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

Wesselsite

Big Photo

Wessels Mine (Wessel's Mine), Hotazel, Kalahari manganese fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
© Brent Thorne 2009

Formula:
SrCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
System:TetragonalColour:Blue
Lustre:VitreousHardness:4 - 5
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the Wessels Mine, Cape Province, South Africa.


Gillespite Group.

Classification of Wesselsite

IMA status:Approved 1994
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EA.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
A : Single nets of tetrahedra with 4-, 5-, (6-), and 8-membered rings
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-7364.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Wesselsite

Type Locality:Wessels Mine (Wessel's Mine), Hotazel, Kalahari manganese fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Physical Properties of Wesselsite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Blue
Streak:White to blue
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 5

Crystallography of Wesselsite

Crystal System:Tetragonal

Optical Data of Wesselsite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.630 nε = 1.590
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

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

Chemical Properties of Wesselsite

Formula:
SrCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
Essential elements:Cu, O, Si, Sr
All elements listed in formula:Cu, O, Si, Sr

Relationship of Wesselsite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EA.05Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Effenbergerite
BaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.10Ekanite
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KF)
KCa
 
4
[(F,OH)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
[(OH,F)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
[F|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.20Magadiite
NaSi
 
7
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
9.EA.25Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.25Davanite
K
 
2
TiSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ce[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(La)
Na
 
3
La[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.35Armstrongite
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
]·3H
 
2
O
9.EA.40Okenite
CaSi
 
2
O
 
5
·2H
 
2
O
9.EA.45Nekoite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·7H
 
2
O
9.EA.50Cavansite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.55Pentagonite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Penkvilksite
Na
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
·4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Tumchaite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
4
O
 
11
)·2H
 
2
O
9.EA.65Nabesite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
4
O
 
10
 * 4 H
 
2
O
9.EA.70Ajoite
(K,Na)Cu
 
7
[(OH)
 
6
|AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Cs
 
4
Na
 
2
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
](H
 
2
O)
 
2
9.EA.80Bussyite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
3
(Na,H
 
2
O)
 
6
MnSi
 
9
Be
 
5
(O,OH)
 
30
F
 
4
9.EA.85Plumbophyllite
Pb
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
·H
 
2
O

Other Names for Wesselsite

Synonyms:
IMA1994-055
Other Languages:
German:Wesselsit
Russian:Весселсит
Spanish:Wesselsita

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 Wesselsite

Reference List:Giester, G. and Rieck, B. (1996): Wesselsite, SrCu[Si4O10], a further new gillespite-group mineral from the Kalahari Field, South Africa. Mineralogical Magazine, 60, 795-798.

Mineralogical Record: 28: 145.

Internet Links for Wesselsite

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

    • Page Sponsor

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

    Localities for Wesselsite

    Show Locality List (1 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: 17th Nov 2009 16:32:03