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Kempite

Big Photo

Alum Rock Park, San Jose, Santa Clara Co., California, USA
© 2008, JGW

Formula:
Mn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Emerald-green
Hardness:3½
Name:
After James Furman Kemp (1859-1926), mining geologist, and Professor of Geology, Columbia University.
This page provides mineralogical data about Kempite.

Classification of Kempite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/D.01-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.DA.10a

3 : HALIDES
D : Oxyhalides, hydroxyhalides and related double halides
A : With Cu, etc., without Pb
Dana 8th edition ID:10.1.4.1

10 : OXYHALIDES AND HYDROXYHALIDES
1 : A2(O,OH)3Xq
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.10.2

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
10 : Halides of Mn
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2183.html
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Type Occurrence of Kempite

Type Locality:Alum Rock Park, San Jose, Santa Clara Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1924
Geological Setting of type material:Erratic boulder
Associated Minerals at type locality:
RhodochrositePyrochroiteHausmannite

Physical Properties of Kempite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Emerald-green
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Density (measured):2.94 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.96 g/cm3

Crystallography of Kempite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.49Å, b = 9.52Å, c = 7.12Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.682 : 1 : 0.748
Unit Cell Volume:V 439.91 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals prismatic [001]. {100} and {010} are usually absent or inconspicuous.

Optical Data of Kempite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.684 nβ = 1.695 nγ = 1.698
2V:Calculated: 54°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.014

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

Chemical Properties of Kempite

Formula:
Mn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
Essential elements:Cl, H, Mn, O
All elements listed in formula:Cl, H, Mn, O

Relationship of Kempite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.DA.05Melanothallite
Cu
 
2
[O|Cl
 
2
]
3.DA.10aAtacamite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
3.DA.10bBotallackite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
3.DA.10bClinoatacamite
Cu
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
3.DA.10aHibbingite
Fe
2+
2
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
3.DA.10cParatacamite
Cu
 
3
(Cu,Zn)[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
 
2
3.DA.10bBelloite
Cu[OH|Cl]
3.DA.10cHerbertsmithite
Cu
 
3
Zn[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
 
2
3.DA.10cKapellasite
Cu
 
3
Zn[(OH)
 
3
|Cl]
 
2
3.DA.10cGillardite
Cu
 
3
NiCl
 
2
(OH)
 
6
3.DA.10cHaydeeite
Cu
 
3
Mg(OH)
 
6
Cl
 
2
3.DA.10dIMA2009-042
Cu
 
2
Cl(OH)
 
3
3.DA.15Claringbullite
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
7
|Cl] · nH
 
2
O
3.DA.20Simonkolleite
Zn
 
5
[(OH)
 
8
|Cl
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Buttgenbachite
Cu
 
19
[(OH)
 
32
|(NO
 
3
)
 
2
|Cl
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.25Connellite
Cu
 
19
[(OH)
 
32
|SO
 
4
|Cl
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
3.DA.30Abhurite
Sn
 
21
Cl
 
16
(OH)
 
14
O
 
6
3.DA.35Ponomarevite
K
 
4
Cu
 
4
[O|Cl
 
10
]
3.DA.40Anthonyite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
3.DA.40Calumetite
Cu(OH,Cl)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.45Khaidarkanite
Na
 
0.34
Cu
 
4
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
14
F
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
3.DA.50Bobkingite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
8
|Cl
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
3.DA.55Avdoninite
K
 
2
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
4
|Cl
 
8
] · H
 
2
O
3.DA.60Droninoite
Ni
 
3
Fe
3+
 
Cl(OH)
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.10.1Scacchite
MnCl
 
2
8.10.3Chlormanganokalite
K
 
4
[MnCl
 
6
]

Other Names for Kempite

Other Languages:
German:Kempit
Russian:Кемпит
Spanish:Kempita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in dilute acid.
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 Kempite

Reference List:Rogers (1924) American Journal of Science: 8: 145.

Rogers (1949) Bulletin of the Geological Society of America: 60, no. 12, part 2: 1944.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Seventh edition, Volume II: 73-74.

Internet Links for Kempite

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    Localities for Kempite

    Show Locality List (3 Items)
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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: 2nd Nov 2009 18:42:21