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Walstromite

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Big Photo

Esquire No. 8 claim (Lander's Gillespite locality), Big Creek, Rush Creek deposit, Big Creek-Rush Creek District, Fresno Co., California, USA
© Christopher O'Neill

Show Walstromite Photos (4)



Formula:
BaCa
 
2
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
System:TriclinicColour:Colourless to white
Hardness:3½
Name:Named after Robert "Bob" E. Walstrom, geologist and mineral collector, formerly of Fresno, CA, and now of Silver City, NM, USA. He has 12 minerals new to science to his credit, already published (2008), with more in the works.
This page provides mineralogical data about Walstromite.

Classification of Walstromite

IMA status:Approved 1964
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CA.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
A : [Si3O9]6- 3-membered single rings (dreier-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
Dana 8th edition ID:59.1.2.1

59 : CYCLOSILICATES Three-Membered Rings
1 : Three-Membered Rings, anhydrous, no other anions
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.7.3

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
7 : Silicates of Ba, Sr and Zn
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Type Occurrence of Walstromite

Type Locality:Esquire No. 7 claim, Big Creek, Rush Creek deposit, Big Creek-Rush Creek District, Fresno Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1964

Physical Properties of Walstromite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless to white
Hardness (Mohs):3½

Crystallography of Walstromite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.74Å, b = 9.6Å, c = 6.68Å
α = 69.85°, β = 102.23°, γ = 97.11°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.702 : 1 : 0.696
Unit Cell Volume:V 395.95 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Walstromite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.668 nβ = 1.684 nγ = 1.685
2V:Measured: 30° , Calculated: 26°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.017

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

Chemical Properties of Walstromite

Formula:
BaCa
 
2
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
Essential elements:Ba, Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ba, Ca, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mn,Mg,Sr,K

Relationship of Walstromite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.CA.05Bazirite
BaZr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.CA.05Benitoite
BaTi(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.CA.05Pabstite
Ba(Sn,Ti)(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.CA.10Wadeite
K
 
2
Zr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.CA.15Calciocatapleiite
CaZr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
) · 2H
 
2
O
9.CA.15Catapleiite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
3
O
 
9
) · 2H
 
2
O
9.CA.20Pseudowollastonite
CaSiO
 
3
9.CA.25Margarosanite
Pb(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.CA.30Bobtraillite
(Na,Ca)
 
13
Sr
 
11
(Zr,Y,Nb)
 
14
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
10
(H
 
2
BSi
 
2
O
 
9
)
 
6
 · 12H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.7.1Sanbornite
Ba
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
14.7.2Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
 · 3H
 
2
O
14.7.4Macdonaldite
BaCa
 
4
Si
 
16
O
 
36
(OH)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
14.7.5Ericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.6Ericssonite-2O
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O(OH)
14.7.7Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.7.8Andrémeyerite
Fe
2+
2
Ba(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.9Pellyite
Ba
 
2
Ca(Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
17
14.7.10Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
14.7.11Willemite
Zn
 
2
SiO
 
4
14.7.12Hemimorphite
Zn
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
14.7.13Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
14.7.14Hardystonite
Ca
 
2
Zn(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
14.7.15Petedunnite
Ca(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Si
 
2
O
 
6
14.7.16Clinohedrite
CaZn(SiO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
14.7.17Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
 · H
 
2
O
14.7.18Larsenite
PbZnSiO
 
4
14.7.19Esperite
PbCa
 
2
Zn
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
14.7.20Hodgkinsonite
Mn
2+
 
Zn
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
14.7.21Gerstmannite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Zn(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
14.7.22Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
14.7.23Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
 
Mn
2+
3
Mn
3+
 
(Zn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
8

Other Names for Walstromite

Synonyms:
IMA1964-009
Other Languages:
German:Walstromit
Russian:Уолстромит
Spanish:Walstromita

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 Walstromite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1965): 50: 314-340.

Glasser, L.S.D. & F.P. Glasser (1968), The crystal structure of walstromite: American Mineralogist: 53: 9-13.

American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 358.

Internet Links for Walstromite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Walstromite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Walstromite

    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.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Big Creek-Rush Creek District
          • Rush Creek deposit
            • Big Creek
    		[Amer.Min.(1965) 50, 314-340; MinRec 33:161]; American Mineralogist (1981), Volume 66, pages 1050-1053
    Bob Walstrom, p.c.
            • Rush Creek
      • Mariposa Co.
        • Incline
          • Trumbull Peak
    		[MinRec 30:414]; American Mineralogist (1981), Volume 66, pages 1050-1053
      • Tulare Co.
        • Exeter area
          • Chickencoop Canyon
    		Mineralogical Record: 34(2): 159-166
    Mineral and/or Locality
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