Zn
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|(SO
 
4
,HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
7.DD.60Ramsbeckite
(Cu,Zn)
 
15
[(OH)
 
22
|(SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.65Vonbezingite
Ca
 
6
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
12
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.70Redgillite
Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|SO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Nickelalumite
(Ni,Cu)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
12
|{SO
 
4
,(NO
 
3
)
 
2
}] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Kyrgyzstanite
ZnAl
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.80Guarinoite
(Zn,Co,Ni)
 
6
[(OH,Cl)
 
10
|SO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
7.DD.80Schulenbergite
(Cu,Zn)
 
7
[(OH)
 
10
|(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.80Thérèsemagnanite
(Co,Zn,Ni)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH,Cl)
 
10
·8H
 
2
O
7.DD.80UM1992-30-SO:CCuHZn
(Zn,Cu)
 
7
[(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
](OH)
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.85Montetrisaite
Cu
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.9.1Szmikite
MnSO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
25.9.2Jôkokuite
MnSO
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
25.9.3Mallardite
MnSO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
25.9.4Manganolangbeinite
K
 
2
Mn
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
25.9.5Chvaleticeite
(Mn,Mg)SO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
25.9.6Despujolsite
Ca
 
3
Mn
4+
 
[(OH)
 
6
|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
25.9.7Apjohnite
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O
25.9.8Shigaite
Al
 
4
Mn
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
22
·8H
 
2
O
25.9.9Ilesite
(Mn,Zn,Fe)SO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
25.9.10Mooreite
(Mg,Zn,Mn
2+
 
)
 
15
[(OH)
 
13
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
25.9.12Lawsonbauerite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
9
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
11
|SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
25.9.13Dietrichite
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
·22H
 
2
O

Other Names for Torreyite

Other Languages:
German:Torreyit
Spanish:Torreyita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids.
Special Storage/
Display Requirements from:
Sterling Mine,..., Sussex Co., New Jersey, USANone.
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 Torreyite

Reference List:Bauer, L. and Berman (1929) American Mineralogist: 14: 165 (as Delta-Mooreite).

Prewitt-Hopkins (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 589-595.

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. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 575-576.

American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 1029-1034.

Dunn,P.J. (1995) Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey: the world's most magnificaent mineral deposits. Published privately. part 5: 639-640.

Internet Links for Torreyite

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    Localities for Torreyite

    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.
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    		Bauer, L.H. & Berman, H.: Am.Min.:14:165-172 (1929); Bauer, L.H. & Berman, H.: Am.Min.:14:103(abstract) (1929); Prewitt-Hopkins, J.: Am.Min.:34:589-595 (1949); Dunn, P.J., et al: Am.Min.:64:949-952 (1979); Dunn(1995):Pt5:639-640.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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