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Trimerite

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Harstigen Mine, Pajsberg, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
© Ö. Österberg

Show Trimerite Photos (6)
Formula:
CaMn
2+
2
Be
 
3
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, pink, ...
Hardness:6 - 7
Name:Named in 1890 by Flink from the Greek for "three parts" in allusion to the optically observable radial segments.
This page provides mineralogical data about Trimerite.

Classification of Trimerite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
B : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [4] and greater coordination
Dana 7th edition ID:51.2.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:51.2.1.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
2 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in [4] as well as >[4]
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.3.17

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
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Type Occurrence of Trimerite

Type Locality:Harstigen Mine, Pajsberg, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
Year of Discovery:1890
Geological Setting of type material:In a magnetite-pyroxene-garnet skarn probably formed during late-stage hydrothermal activity
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Calcite

Physical Properties of Trimerite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, pink, orange-red, yellow-red
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 7
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Distinct on {001}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.474 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.47 g/cm3

Crystallography of Trimerite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m {P1 1 21/m} {P21/m} {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 8.09Å, b = 7.61Å, c = 14.06Å
β = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.063 : 1 : 1.848
Unit Cell Volume:V 865.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals prismatic, pseudohexagonal by twinning to 12 mm; as crystal intergrowths
Twinning:Triple twins with composition planes (110) and (1_10); in basal section, twin lamellae in three directions intersect at a 120 degree angle
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.764 (100)
3.56 (40)
2.229 (35)
2.332 (30)
1.420 (30)
2.053 (25)
Comments:From ICDD 17-477 for type locality material

Optical Data of Trimerite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.715 nβ = 1.720 nγ = 1.725
2V:Measured: 83° , Calculated: 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v
Comments:X perpendicular to {001}

Chemical Properties of Trimerite

Formula:
CaMn
2+
2
Be
 
3
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
Essential elements:Be, Ca, Mn, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Be, Ca, Mn, O, Si
Analytical Data:Gelatinizes in HCl.
From type locality material
SiO2 (39.77)
FeO (3.87)
MnO (26.86)
BeO (17.08)
MgO (0.61)
CaO (12.44)
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg

Relationship of Trimerite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AB.10Larsenite
PbZn[SiO
 
4
]
9.AB.15Esperite
PbCa
 
3
Zn
 
4
[SiO
 
4
]
 
4
9.AB.20Rondorfite
Ca
 
8
Mg[Cl
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.3.1Phenakite
Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.3.2Bertrandite
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.3Beryllite
Be
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.3.4Liberite
Li
 
2
Be[SiO
 
4
]
14.3.5Chkalovite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
2
O
 
6
14.3.6Eudidymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
14.3.7Epididymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
14.3.8Gugiaite
Ca
 
2
Be[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.9Jeffreyite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)]
14.3.10Semenovite-(Ce)
Na
 
8
Ca
 
2
FeBe
 
6
Ce
 
2
Si
 
14
O
 
40
(OH)
 
4
F
 
4
14.3.11Barylite
BaBe
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.12Hingganite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
2
(□,Fe
2+
 
)Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.3.13Hingganite-(Yb)
(Yb,Y,REE)
 
2
□Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.3.14Hingganite-(Y)
(Y,REE,Ca)
 
2
(□,Fe
2+
 
)Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.3.15Minasgeraisite-(Y)
Y
 
2
CaBe
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.16Sørensenite
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
14.3.18Chiavennite
CaMnBe
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
14.3.19Tvedalite
(Ca,Mn)
 
4
Be
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
17
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
14.3.20Harstigite
Ca
 
6
(Mn,Mg)Be
 
4
Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
24
14.3.21Sverigeite
NaMnMgSnBe
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
14.3.22Joesmithite
PbCa
 
2
Mg
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[Si
 
6
Be
 
2
O
 
22
](OH)
 
2
14.3.23Gadolinite-(Y)
Y
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.24Gadolinite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Y)
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.25Calciogadolinite-(Y)
(YCa)
 
2
Fe
3+
 
Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
51.2.1.2Larsenite
PbZn[SiO
 
4
]
51.2.1.3Esperite
PbCa
 
3
Zn
 
4
[SiO
 
4
]
 
4

Other Names for Trimerite

Other Languages:
German:Trimerit
Russian:Тримерит
Spanish:Trimerita

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 Trimerite

Reference List:Zeits. Krist. Min. (1890), 18, 361-365.

American Mineralogist (1927): 12: 381.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1977): 145: 46-65.

Internet Links for Trimerite

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    Localities for Trimerite

    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.
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
    		Nysten, P., Holtstam, D. and Jonsson, E. (1999) The Långban minerals. In Långban - The mines,their minerals, geology and explorers (D. Holtstam and J. Langhof, eds.), Swedish Museum of Natural History and Raster Förlag, Stockholm & Chr. Weise Verlag, Munich, pp. 89-183. ; K:Gatedal
        • Nordmark
    		Nysten,P. & Gustafsson, L.(2006): I jakt på sällsynta mineral. Geologiskt forum nr 49, 22-25; AKMG 6, nr. 21, 46
        • Pajsberg
    		Hey's Mineral Index (1993)/ Nysten,P. & Gustafsson, L.(2006): I jakt på sällsynta mineral. Geologiskt forum nr 49, 22-25
    USA
     
    • North Carolina
      • Alleghany Co.
        • Sparta
          • Bald Knob
    		Jan H.Bernard and Jaroslav Hyrsl,2004, Minerals and their Localities,pg # 694
    Mineral and/or Locality
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