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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
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(F,OH) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH,F) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)F · 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
AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Na
 
2
Cs
 
4
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
]*2H
 
2
O
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.

Knight, K. S.; Henderson, C. M. B.; Clark, S. M. (2010): Structural variations in the wesselsite-effenbergerite (Sr1xBaxCuSi4O10) solid solution. European Journal of Mineralogy 22, 411-423.

Internet Links for Wesselsite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    • Localities for Wesselsite

    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.
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Kalahari manganese fields
        • Hotazel
    		Min.Mag.(1996) 60, 795-798
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