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

Spurrite

Big Photo

Christmas Mts, Brewster Co., Texas, USA
© Caltech

Show Spurrite Photos (9)
Formula:
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, grey-white, ...
Hardness:5
Name:
Named by Fred Eugene Wright in 1908 after Josiah Edward Spurr (October 1, 1870-1950), American economic geologist. Spurr Crater in the northwestern part of Palus Putredinis near Archimedes Crater is also named for him.
This page provides mineralogical data about Spurrite.

Classification of Spurrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.22-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AH.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
H : Nesosilicates with CO3, SO4, PO4, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:53.1.1.1

53 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions or Complex Cations
1 : Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions of Complex Cations with (CO3)
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.4.2

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3734.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Spurrite

Type Locality:Terneras Mine, Velardeña, Velardeña District, Mun. de Cuencamé, Durango, Mexico
Year of Discovery:1908

Physical Properties of Spurrite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, grey-white, lilac-grey
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):5
Cleavage:Distinct/Good

Crystallography of Spurrite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.49Å, b = 6.7Å, c = 14.15Å
β = 101.32°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.566 : 1 : 2.112
Unit Cell Volume:V 975.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Spurrite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.640 - 1.641 nβ = 1.674 - 1.676 nγ = 1.679 - 1.681
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.039 - 0.040

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

Chemical Properties of Spurrite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Essential elements:C, Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mn,Mg,Na,K

Relationship of Spurrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AH.05Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
TiO
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
9.AH.10Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)·2H
 
2
O
9.AH.15Paraspurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AH.20Ternesite
Ca
 
5
[SO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AH.25Britholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
[(OH,F)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Britholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca)
 
3
[(OH,F)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(Cl)
Ca
 
10
[Cl
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Fluorbritholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
[(F,OH)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(F)
Ca
 
10
[(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Ellestadite-(OH)
Ca
 
10
[(OH,Cl,F)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
9.AH.25Mattheddleite
Pb
 
5
(Si
 
1.5
S
 
1.5
)O
 
12
(Cl,OH)
9.AH.25Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
9.AH.25Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
9.AH.25Fluorcalciobritholite
(Ca,Ce)
 
5
 (SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
9.AH.25IMA2009-005
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca)
 
3
[(F,OH)|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.4.1Tilleyite
Ca
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.4.3Paraspurrite
Ca
 
5
[CO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.4Scawtite
Ca
 
7
Si
 
6
(CO
 
3
)O
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
17.4.5Fukalite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.4.6Meionite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
)
 
3
]
17.4.7Cancrinite
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.4.8Carletonite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
18
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
17.4.9Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[CO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.4.10Kainosite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ce)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
17.4.11Caysichite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
Y
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
17.4.12Lepersonnite-(Gd)
Ca(Gd,Dy)
 
2
[(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(OH)
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)]
 
4
 ·48(H
 
2
O)
17.4.13Ashburtonite
Pb
 
4
Cu
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|Cl|(HCO
 
3
)
 
4
|Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · H
 
2
O
17.4.14Surite
Pb(Pb,Ca)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(Al,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
17.4.15Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
TiO
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
17.4.16Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Spurrite

Other Languages:
German:Spurrit
Russian:Сперрит
Spanish:Spurrita

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 Spurrite

Reference List:American Journal of Science (1908), 4th. series: 26: 547-554.

Smith, J.V., Karle, I.L., Hauptman, H., and Karle, J. (1960) The crystal structure of spurrite, Ca5(SiO4)2CO3. II. Description of structure. Acta Crystallographica: 13: 454-458.

Grice, J.D. (2005) The structure of spurrite, tilleyite and scawtite, and relationships to other slicate-carbonate minerals. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1489-1500.

Internet Links for Spurrite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Spurrite on Google
  • Look for Spurrite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Spurrite on Webmineral
  • Look for Spurrite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Spurrite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Spurrite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Spurrite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Spurrite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Spurrite specimens
  • Search for - Spurrite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

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

    Localities for Spurrite

    Show Locality List (39 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: 26th Nov 2009 02:20:22