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Surinamite

Big Photo

Christmas point pegmatite, Khmara Bay, Casey Bay, Napier Complex, Enderby Land, Eastern Antarctica, Antarctica
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Show Surinamite Photos (2)
Formula:
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
Al
 
4
BeSi
 
3
O
 
16
System:MonoclinicColour:Blue-green
Name:Named after Surinam where the mineral was discovered in the Bakhuis Mountains.


Aenigmatite Group.

Only the 1M-polytype is known in nature.

Classification of Surinamite

IMA status:Approved 1974
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.15-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DH.55

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12
Dana 8th edition ID:69.2.1b.2

69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.6.7

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
6 : Aluminosilicates of Be
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Type Occurrence of Surinamite

Type Locality:Bakhuis Mts., Sipaliwini District, Surinam
Year of Discovery:1976

Physical Properties of Surinamite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Blue-green

Crystallography of Surinamite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.91Å, b = 11.38Å, c = 9.63Å
β = 109.3°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.871 : 1 : 0.846
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,025.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Surinamite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.738 nβ = 1.743 nγ = 1.746
2V:Measured: 67° to 68°, Calculated: 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

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

Chemical Properties of Surinamite

Formula:
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
Al
 
4
BeSi
 
3
O
 
16
Essential elements:Al, Be, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Be, Fe, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Mn,Zn,Ca,F

Relationship of Surinamite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DH.05Leucophanite
NaCaBeSi
 
2
O
 
6
F
9.DH.10Ohmilite
Sr
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)[(O,OH)|(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
] · 2-3H
 
2
O
9.DH.15Haradaite
SrVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.15Suzukiite
BaVSi
 
2
O
 
7
9.DH.20Batisite
Na
 
2
BaTi
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.20Shcherbakovite
Na(K,Ba)
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.25Taikanite
Sr
 
3
BaMn
2+
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
9.DH.30Krauskopfite
BaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·3H
 
2
O
9.DH.35Balangeroite
(Mg,Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
42
Si
 
16
O
 
54
(OH)
 
40
9.DH.35Gageite
Mn
 
21
O
 
3
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(OH)
 
20
9.DH.40Aenigmatite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
5
TiO
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
9.DH.40Dorrite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
[O
 
2
|Al
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Høgtuvaite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|Be(Si,Al)
 
5
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Krinovite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
4
Cr
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Makarochkinite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
 
Ti[O
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
4
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Rhönite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.40Welshite
Ca
 
4
Mg
 
9
Sb
 
3
O
 
4
[Si
 
6
Be
 
3
AlFe
 
2
O
 
36
]
9.DH.40Wilkinsonite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
4
Fe
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
9.DH.45Sapphirine
(Mg,Fe)
 
4-x
Al
 
4+x
[Al
 
4+x
Si
 
2-x
O
 
18
]O
 
2
9.DH.50Khmaralite
(Mg,Al,Fe)
 
16
[(Al,Si,Be)
 
12
O
 
36
]O
 
4
9.DH.60Deerite
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Fe,Al)
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
20
(OH)
 
5
9.DH.65Howieite
Na(Fe,Mn)
 
10
(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
31
(OH)
 
13
9.DH.65Taneyamalite
(Na,Ca)(Mn,Mg,Fe)
 
12
Si
 
12
(O,OH)
 
44
9.DH.70Johninnesite
Na
 
2
Mn
2+
9
Mg
 
7
(OH)
 
8
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
[Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
9.DH.75Agrellite
NaCa
 
2
[F|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.6.1Beryl
Be
 
3
Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
16.6.2Euclase
BeAl[OH|SiO
 
4
]
16.6.3Bavenite
Ca
 
4
Be
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
9
O
 
26
(OH)
 
2
16.6.4Aminoffite
Ca
 
2
(Be,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)·H
 
2
O
16.6.5Milarite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Al
 
2
Be
 
4
Si
 
24
O
 
60
·H
 
2
O
16.6.6Lovdarite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
4
(Be,Al)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
16.6.8Ferrotaaffeite-6N'3S
(Be,Zn,Mg)FeAl
 
4
O
 
8

Other Names for Surinamite

Synonyms:
IMA1974-053
Other Languages:
German:Surinamit
Russian:Суринамит
Spanish:Surinamita

Polytypes for Surinamite

Polytypes:
Surinamite-1M

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 Surinamite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1976) 61: 193-199.

American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 418.

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 804-810.

Barbier, J., Grew, E.S., Hålenius E., Hålenius, U., and Yates, M.G. (2002) The role of Fe and cation order in the crystal chemistry of surinamite, (Mg,Fe 2+)3(Al,Fe 3+)3O[AlBeSi3O15]L: A crystal structure, Mössbauer spectroscopic, and optical spectroscopic study. American Mineralogist: 87: 501-513.

Internet Links for Surinamite

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    Localities for Surinamite

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