Harstigite
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About Harstigite
Formula:
Ca6(Mn,Mg)Be4Si6(O,OH)24
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
3.16
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named by G. Flink in 1886 for the type locality, Harstigen mine, Sweden.
This page provides mineralogical data about Harstigite.
Classification of Harstigite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First Published:
1886
8/C.21-10
9.BF.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
F : Sorosilicates with mixed SiO4 and Si2O7 groups; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
F : Sorosilicates with mixed SiO4 and Si2O7 groups; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
57.1.1.2
57 : SOROSILICATES Si3O10 Groups and Larger Noncyclic Groups
1 : Insular Si3O10 and Larger Noncyclic Groups with [Si3O10] groups
57 : SOROSILICATES Si3O10 Groups and Larger Noncyclic Groups
1 : Insular Si3O10 and Larger Noncyclic Groups with [Si3O10] groups
14.3.20
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
Physical Properties of Harstigite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Splintery, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
3.16 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.19 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured value from Moore, P.B. (1968) Relation of the manganese-calcium silicates, gageite and harstigite: a correction. American Mineralogist: 53: 1418-1420.
Optical Data of Harstigite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.678 nβ = 1.680 nγ = 1.683
2V:
Measured: 52° , Calculated: 80°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.005

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:
High
Dispersion:
r >> v strong
Chemical Properties of Harstigite
Formula:
Ca6(Mn,Mg)Be4Si6(O,OH)24
IMA Formula:
Ca6Be4Mn2+(SiO4)2(Si2O7)2(OH)2
Common Impurities:
F
Crystallography of Harstigite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.9 Å, b = 13.62 Å, c = 9.68 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.021 : 1 : 0.711
Unit Cell V:
1,832.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Twinning:
Cruciform twin, composed of two orthorhombic individuals twinned on (110).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.35 | (40) |
3.545 | (30) |
3.222 | (40) |
2.817 | (50) |
2.788 | (50) |
2.695 | (100) |
2.268 | (50) |
Type Occurrence of Harstigite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small stout prismatic crystals without cleavage.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Swedish Natural History Museum
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Open vein in hausmannite and dolomite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Harstigite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
9.BF.10 | Samfowlerite | Ca28Mn6Zn4(Be,Zn)4Be12[(OH)3|(SiO4)3|(Si2O7)2]4 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
9.BF.15 | Davreuxite | MnAl6Si4O17(OH)2 | Mon. |
9.BF.20 | Queitite | Pb4Zn2(SO4)(SiO4)(Si2O7) | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
57.1.1.1 | Aminoffite | Ca2(Be,Al)(Si2O7)(H2O,OH) | Tet. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
14.3.1 | Phenakite | Be2SiO4 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
14.3.2 | Bertrandite | Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2 | Orth. mm2 : Cmc21 |
14.3.3 | Beryllite | Be3(SiO4)(OH)2 · H2O | Orth. |
14.3.4 | Liberite | Li2BeSiO4 | Mon. m : Pm |
14.3.5 | Chkalovite | Na2BeSi2O6 | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
14.3.6 | Eudidymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
14.3.7 | Epididymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
14.3.8 | Gugiaite | Ca2Be(Si2O7) | Tet. |
14.3.9 | Jeffreyite | (Ca,Na)2(Be,Al)(Si2O7,HSi2O7) | Orth. |
14.3.10 | Semenovite-(Ce) | Na8Ca2FeBe6Ce2Si14O40(OH)4F4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
14.3.11 | Barylite | Be2Ba(Si2O7) | Orth. |
14.3.12 | Hingganite-(Ce) | (Ce,REE)2(□,Fe2+)Be2[SiO4]2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
14.3.13 | Hingganite-(Yb) | (Yb,Y,REE)2□Be2[SiO4]2(OH)2 | |
14.3.14 | Hingganite-(Y) | (Y,REE,Ca)2(□,Fe2+)Be2[SiO4]2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
14.3.15 | Minasgeraisite-(Y) | BiCa(Y,Ln)2(□,Mn)2(Be,B,Si)4Si4O16 [(OH),O]4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
14.3.16 | Sørensenite | Na4SnBe2Si6O16(OH)4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
14.3.17 | Trimerite | CaMn2+2Be3(SiO4)3 | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
14.3.18 | Chiavennite | CaMnBe2Si5O13(OH)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
14.3.19 | Tvedalite | (Ca,Mn)4Be3Si6O17(OH)4 · 3H2O | Orth. |
14.3.21 | Sverigeite | NaMnMgSnBe2(SiO4)3(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Imma |
14.3.22 | Joesmithite | {Pb}{Ca2}{Mg3Fe3+2}(Be2Si6O22)(OH)2 | Mon. |
14.3.23 | Gadolinite-(Y) | Y2Fe2+Be2Si2O10 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
14.3.24 | Gadolinite-(Ce) | (Ce,La,Nd,Y)2Fe2+Be2Si2O10 | Mon. 2/m |
14.3.25 | Calciogadolinite-(Y) | (YCa)2Fe3+Be2[SiO4]2O2 |
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.
References for Harstigite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Flink, G. (1886) Mineralogiska notiser 1. Harstigit från Pajsberg. Bihang till Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar: 12(II): 59-63.
Flink, G. (1917) Bidrag till Sveriges mineralogi, 105. Harstigit från Hartsigsgrufvan. Arkiv för Kemi, mineralogi och Geologi: 6: 49-51.
Moore, P.B. (1968) Relations of the manganese-calcium silicates, gageite and harstigite. American Mineralogist: 53: 309-315.
Moore, P.B. (1968) Relation of the manganese-calcium silicates, gageite and harstigite: a correction. American Mineralogist: 53: 1418-1420.
Welin, E. (1968) Notes on the mineralogy of Sweden 6. X-ray powder data for minerals from Långban and the related mineral deposits of Central Sweden. Arkiv för Mineralogi och Geologi: 4: 499-541.
Hesse, K.F., Stümpel, G. (1986) Crystal structure of harstigite, MnCa6Be4[SiO4]2[Si2O7]2(OH)2. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 177: 143-148.
Internet Links for Harstigite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1822.html
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Localities for Harstigite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Italy | |
| Carati, M. (1988): I minerali degli inclusi metamorfosati nel Tufo Grigio Campano. Notiziario del Gruppo Mineralogico Geologico Napoletano, 18, 5-12; Balassone, G., Franco, E., Mattia, C.A. (1995): Chondrodite from metamorphic carbonatic ejecta of Campanian Ignimbrite. Plinius, 14, 44-45; Balassone, G., Franco, E., Mattia, C.A., Petti, C., Puliti, R. (2002): Re-examination of fluosiderite, an unknown mineral from southern Italy: equal to fluorine-rich chondrodite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 14, 151-155. |
Sweden (TL) | |
| Flink, G. (1886): Mineralogiska notiser 1. Harstigit från Pajsberg. Bihang till Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar 12 (II): 59-63; Flink, G. (1917): Bidrag till Sveriges Mineralogi. Arkiv för Kemi, mineralogi och Geologi. Vol 6. no. 21, p. 49-52; Hesse K F, Stümpel G (1986) Crystal structure of harstigite, MnCa6Be4[SiO4]2[Si2O7]2(OH)2. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 177, 143-148 |
Harstigen Mine, Pajsberg, Persberg district, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden