Mengxianminite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Mengxianminite
Meng Xianmin
Formula:
(Ca,Na)2Sn2(Mg,Fe)3Al8[(BO3)(BeO4)O6]2
Colour:
Green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
8
Specific Gravity:
4.170 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Meng Xianmin (孟宪民) (2 February 1900, Wujin County, Jiangsu Province, China – 18 February 1969, Beijing, China), a famous geologist in China, who "devoted himself to work on mineral identification and theory of mineralization in deposits of non-ferrous metals and made significant contributions to the research of ore deposits in China."
New structure type. Unique combination of elements. Mengxianminite is the first borate mineral with both Sn and Be, likely crystallized under F-rich conditions at late stages of the Xianghualing skarn. Other Sn-B minerals are nordenskiöldine, tusionite and vistepite. Third Sn-Be mineral after sverigeite and sørensenite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
47016
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:47016:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
1b1121d2-8dde-435d-a81b-243986beb19d
IMA Classification of Mengxianminite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca2Sn2Mg3Al8[(BO3)(BeO4)O6]2
Approval year:
2015
First published:
2017
Classification of Mengxianminite
6.AB.90
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mgx | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Mengxianminite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Green
Hardness:
8 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Estimated
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect cleavage on {100} and good cleavage on {010}
Perfect cleavage on {100} and good cleavage on {010}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.170 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Mengxianminite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.800(2) nβ = 1.830(2) nγ = 1.840(2)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.040
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:
Very High
Optical Extinction:
X = a; Y = b; Z = c.
Chemistry of Mengxianminite
Mindat Formula:
(Ca,Na)2Sn2(Mg,Fe)3Al8[(BO3)(BeO4)O6]2
Crystallography of Mengxianminite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Fdd2
Cell Parameters:
a = 60.699(4) Å, b = 9.914(1) Å, c = 5.745(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 6.123 : 1 : 0.579
Unit Cell V:
3457.4 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Subhedral to euhedral green crystals from 20 to 200 μm long.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.00 Å | (35) |
| 2.931 Å | (100) |
| 2.475 Å | (29) |
| 2.430 Å | (30) |
| 2.375 Å | (100) |
| 2.028 Å | (52) |
| 1.807 Å | (35) |
| 1.530 Å | (98) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 22 : Hydration and low-𝑇 subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23) | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) |
Type Occurrence of Mengxianminite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Subhedral to euhedral green crystals from 20 to 200 μm long in a hsianghualite vein.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Cotype material: (1) Geological Museum of China, No. 16, Yangrou Hutong, Xisi, Beijing 100031, P.R. of China, catalogue number M13293; (2) Laboratory of Mineralogy, University of Liège, Belgium, catalogue number 20395.
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Ca1.64,Na0.39)Σ2.03(Sn1.85,Zn0.24)Σ2.09(Mg1.75, Fe0.72,Al0.42,Mn0.19,Ti0.01)Σ3.09Al8[(B1.01O3)(Be0.94O4)O6]2
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| Al2O3 | 40.00 % |
|---|---|
| SnO2 | 25.96 % |
| MgO | 6.57 % |
| CaO | 8.56 % |
| FeO | 4.83 % |
| B2O3 | 6.53 % |
| BeO | 4.37 % |
| ZnO | 1.81 % |
| MnO | 1.23 % |
| Na2O | 1.13 % |
| TiO2 | 0.10 % |
| SiO2 | 0.04 % |
| Total: | 101.13 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Xianghualing skarn, Linwu County, Hunan Province, China.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Rao, C., Hatert, F., Dal Bo, F., Wang, R., Gu, X., Baijot, M. (2017): Mengxianminite, ideally Ca2Sn2Mg3Al8[(BO3)(BeO4)O6]2, a new borate mineral from Xianghualing skarn, Hunan Province, China. American Mineralogist: 102: 2136-2141.
Synonyms of Mengxianminite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.AB. | Rhabdoborite-(Mo) | Mg12Mo6+1.33O6(BO3)6F2 |
| 6.AB. | Chubarovite | KZn2(BO3)Cl2 |
| 6.AB. | Savelievaite | Mg2Cr3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.05 | Hambergite | Be2(BO3)(OH) |
| 6.AB.10 | Berborite | Be2(BO3)(OH,F) · H2O |
| 6.AB.15 | Jeremejevite | Al6(BO3)5(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.20 | Warwickite | (Mg,Ti,Fe,Al)2O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.20 | Yuanfuliite | Mg(Fe3+,Al)O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.25 | Karlite | (Mg,Al)6.5(BO3)3(OH)4(◻,Cl)0.5 |
| 6.AB.30 | Azoproite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Fe3+,Ti,Mg)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Bonaccordite | Ni2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Fredrikssonite | Mg2(Mn3+,Fe3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Vonsenite | Fe2+2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Marinaite | Cu2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.35 | Pinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.35 | Folvikite | Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4 |
| 6.AB.40 | Blatterite | Sb5+3(Mn3+,Fe3+)9(Mn2+,Mg)35(BO3)16O32 |
| 6.AB.40 | Chestermanite | Mg2(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al,Sb3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Orthopinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Takéuchiite | (Mg,Mn2+)2(Mn3+,Fe3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Hulsite | (Fe2+,Mg)2(Fe3+,Sn)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Magnesiohulsite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Fe3+,Sn,Mg)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Aluminomagnesiohulsite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Al,Mg,Sn)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.50 | Fluoborite | Mg3(BO3)(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.50 | Hydroxylborite | Mg3(BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.55 | Shabynite | Mg5(BO3)(OH)5(Cl,OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 6.AB.55 | Wightmanite | Mg5(BO3)O(OH)5 · 2H2O |
| 6.AB.60 | Gaudefroyite | Ca4Mn3+2-3(BO3)3(CO3)(O,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.65 | Sakhaite | Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 6.AB.70 | Harkerite | Ca48Mg16[AlSi4O15(OH)]4(BO3)16(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(F) | Mg2(BO3)(F,OH) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(OH) | Mg2(BO3)(OH) |
| 6.AB.80 | Jacquesdietrichite | Cu2(H2BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.85 | Painite | CaZrAl9(BO3)O15 |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(V) | Mg12(V5+,Mo6+,W6+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} (x < 1) |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(W) | Mg12(W6+,V5+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} |
Fluorescence of Mengxianminite
Do not fluoresce in long- or short-wave ultraviolet light.
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 Mengxianminite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-47016.html
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References for Mengxianminite
Localities for Mengxianminite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China (TL) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
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Xianghualing Sn-polymetallic ore field, Linwu Co., Chenzhou, Hunan, China