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Wadsleyite

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Formula:
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
System:Orthorhombic
Name:Named in honor of David Arthur Wadsley (1918-1969), Australian solid-state chemist and crystallographer, former research scientist of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia, for his significant contributions to crystallography, including the concept of crystallographic shearing.
Polymorph of:Forsterite, Ringwoodite


Olivine Group.

The orthorhombic, high-pressure polymorph of Ringwoodite and Forsterite (a member of the Olivine group of minerals). Initially found in the Peace River meteroite (from Alberta, Canada), it is thought to be formed from the transformation of Olivine during an extraterrestrial shock event (eg meteorite impact). It is known to be stable in the transition zone of the Earth's upper mantle (between 400 and 525km depth).

Recent lab experiments, published in 2009, led by Thomas Ahrens at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have been able to replicate the formation of Wadsleyite by launching a high-velocity tantalum projectile at a sample containing magnesium oxide and silicon dioxide (Quartz)

Classification of Wadsleyite

IMA status:Approved 1982
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.06-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.BE.02

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
E : Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.3.4.1

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.21.3

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
21 : Silicates of Fe and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Wadsleyite

Type Locality:Peace River meteorite, Peace River, Alberta, Canada
Year of Discovery:1966

Physical Properties of Wadsleyite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent

Crystallography of Wadsleyite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.7Å, b = 11.71Å, c = 8.24Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.487 : 1 : 0.704
Unit Cell Volume:V 550.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Wadsleyite

Type:Biaxial
Dispersion:r > v

Chemical Properties of Wadsleyite

Formula:
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
Essential elements:Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Fe, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Cr,Mn,Ni,Ca,Zn

Relationship of Wadsleyite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.BE.05Hennomartinite
SrMn
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.BE.05Lawsonite
CaAl
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.BE.05Noelbensonite
BaMn
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.BE.05Itoigawaite
SrAl
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.BE.07Ilvaite
CaFe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
9.BE.07Manganilvaite
Ca(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
9.BE.10Suolunite
Ca
 
2
(H
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
) · H
 
2
O
9.BE.12Jaffeite
Ca
 
6
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
6
9.BE.15Fresnoite
Ba
 
2
Ti(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
9.BE.17Baghdadite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
9.BE.17Burpalite
Na
 
2
CaZr(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)F
 
2
9.BE.17Cuspidine
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(F,OH)
 
2
9.BE.17Hiortdahlite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
9.BE.17Janhaugite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Ti,Zr,Nb)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
9.BE.17Låvenite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
9.BE.17Niocalite
(Ca,Nb)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
9.BE.17Normandite
NaCa(Mn,Fe)(Ti,Nb,Zr)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)OF
9.BE.17Wöhlerite
NaCa
 
2
(Zr,Nb)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
9.BE.17Hiortdahlite I
Na
 
4
Ca
 
8
Zr
 
2
(Nb,Mn,Ti,Fe,Mg,Al)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
O
 
3
F
 
5
9.BE.17Marianoite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(Nb,Zr)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(O,F)
 
4
9.BE.20Mosandrite
(◻,Ca,Na)
 
3
(Ca,REE)
 
4
Ti(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
[H
 
2
O,OH,F]
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
9.BE.20Nacareniobsite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ca
 
3
(Ce,La,Nd)Nb(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
OF
 
3
9.BE.22Götzenite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
Ti(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
F
 
4
9.BE.22Hainite
Na
 
4
Ca
 
8
(Ti,Zr,Mn)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
F
 
4
9.BE.22Rosenbuschite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)OF
9.BE.22Kochite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Ca)ZrTi(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(F,O)
 
4
9.BE.23Dovyrenite
Ca
 
6
Zr(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.BE.25Barytolamprophyllite
(Ba,Na)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O(OH,F)
9.BE.25Ericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
9.BE.25Lamprophyllite
(Sr,K,Ba)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O(O,OH,F)
9.BE.25Ericssonite-2O
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
9.BE.25Seidozerite
Na
 
8
Mn
2+
2
Zr
 
3
Ti
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
O
 
4
F
 
4
9.BE.25Nabalamprophyllite
Na
 
3
(Ba,Na)
 
2
Ti
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
9.BE.25Grenmarite
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Mn,Na)(Zr,Mn)
 
2
(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(O,F)
 
4
9.BE.25Schüllerite
Ba
 
2
Na(Mn,Ca)(Fe
3+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(O,F)
 
4
9.BE.25Lileyite
Ba
 
2
(Na,Fe,Ca)
 
3
MgTi
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
F
 
2
9.BE.27Murmanite
Na
 
2
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.BE.30Epistolite
Na
 
2
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
9.BE.32Lomonosovite
Na
 
5
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(PO
 
4
)O
 
2
9.BE.35Vuonnemite
Na
 
11
Ti
4+
 
Nb
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
3
(F,OH)
9.BE.37Sobolevite
Na
 
13
Ca
 
2
Mn
 
2
Ti
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
3
F
 
3
9.BE.40Innelite
Na
 
2
CaBa
 
4
Ti
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
4
9.BE.40Phosphoinnelite
Na
 
3
Ba
 
4
Ti
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
F
9.BE.42Yoshimuraite
Ba
 
2
Mn
 
2
Ti(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(PO
 
4
)O(OH)
9.BE.45Quadruphite
Na
 
14
Ca
 
2
Ti
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
F
9.BE.47Polyphite
Na
 
5
(Na
 
4
Ca
 
2
)Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
O
 
2
F
 
2
9.BE.50Bornemanite
Na
 
6
BaTi
 
2
Nb(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)O
 
2
(OH)F
9.BE.50Shkatulkaite
Na
 
10
Mn
2+
 
Ti
 
3
Nb
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
F · 12H
 
2
O
9.BE.55Bafertisite
Ba(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(O,OH)
 
2
9.BE.55Hejtmanite
Ba(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH,F)
9.BE.55Bykovaite
(Ba,Na,K)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Mn)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(H
 
2
O,F,OH)
 
2
 · 3.5H
 
2
O
9.BE.55Nechelyustovite
(Ba,Sr,K)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Mn)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(O,H
 
2
O,F)
 
2
 · 4.5H
 
2
O
9.BE.60Delindeite
(Na,K)
 
2
(Ba,Ca)
 
2
(Ti,Fe,Al)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.BE.65Bussenite
Na
 
2
Ba
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Ti(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
3
F
9.BE.67Jinshajiangite
BaNaFe
2+
4
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
2
F
9.BE.67Perraultite
BaNaMn
2+
4
Ti
 
2
 (Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
2
F
9.BE.67Surkhobite
NaCaBa
 
2
Mn
 
8
Ti
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
O
 
5
F
 
5
9.BE.70Karnasurtite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Th)(Ti,Nb)(Al,Fe)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.BE.70Perrierite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Th)
 
4
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Strontiochevkinite
(Sr,La,Ce,Ca)
 
4
Fe
2+
 
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Chevkinite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca,Th)
 
4
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
2+
 
,Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Polyakovite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
4
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Rengeite
Sr
 
4
ZrTi
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Matsubaraite
Sr
 
4
Ti
 
5
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Dingdaohengite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)
 
4
Fe
2+
 
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Maoniupingite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,◻)(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Nb)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Perrierite-(La)
(La,Ce,Ca)
 
4
(Fe,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70UKI-2008-(SiO:SrTiZr)
Sr
 
4
ZrTi
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.70Hezuolinite
(Sr,REE)
 
4
Zr(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
9.BE.72Fersmanite
Ca
 
4
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
F
 
3
9.BE.75Belkovite
Ba
 
3
(Nb,Ti)
 
6
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
12
9.BE.77Nasonite
Pb
 
6
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
3
Cl
 
2
9.BE.80Kentrolite
Pb
 
2
Mn
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
9.BE.80Melanotekite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
9.BE.82Tilleyite
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
9.BE.85Killalaite
Ca
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
) · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.BE.87Stavelotite-(La)
(La,Nd,Ca)
 
3
Mn
2+
3
Cu(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Mn
4+
 
)
 
26
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
6
O
 
5
9.BE.90Biraite-(Ce)
Ce
 
2
Fe
2+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(CO
 
3
)
9.BE.92Cervandonite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,La)(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Ti,Al)
 
3
O
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)
9.BE.95Batisivite
BaV
3+
8
Ti
 
6
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
22
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.21.1Olivine
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.21.2Ringwoodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.21.4Clinoferrosilite
Fe
2+
 
SiO
 
3
14.21.5Anthophyllite
☐{Mg
 
2
}{Mg
 
5
}(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
14.21.6Cummingtonite
☐{Mg
 
2
}{Mg
 
5
}(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
14.21.7 Magnesiocummingtonite
14.21.8Grunerite
☐{Fe
2+
2
}{Fe
2+
5
}(Si
 
8
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
14.21.9Minnesotaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
14.21.10Chesterite
(Mg,Fe)
 
17
Si
 
20
O
 
54
(OH)
 
6
14.21.11Jimthompsonite
(Mg,Fe)
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
14.21.12Clinojimthompsonite
(Mg,Fe)
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
14.21.13Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
14.21.14Balangeroite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
42
Si
 
16
O
 
54
(OH)
 
40

Other Names for Wadsleyite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-012
Other Languages:
German:Wadsleyit
Russian:Уэдслиит
Spanish:Wadsleyita

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 Wadsleyite

Reference List:

- +
PRICE, R.D., PUTNIS, A., AGRELL, S.O. & SMITH, D.G.W. (1983): Wadsleyite, natural bbb-(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 from the Peace River meteorite. Canadian Mineralogist 21, 29-35.
KUDOH, Y., INOUE, T. & ARASHI, H. (1996): Structure and crystal chemistry of hydrous wadsleyite Mg1.75SiH0.5O4: possible hydrous magnesium silicate in the mantle transition zone. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 23, 461-469.
SMYTH, J.R., KAWAMOTO, T., JACOBSEN, S.D., SWOPE, R.J., HERVIG, R.L. & HOLLOWAY, J.R. (1997): Crystal structure of monoclinic hydrous wadsleyite β-(Mg,Fe)2SiO4. American Mineralogist 82, 270-275.
Sinogeikin, S.V., Katsura, T., and Bass, J.D. (1998) Sound velocities and elastic properties of Fe-bearing wadsleyite and ringwoodite. Journal of Geophysical Research: 103: 20819-20825.
Demouchy, S., Deloule, E., Frost, D.J., and Keppler, H. (2005) Pressure and temperature-dependence of water solubility in Fe-free wadsleyite. American Mineralogist: 90: 1084-1091.
Oliver Tschauner, Paul D. Asimow et al. Ultrafast growth of wadsleyite in shock-produced melts and its implications for early solar system impact processes PNAS 2009 : 0905751106v1-pnas.0905751106.

Internet Links for Wadsleyite

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    • Localities for Wadsleyite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
     
    • Queensland
      • Charters Towers Region
        • South Gregory
          • Tenham Station
    		Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIV (2003)
    Canada
     
    • Alberta
      • Peace River
    		PRICE, R.D., PUTNIS, A., AGRELL, S.O. & SMITH, D.G.W. (1983): Wadsleyite, natural bbb-(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 from the Peace River meteorite. Canadian Mineralogist 21, 29-35.
    China
     
    • Anhui Province
      • Anqing Prefecture
        • Qianshan Co.
    		Am. Min. , V 84, pp. 564-569, 1999.
      • Bozhou Prefecture
        • Qiaocheng District
          • Xiaoyanzhuang
    		Kuiren Wang, Ji'an Hong, and Meyer, H.O.A. (1995): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 15(1), 9-14
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • Richelsdorf District
        • Süss
          • Richelsdorf Smelter
    		S. Weiß: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1992
    Oman
     
    • Dhofar (Al Janubiyah) Province
    		D.D. Badjukov et al. , Lunar and Planetary Science, XXXVI (2005), 1684.pdf
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