Armalcolite

Armalcolite

Ophite outcrop, Casterner de les Olles, Tremp, El Pallars Jussà, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

Armalcolite

Smoky Butte, Garfield County, Montana, USA

Armalcolite

Apollo 17 landing site, Taurus-Littrow Valley, The Moon

Armalcolite

Ophite outcrop, Casterner de les Olles, Tremp, El Pallars Jussà, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

Armalcolite

Smoky Butte, Garfield County, Montana, USA

Armalcolite

Apollo 17 landing site, Taurus-Littrow Valley, The Moon

Armalcolite

Ophite outcrop, Casterner de les Olles, Tremp, El Pallars Jussà, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain

Armalcolite

Smoky Butte, Garfield County, Montana, USA

About ArmalcoliteHide

Armstong, Aldrin & Collins

Formula:

(Mg,Fe²⁺)Ti₂O₅

Colour:

Grey

Lustre:

Metallic

Hardness:

5

Specific Gravity:

4.94

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Member of:

Pseudobrookite Group

Name:

Named in 1970 by A. T. Andersen, T. E. Bunch, Eugene N. Cameron, S. E. Haggery, F. R. Boyd, O. B. James, K. Keil, Marun Prinz, Paul Ramdohr, and A. El Goresy. This name is in honor of the first three astronauts who traveled to Earth's Moon. The name is an acronym derived from the last names of Neil Alden ARMstrong (b. 1930, d. 2012), Edwin Eugene ALdrin (b. 1930) and Michael COLlins (b. 1930), the Apollo 11 astronauts who collected the type samples.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Tranquillity Base (Apollo 11 landing site), Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility), The Moon

Armalcolite-Pseudobrookite Series.

Compare also karrooite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of ArmalcoliteHide

Classification of ArmalcoliteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of ArmalcoliteHide

Optical Data of ArmalcoliteHide

Type:

Biaxial

Anisotropism:

Strong, pale grey to dark bluish gray

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R1	R2
450 nm	14.1%	15.2%
470 nm	14.0%	15.0%
500 nm	13.8%	14.7%
520 nm	13.7%	14.5%
546 nm	13.4%	14.4%
586 nm	13.3%	14.3%
620 nm	13.2%	14.2%
640 nm	13.0%	14.1%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 15.2%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

Grey to tan

Pleochroism:

Visible

Chemistry of ArmalcoliteHide

Crystallography of ArmalcoliteHide

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0000590	Armalcolite	Wechsler B A (1977) Cation distribution and high-temperature crystal chemistry of armalcolite American Mineralogist 62 913-920		1977		0	297
0000591	Armalcolite	Wechsler B A (1977) Cation distribution and high-temperature crystal chemistry of armalcolite American Mineralogist 62 913-920		1977		0	297
0000592	Armalcolite	Wechsler B A (1977) Cation distribution and high-temperature crystal chemistry of armalcolite American Mineralogist 62 913-920		1977		0	1373
0000593	Armalcolite	Wechsler B A (1977) Cation distribution and high-temperature crystal chemistry of armalcolite American Mineralogist 62 913-920		1977		0	297
0000594	Armalcolite	Wechsler B A (1977) Cation distribution and high-temperature crystal chemistry of armalcolite American Mineralogist 62 913-920		1977		0	673
0009835	Armalcolite	Wechsler B A, Von Dreele R B (1989) Structure refinements of Mg2TiO4, MgTiO3 and MgTi2O5 by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction Acta Crystallographica B45 542-549		1989	synthetic	0	293
0009836	Armalcolite	Wechsler B A, Von Dreele R B (1989) Structure refinements of Mg2TiO4, MgTiO3 and MgTi2O5 by time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction Acta Crystallographica B45 542-549		1989	synthetic	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to closedata_global _chemical_name_mineral 'Armalcolite' loop_ _publ_author_name 'Wechsler B A' _journal_name_full 'American Mineralogist' _journal_volume 62 _journal_year 1977 _journal_page_first 913 _journal_page_last 920 _publ_section_title ; Cation distribution and high-temperature crystal chemistry of armalcolite sample Arm-E, T = 24 deg C, before annealing ; _database_code_amcsd 0000590 _chemical_formula_sum 'Fe.5 Mg.5 Ti1.999 O5' _cell_length_a 9.7762 _cell_length_b 10.0341 _cell_length_c 3.7504 _cell_angle_alpha 90 _cell_angle_beta 90 _cell_angle_gamma 90 _cell_volume 367.897 _exptl_crystal_density_diffrn 3.896 _symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'B b m m' loop_ _space_group_symop_operation_xyz 'x,y,z' '1/2+x,y,1/2+z' '-x,1/2+y,z' '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2+z' 'x,1/2-y,-z' '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2-z' 'x,y,-z' '1/2+x,y,1/2-z' '-x,-y,z' '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z' 'x,1/2-y,z' '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2+z' '-x,1/2+y,-z' '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z' '-x,-y,-z' '1/2-x,-y,1/2-z' loop_ _atom_site_label _atom_site_fract_x _atom_site_fract_y _atom_site_fract_z _atom_site_occupancy Fe1 0.80743 0.25000 0.00000 0.33200 Mg1 0.80743 0.25000 0.00000 0.33200 Ti1 0.80743 0.25000 0.00000 0.33500 Fe2 0.13464 0.43528 0.00000 0.08400 Mg2 0.13464 0.43528 0.00000 0.08400 Ti2 0.13464 0.43528 0.00000 0.83200 O1 0.22430 0.25000 0.00000 1.00000 O2 0.04640 0.88460 0.00000 1.00000 O3 0.31330 0.93480 0.00000 1.00000 loop_ _atom_site_aniso_label _atom_site_aniso_U_11 _atom_site_aniso_U_22 _atom_site_aniso_U_33 _atom_site_aniso_U_12 _atom_site_aniso_U_13 _atom_site_aniso_U_23 Fe1 0.00673 0.00801 0.01382 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 Mg1 0.00673 0.00801 0.01382 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 Ti1 0.00673 0.00801 0.01382 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 Fe2 0.00620 0.00888 0.01211 -0.00040 0.00000 0.00000 Mg2 0.00620 0.00888 0.01211 -0.00040 0.00000 0.00000 Ti2 0.00620 0.00888 0.01211 -0.00040 0.00000 0.00000 O1 0.01840 0.01071 0.01724 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 O2 0.00968 0.00969 0.02216 -0.00099 0.00000 0.00000 O3 0.01162 0.01530 0.01119 -0.00050 0.00000 0.00000

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Type Occurrence of ArmalcoliteHide

Other Language Names for ArmalcoliteHide

Relationship of Armalcolite to other SpeciesHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Armalcolite in petrologyHide

Internet Links for ArmalcoliteHide

References for ArmalcoliteHide

Localities for ArmalcoliteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.

Antarctica
Eastern Antarctica Victoria Land Allan Hills ⓘ Allan Hills 85085 meteorite	Makoto Kimura & Ahmed El Goresy (1989). Discovery of E-Chondrite Assemblages and Silica-Bearing Objects in ALH85085:- Link Between E- and C-Chondrites (Abstract). Abstracts and Program for the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. LPI Contribution 712, p. 112.
Argentina
Santa Cruz Province Río Chico Department ⓘ Cerro Redondo cinder cone	Tassara, S., González-Jiménez, J. M., Reich, M., Schilling, M. E., Morata, D., Begg, G., ... & Barra, F. (2017). Plume-subduction interaction forms large auriferous provinces. Nature Communications, 8(1), 843.
Australia
Queensland Western Downs Region Moonie ⓘ Miles meteorite	Ikeda, Y. & Prinz, M. (1996) Petrology of silicate inclusions in the Miles IIE iron: Antarctic Meteorite Research. Twentieth Symposium on Antarctic Meteorites, NIPR Symposium No. 9: Editor, Kojima, H. & others: 143-173. Ebihara, M., Ikeda, Y., & Prinz, M. (1997) Petrology and chemistry of the Miles IIE iron. II: Chemical characteristics of the Miles silicate inclusions. Antarctic Meteorite Research. Twenty first Symposium on Antarctic Meteorites, NIPR Symposium No. 10: Editor, Hirasawa, T. : 373-388.
Austria
Styria Südoststeiermark District Klöch ⓘ Basalt quarry	Taucher, J. & Hollerer, C. E. (1998): Minerale eines Si- und Al-reichen Xenoliths aus dem Basaltsteinbruch von Klöch, Nördlicher Bruch, (Steiermark, Österreich). Mitt. naturwiss. Ver. Steiermark 128, 21-42.
Brazil
Pernambuco Fernando de Noronha archipelago ⓘ Chapéu do Nordeste islet	Kogarko, L., Kurat, G., & Ntaflos, T. (2001). Carbonate metasomatism of the oceanic mantle beneath Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 140(5), 577-587.
Canada
Nunavut Coppermine River area ⓘ Muskox Intrusion	Roach, T. S., Roeder, P. L., & Hulbert, L. J. (1998). Composition of chromite in the upper chromitite, Muskox layered intrusion, Northwest Territories. The Canadian Mineralogist, 36(1), 117-135.
China
Shaanxi Hanzhong Ningqiang County ⓘ Ningqiang meteorite (Ningqiang carbonaceous chondrite)	Lin, Y. T. & Kimura, M. (1996). Discovery of Complex Titanium Oxide Associations in a Plagioclase-Olivine Inclusion (POI) in the Ningqiang Carbonaceous Chondrite. Lunar and Planetary Science, vol. 27, pages 755-756. (1996).
Czech Republic
Liberec Region ⓘ North Bohemian Uranium District	Kühn, P., Scharmová, M.: Manganový armalcolit a pseudorutil z uranonosných sedimentů severoč eské kř ídové pánve u Stráže pod Ralskem. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddě lení Národního muzea v Praze, 1999, roč . 7, s. 173-176.
France
French Southern and Antarctic Lands ⓘ Kerguelen Islands	Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 122, 174-190 (1995) Grégoire, M., Lorand, J.P., O’Reilly, S.Y., Cottin, J.Y. (2000) Armalcolite-bearing, Ti-rich metasomatic assemblages in harzburgitic xenoliths from the Kerguelen Islands: Implications for the oceanic mantle budget of high-field strength elements. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64, 673–694.
Germany
Bavaria Upper Bavaria Traunstein District ⓘ Chiemsee crater	Neumair, A., Waitzinger, M. & Finger, F. (2016) Interesting glass coatings on cobbles and rock fragments from the Alpine Foreland, SE-Bavaria, Germany, and their possible origin. Poster-Neumair-GeoTirol-2016
ⓘ Nördlinger Ries Crater	J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
Rhineland-Palatinate Mayen-Koblenz Pellenz Nickenich ⓘ Nickenicher Weinberg	Schäfer, Ch. (2021) Armalcolit und Schäferit vom Weinberg bei Nickenich, Der Aufschluß, Vol. 72, 170-176
Greenland
Qeqertalik ⓘ Disko Island	J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
ⓘ Asuk	Pedersen, A.K. (1979) A shale buchite xenolith with Al-armalcolite and native iron in a lava from Asuk, Disko, central West Greenland. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 69, No. 1, 83-94
Mexico
Chihuahua Pueblito de Allende ⓘ Allende meteorite	Brearley, A. J. & Jones, R. H. (1998). Chondritic Meteorites. In: Planetary Materials (Papike, J. J., Editor): Chapter 3, 398 pages. Mineralogical Society of America: Washington, DC, USA. (1998)
San Luis Potosí ⓘ El Toro cinder cone	J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
Mongolia
Khovd Province Myangad District ⓘ Khaldzan Buragtag massif	Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) analytical data.
Oman
Dhofar Governorate ⓘ Dhofar 301 Lunar meteorite (Dho 301)	Meteoritical Bulletin No. 86
ⓘ Dhofar 733 Lunar meteorite (Dho 733)	www.meteoriticalsociety.org/bulletin/mb87.pdf.
ⓘ Dhofar 925 Lunar meteorite (Dho 925)	The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 88, 2004 JULY, Meteoritics & Planetary Science 39, Axxx–Axxx (2004)
Romania
Timiș Gătaia ⓘ Sumiga Hill	Seghedi I., Ntaflos T. 2006: G˘ataia lamproite (SW Romania). Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 29, 188-191
Russia
Chelyabinsk Oblast ⓘ Kopeysk	Cesnokov, B., Kotrly, M., Nisanbajev, T. (1998) Brennende Abraumhalden und Aufschlüsse im Tscheljabinsker Kohlenbecken - eine reiche Mineralienküche [Burning tailings and outcrops in the Chelyabinsk coal basin - a rich mineral kitchen]. Mineralien Welt, 9 (3) 54-63
Korkinsky District ⓘ Korkino	Sharygin, V. V., & Sokol, E. V. (2010). Metal-phosphide-sulfide association in paralavas from natural fires and burned waste dumps (Kuznetsk and Chelyabinsk coal basins, Russia). In Proceedings of «ICCFR2–Second International Conference on Coal Fire Research». Berlin, Germany (pp. 410-411).
Krasnoyarsk Krai Taymyrskiy Autonomous Okrug Taimyr Peninsula Khatanga Malaya Romanikha River ⓘ Khungtukun Massif	Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) analytical data.
ⓘ Sakha	[World of Stones 12:49]
Oymyakonsky District ⓘ Elga meteorite	Litasov, K. D., & Podgornykh, N. M. (2017). Raman spectroscopy of various phosphate minerals and occurrence of tuite in the Elga IIE iron meteorite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 48(11), 1518-1527. Sharygin, V.V. (2020) Mineralogy of Silicate-Natrophosphate Immiscible Inclusion in Elga IIE Iron Meteorite. Minerals 10, 437.
ⓘ Sikhote-Alin Mountains	6th orogenic lherzolite conference 2014 Morocco
Serbia
Central Serbia Pčinja District Preševo ⓘ Cer occurrence	Kostić, A., Simić, V. & Milojković, R. 1961. Alkalne bazaltoidne stene Žegligova severno od Kumanova. Bulletin du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle. Belgrade, Série A, 14-15, 59-78 [French abstract]. Altherr, R., Meyer, H. P., Holl, A., Volker, F., Alibert, C., McCulloch, M. T., & Majer, V. (2004). Geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic characteristics of late cenozoic leucite lamproites from the east European alpine belt (Macedonia and Yugoslavia). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 147(1), 58-73. Cvetković, V., Prelević, D., Downes, H., Jovanović, M., Vaselli, O., & Pécskay, Z. (2004). Origin and geodynamic significance of Tertiary postcollisional basaltic magmatism in Serbia (central Balkan Peninsula). Lithos, 73(3-4), 161-186. Prelević, D., Foley, S. F., Romer, R. L., Cvetković, V., Downes, H. (2005) Tertiary Ultrapotassic Volcanism in Serbia: Constraints on Petrogenesis and Mantle Source Characteristics. Journal of Petrology, 46 (7) 1443-1487 doi:10.1093/petrology/egi022
Slovakia
Banská Bystrica Region Banská Bystrica District Brusno ⓘ Sopotnická Valley	Uher, P. ,Černý, P., 1998 : Vzácnoprvková mineralizácia v granitových pegmatitoch Nízkych Tatier. Mineralia Slovaca, 30, 2,93 – 94
South Africa
Free State Xhariep District Municipality Kopanong Local Municipality Jagersfontein ⓘ Jagersfontein Mine	Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa, Linden .
Limpopo Waterberg District Municipality Mogalakwena Local Municipality Mogalakwena Mokopane ⓘ Sandsloot mine	MCDONALD I., HOLWELL D.A. & ARMITAGE P.E.B. (2005). Geochemistry and mineralogy of the Platreef and ìCritical Zoneî cumulates of the Northern limb of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa: implications for Bushveld stratigraphy and the development of PGE mineralization. Miner. Deposita, 40, 526-549.
Northern Cape Frances Baard District Municipality Sol Plaatje Local Municipality Kimberley KEM JV Mine (Kimberley Ekapa Mining Joint Venture mine; Kimberley Underground mine) ⓘ Bultfontein Mine	J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
ⓘ Dutoitspan Mine	J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
Spain
Andalusia Granada Colomera ⓘ Colomera meteorite	Prinz, M., Nehru, C. E., Delaney, J. S., Weisberg, M., & Olsen, E. (1983, March). Globular silicate inclusions in IIE irons and Sombrerete: Highly fractionated minimum melts. In Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (Vol. 14, pp. 618-619).
Castile-La Mancha Albacete Hellín ⓘ Cancarix lamproite intrusion	Venturelli, G., Capedri, S., Di Battistini, G., Crawford, A., Kogarko, L. N., & Celestini, S. (1984). The ultrapotassic rocks from southeastern Spain. Lithos, 17, 37-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-4937(84)90005-7 Alietti, E., Brigatti, M. F., Capedri, S., & Poppi, L. (1994). The roedderite-chayesite series from Spanish lamproites: crystal-chemical characterization. Mineralogical Magazine, 58, 655-662. https://doi.org/10.1180.minmag.1994.058.393.16 Benito, R., López-Ruiz, J., Cebriá, J. M., Hertogen, J., Doblas, M., Oyarzun, R., & Demaiffe, D. (1999). Sr and O isotope constraints on source and crustal contamination in the high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonitic Neogene volcanic rocks of SE Spain. Lithos, 46(4), 773-802. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-4937(99)00003-1
ⓘ Sierra de las Cabras	E. Salvioli-mariani et al. , Eur. J. Mineral. , 1996, 8, pp. 1027-1039.
Catalonia Lleida El Pallars Jussà Tremp Casterner de les Olles ⓘ Les Collades ravine (Escales reservoir)	Joan Rosell
ⓘ Ophite outcrop	Joan Rosell SEM-EDS analysis
Murcia ⓘ Jumilla	J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
USA
Montana Garfield County ⓘ Smoky Butte (Smoky Butte Lamproite)	Velde, D. (1975) Armalcolite-Ti-phlogopite-diopside-analcite- bearing lamproites from Smoky Butte, Garfield County, Montana. American Mineralogist: 60: 566-573. Edgar, A.D., Charbonneau, H.E., Mitchell, R.H. (1992) Phase Relations of an Armalcolite-Phlogopite Lamproite from Smoky Butte, Montana: Applications to Lamproite Genesis. Journal of Petrology: 33(3): 505–520.
Texas Uvalde County Knippa ⓘ Knippa Quarry (Whites mines; Texas Traprock quarries; Traprock Hill) ?	Smith, Arthur E. (1991) Texas Mineral Locality Index. Rocks & Minerals, 66 (3) 196-224 doi:10.1080/00357529.1991.11761622
Utah Piute County ⓘ Pine Canyon	Mineralogical Magazine 1998 62 : 265-269
Washington Skamania County ⓘ Washougal Basalt Rock Quarry ?	Zach Capel
Wyoming Sweetwater County ⓘ Leucite Hills Mining District	gsa.confex.com (n.d.) http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002RM/finalprogram/abstract_33540.htm
Zimbabwe
Masvingo ⓘ Mwenezi District	J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
The Moon
Descartes Highlands ⓘ Apollo 16 landing site	Dowty, E., Keil, K., & Prinz, M. (1974) Igneous rocks from Apollo 16 rake samples. In: Lunar Science Conference, 5th, Houston, Tex., March 18-22, 1974, Proceedings. Volume 2. (A75-39540 19-91) New York, Pergamon Press, Inc., 1974, p. 431-445. J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3 (1997), 22
Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) ⓘ Tranquillity Base (Apollo 11 landing site) (TL)	Anderson, A.T., Bunch, T.E, Cameron, E.N, Haggerty, S.E., Boyd, F.R., Finger, L.W., James, O.B., Keil, K., Prinz, M., Ramdohr, P., El Goresy, A. (1970) Armalcolite, a new mineral from the Apollo 11 samples. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 34: Supplement 1: 55-63.
Taurus-Littrow Valley ⓘ Apollo 17 landing site	www.union.edu/PUBLIC/GEODEPT/COURSES/petrology/moon_rocks/70017.htm Longhi, J., Walker, D., Grove, T. L., Stolper, E. M., & Hays, J. F. (1974) The petrology of the Apollo 17 mare basalts. In: Lunar Science Conference, 5th, Houston, Tex., March 18-22, 1974, Proceedings. Volume 1. (A75-39540 19-91) New York, Pergamon Press, Inc., 1974, p. 447-469.