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Varennesite

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Demix-Varennes quarry, Saint-Amable sill, Varennes & St-Amable, Verchères Co., Québec, Canada

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Formula:
Na
 
8
Mn
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
25
(OH,Cl)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale brownish-yellow to ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:4
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the Demix-Varennes quarry, Quebec, Canada.
This page provides mineralogical data about Varennesite.

Classification of Varennesite

IMA status:Approved 1994
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.28-100
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EE.50

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
Dana 8th edition ID:72.5.5.1

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
5 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with corrugated and complex layers
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Type Occurrence of Varennesite

Type Locality:Demix-Varennes quarry, Saint-Amable sill, Varennes & St-Amable, Verchères Co., Québec, Canada

Physical Properties of Varennesite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Pale brownish-yellow to orange
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):4

Crystallography of Varennesite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic

Optical Data of Varennesite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.532 nβ = 1.540 nγ = 1.550
2V:Measured: 89° , Calculated: 86°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.018

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

Chemical Properties of Varennesite

Formula:
Na
 
8
Mn
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
25
(OH,Cl)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mn, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, Mn, Na, O, Si

Relationship of Varennesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.EE.05Bementite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.10Brokenhillite
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Friedelite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Mcgillite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
Cl
 
2
9.EE.15Nelenite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
9.EE.15Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
9.EE.20Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Tuperssuatsiaite
Na
 
2
Fe
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Yofortierite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·8-9H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Falcondoite
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Loughlinite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·8H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Kalifersite
(K,Na)
 
5
Fe
3+
7
Si
 
20
O
 
50
(OH)
 
6
·12H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Gyrolite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.35Fedorite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
[HSi
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
9.EE.35Reyerite
(Na,K)
 
2
Ca
 
14
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Martinite
(Na,Ca)
 
11
Ca
 
4
(Si,S,B)
 
14
B
 
2
O
 
40
F
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Lalondeite
(Na,Ca)
 
6
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Si
 
16
O
 
38
(F,OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.EE.40Natrosilite
Na
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
9.EE.45Makatite
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.55Raite
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Mn,Ti,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
16
(OH)
 
12
·5H
 
2
O
9.EE.60Intersilite
Na
 
6
Mn
2+
 
Ti[Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)](OH)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.70Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Varennesite

Synonyms:
IMA1994-017
German names:
Varennesit
Russian names:
Вареннесит
Spanish names:
Varennesita

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 Varennesite

Reference List:Canadian Mineralogist (1995): 33: 1073-1081.

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    Localities for Varennesite

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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.
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Verchères Co.
        • Varennes & St-Amable
          • Saint-Amable sill
    		Canadian Mineralogist (1995): 33: 1073-1081.
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