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Wesselsite

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Wessels Mine (Wessel's Mine), Hotazel, Kalahari manganese fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
© Brent Thorne 2009

Formula:
SrCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
System:TetragonalColour:Blue
Lustre:VitreousHardness:4 - 5
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the Wessels Mine, Cape Province, South Africa.


Gillespite Group.

Classification of Wesselsite

IMA status:Approved 1994
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EA.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
A : Single nets of tetrahedra with 4-, 5-, (6-), and 8-membered rings
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Type Occurrence of Wesselsite

Type Locality:Wessels Mine (Wessel's Mine), Hotazel, Kalahari manganese fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Physical Properties of Wesselsite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Blue
Streak:White to blue
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 5

Crystallography of Wesselsite

Crystal System:Tetragonal

Optical Data of Wesselsite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.630 nε = 1.590
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

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

Chemical Properties of Wesselsite

Formula:
SrCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
Essential elements:Cu, O, Si, Sr
All elements listed in formula:Cu, O, Si, Sr

Relationship of Wesselsite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EA.05Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Effenbergerite
BaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.10Ekanite
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KF)
KCa
 
4
[(F,OH)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
[(OH,F)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
[F|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.20Magadiite
NaSi
 
7
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
9.EA.25Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.25Davanite
K
 
2
TiSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ce[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(La)
Na
 
3
La[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.35Armstrongite
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
]·3H
 
2
O
9.EA.40Okenite
CaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·2H
 
2
O
9.EA.45Nekoite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·7H
 
2
O
9.EA.50Cavansite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.55Pentagonite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Penkvilksite
Na
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Tumchaite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
4
O
 
11
)·2H
 
2
O
9.EA.65Nabesite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
4
O
 
10
 * 4 H
 
2
O
9.EA.70Ajoite
(K,Na)Cu
 
7
[(OH)
 
6
|AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Cs
 
4
Na
 
2
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
](H
 
2
O)
 
2
9.EA.80Bussyite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
3
(Na,H
 
2
O)
 
6
MnSi
 
9
Be
 
5
(O,OH)
 
30
F
 
4
9.EA.85Plumbophyllite
Pb
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
·H
 
2
O

Other Names for Wesselsite

Synonyms:
IMA1994-055
Other Languages:
German:Wesselsit
Russian:Весселсит
Spanish:Wesselsita

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 Wesselsite

Reference List:Giester, G. and Rieck, B. (1996): Wesselsite, SrCu[Si4O10], a further new gillespite-group mineral from the Kalahari Field, South Africa. Mineralogical Magazine, 60, 795-798.

Mineralogical Record: 28: 145.

Internet Links for Wesselsite

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    Localities for Wesselsite

    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.
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kalahari manganese fields
        • Hotazel
    		Min.Mag.(1996) 60, 795-798
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 18th Nov 2009 16:30:06