Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Fersmite

Big Photo

Alpe Rosso, Orcesco, Druogno, Vigezzo Valley, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy
© D.Preite

Show Fersmite Photos (32)
Formula:
(Ca,Ce,Na)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH,F)
 
6
System:OrthorhombicHardness:4 - 4½
Name:
Named in honour of academic A. E. Fersman (1883-1945).
This page provides mineralogical data about Fersmite.

Classification of Fersmite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.19-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DG.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
G : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:8.3.3.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.2.12

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
2 : Niobates and tantalates containing rare earths but not U
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1539.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Fersmite

Type Locality:Vein No. 37A, Buldym Lake, Vishnevye (Vishnyovye) Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1946

Physical Properties of Fersmite

Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½

Crystallography of Fersmite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 15.02Å, b = 5.73Å, c = 5.22Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.621 : 1 : 0.911
Unit Cell Volume:V 449.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Fersmite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.070 nβ = 2.080 nγ = 2.190
2V:Measured: 20° to 25°, Calculated: 36°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.120

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

Chemical Properties of Fersmite

Formula:
(Ca,Ce,Na)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH,F)
 
6
Essential elements:Ca, Nb, O
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Ce, F, H, Na, Nb, O, Ta, Ti

Relationship of Fersmite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DG.05Euxenite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Kobeite-(Y)
(Y,Zr)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DG.05Loranskite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)ZrTaO
 
6
 (?)
4.DG.05Polycrase-(Y)
(Y,U)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Tanteuxenite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DG.05Uranopolycrase
(U
4+
 
,Y)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.05Yttrocrasite-(Y)
(Y,Th,Ca,U)(Ti,Fe)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)NbO
 
4
4.DG.10β-Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
4.DG.10Yttrotantalite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,U
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DG.10Beta-Fergusonite-(Nd)
4.DG.15Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.15Thoreaulite
SnTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DG.20Raspite
PbWO
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
18.2.1Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
18.2.2β-Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
18.2.3Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
18.2.4β-Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
18.2.5Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O
 
4
18.2.6β-Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)NbO
 
4
18.2.7Formanite-(Y)
YTaO
 
4
18.2.8Pyrochlore
(Ca,Na)
 
2
Nb
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)
18.2.9Ceriopyrochlore-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Y)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)
18.2.10Strontiopyrochlore
(Sr,Ce,Ca)
 
2-x
(Nb,Fe)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.2.11Loparite-(Ce)
(Na,Ce,Ca,Sr,Th)(Ti,Nb,Fe)O
 
3
18.2.13Aeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.14Aeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.15Aeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.16Nioboaeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.17Nioboaeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti,Fe,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.18Tantalaeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.2.19Vigezzite
(Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
18.2.20Murataite-(Y)
(Y,Na)
 
6
Zn(Zn,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
(Ti,Nb,Na)
 
12
O
 
29
(O,F,OH)
 
10
F
 
4

Other Names for Fersmite

Other Languages:
German:Fersmit
Russian:Ферсмит
Spanish:Fersmita

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 Fersmite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 32: 373.

Internet Links for Fersmite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Fersmite on Google
  • Look for Fersmite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Fersmite on Webmineral
  • Look for Fersmite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Fersmite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Fersmite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Fersmite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Fersmite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Fersmite specimens
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Find Fersmite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Fersmite

    Show Locality List (49 Items)
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    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: 27th Nov 2009 13:02:33