Chesterite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Chesterite
Formula:
(Mg,Fe)17Si20O54(OH)6
Colour:
colorless to very light pinkish brown
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
3.08 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for the town of Chester, Vermont, near the type locality.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Chesterite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
997
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:997:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
f4a8a184-c41a-477a-9aff-094dc75ceca2
IMA Classification of Chesterite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mg17Si20O54(OH)6
Approval year:
1977
First published:
1978
Approval history:
IMA1977-010
Classification of Chesterite
9.DF.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
F : Inosilicates with 2-periodic multiple chains
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
F : Inosilicates with 2-periodic multiple chains
68.1.1.1
68 : INOSILICATES Structures with Chains of More Than One Width
1 : Structures with Chains of More Than One Width
68 : INOSILICATES Structures with Chains of More Than One Width
1 : Structures with Chains of More Than One Width
14.21.10
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
21 : Silicates of Fe and Mg
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
21 : Silicates of Fe and Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Chs | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Chs | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
Physical Properties of Chesterite
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
colorless to very light pinkish brown
Comment:
colorless in thin section
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{110}
{110}
Parting:
breakage along {100} and {010} may be due to parting.
Density:
3.08 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chesterite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.617 nβ = 1.632 nγ = 1.640
2V:
Measured: 71° , Calculated: 70°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.023
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r < v
Chemistry of Chesterite
Mindat Formula:
(Mg,Fe)17Si20O54(OH)6
Common Impurities:
Al,Mn,Ca,Na
Crystallography of Chesterite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 18.614 Å, b = 45.306 Å, c = 5.296 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.411 : 1 : 0.117
Unit Cell V:
4,466.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Space Group: A21ma:
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000689 | Chesterite | Veblen D R, Burnham C W (1978) New biopyriboles from Chester, Vermont: II. The crystal chemistry of jimthompsonite, clinojimthompsonite, and chesterite, and the amphibole-mica reaction American Mineralogist 63 1053-1073 | 1978 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
11.327 Å | (41) |
8.609 Å | (100) |
3.751 Å | (34) |
3.246 Å | (49) |
3.076 Å | (66) |
2.779 Å | (31) |
2.554 Å | (36) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
38 : Ophiolites |
Type Occurrence of Chesterite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Intergrowths in anthophyllite and cummingtonite. Radiating sprays of prismatic crystals to 5 cm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M36083.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 134079.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 145869.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 134079.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 145869.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
'Blackwall zone' or the chlorite- or biotite-bearing metasomatic reaction zone sometimes found at the boundary of a metamorphosed ultramafic body.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Veblen, D.R., Burnham, C.W. (1978) New biopyriboles from Chester, Vermont: I. Descriptive mineralogy. American Mineralogist: 63: 1000-1009.
Synonyms of Chesterite
Other Language Names for Chesterite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
12 photos of Chesterite associated with Jimthompsonite | (Mg,Fe)5Si6O16(OH)2 |
12 photos of Chesterite associated with Clinojimthompsonite | (Mg,Fe)5Si6O16(OH)2 |
11 photos of Chesterite associated with Anthophyllite | ◻{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
11 photos of Chesterite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
10 photos of Chesterite associated with Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
3 photos of Chesterite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.DF. | Bohseite | Ca4Be3+xAl1-xSi9O25-x(OH)3+x |
9.DF.05 | Clinojimthompsonite | (Mg,Fe)5Si6O16(OH)2 |
9.DF.05 | Jimthompsonite | (Mg,Fe)5Si6O16(OH)2 |
9.DF.15 | Ershovite | Na4K3(Fe,Mn,Ti)2Si8O22(OH)4 · 4H2O |
9.DF.15 | Paraershovite | Na3K3Fe3+2Si8O20(OH)4 · 4H2O |
9.DF.20 | Tvedalite | (Ca,Mn)4Be3Si6O17(OH)4 · 3H2O |
9.DF.25 | Bavenite | Ca4Be2Al2Si9O26(OH)2 |
9.DF.30 | Bigcreekite | BaSi2O5 · 4H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Chesterite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-997.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Chesterite
Reference List:
Localities for Chesterite
Locality List
- 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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Finland | |
| Schumacher et al. ( 3-4) |
Greenland | |
| epsc.wustl.edu (2008) |
Japan | |
| Konishi (1991) |
Norway | |
| Rune S. Selbekk (2010) |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
Stalder et al. (1998) | |
UK | |
| Droop (1994) |
USA | |
| webmineral.com (2000) |
| Veblen et al. (1978) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout ChesteriteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Carlton Quarry, Chester, Windsor County, Vermont, USA