Aerinite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Aerinite
Formula:
(Ca5.1Na0.5)(Fe3+,Al,Fe2+,Mg)4(Al,Mg)6[HSi12O36(OH)12][(CO3)1.2(H2O)12]
According to Rius et al. (2009), the formula of the Fe3+-rich variety includes SO3 (sulphite) substitution for carbonate.
Colour:
Blue to blue-green
Hardness:
3
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
From the Greek "aerinos," for sky-blue, alluding to its color.
A rare, chemically complex carbonate-bearing silicate. Found as a pigment in European murals.
NB: Some of the recorded Spanish localities for aerinite seem to be in reality misidentified riebeckite-magnesioriebeckite, especially for localities not in the Pyrenees mountains.
A closely related, darker blue mineral (intergrown with Fe3+-rich aerinite) is described by Rius et al. (2009).
NB: Some of the recorded Spanish localities for aerinite seem to be in reality misidentified riebeckite-magnesioriebeckite, especially for localities not in the Pyrenees mountains.
A closely related, darker blue mineral (intergrown with Fe3+-rich aerinite) is described by Rius et al. (2009).
Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Aerinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
IMA Formula:
(Ca,Na)6(Fe3+,Fe2+,Mg,Al)4(Al,Mg)6Si12O36(OH)12(CO3) · 12H2O
First published:
1876
Approval history:
Redefined 1988 s.p.: Azambre and Monchoux (1988).
Type description reference:
Classification of Aerinite
9.DB.45
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals
68.1.3.1
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
16.23.7
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
23 : Aluminosilicates of Fe, Ca, and Mg
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
23 : Aluminosilicates of Fe, Ca, 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.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Aer | 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 Aerinite
Optical Data of Aerinite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.510 nβ = 1.560 nγ = 1.580
2V:
Measured: 63° , Calculated: 62°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.070
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:
Low
Dispersion:
none
Chemistry of Aerinite
Mindat Formula:
(Ca5.1Na0.5)(Fe3+,Al,Fe2+,Mg)4(Al,Mg)6[HSi12O36(OH)12][(CO3)1.2(H2O)12]
According to Rius et al. (2009), the formula of the Fe3+-rich variety includes SO3 (sulphite) substitution for carbonate.
According to Rius et al. (2009), the formula of the Fe3+-rich variety includes SO3 (sulphite) substitution for carbonate.
Common Impurities:
Ti,Mn,Na,K,P
Crystallography of Aerinite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P3c1
Cell Parameters:
a = 16.916 Å, c = 5.229 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.309
Unit Cell V:
1,295.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
As masses of cryptocrystalline fibers; earthy, compact.
Comment:
Originally assumed to be monoclinic, a = 14.69 Å, b = 16.87 Å, c = 5.17 Å, β = 94.75°.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0007027 | Aerinite | Rius J, Elkaim E, Torrelles X (2004) Structure determination of the blue mineral pigment aerinite from synchrotron powder diffraction data: The solution of an old riddle European Journal of Mineralogy 16 127-134 | 2004 | Camporrells-Estopanya area, Huesca, Spain | 0 | 293 | |
| 0007273 | Aerinite | Rius J, Crespi A, Roig A, Melgarejo J C (2009) Crystal structure refinement of Fe3+-rich aerinite from synchrotron powder diffraction and Mossbauer data European Journal of Mineralogy 21 233-240 | 2009 | Tartareu, Catalunya, Spain | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 14.65 Å | (100) |
| 4.050 Å | (80) |
| 2.721 Å | (75) |
| 2.812 Å | (50) |
| 3.798 Å | (35) |
| 3.651 Å | (35) |
| 2.135 Å | (35) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 10 : Basalt-hosted zeolite minerals |
Geological Setting:
A hydrothermal mineral of the zeolite facies, formed at relatively low temperature, in fractures cutting mafic igneous rocks.
Type Occurrence of Aerinite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland;
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Reference:
von Lasaulx, A. (1876) Aërinit, ein neues Mineral. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie: 175: 352-358.
Other Language Names for Aerinite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 12 photos of Aerinite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Aerinite associated with Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Aerinite associated with Scolecite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 3H2O |
| 2 photos of Aerinite associated with Dolerite | |
| 1 photo of Aerinite associated with Magnesio-riebeckite | ◻{Na2}{Mg3Fe3+2}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DB.05 | Balipholite | BaLiMg2Al3(Si2O6)2(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Carpholite | Mn2+Al2(Si2O6)(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Ferrocarpholite | Fe2+Al2Si2O6(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Magnesiocarpholite | MgAl2Si2O6(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Potassiccarpholite | K(Mn2+,Li)2Al4Si4O12(OH,F)8 |
| 9.DB.05 | Vanadiocarpholite | Mn2+V3+Al(Si2O6)(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.10 | Lorenzenite | Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3 |
| 9.DB.15 | Lintisite | LiNa3Ti2(Si2O6)2O2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DB.15 | Punkaruaivite | LiTi2(HSi4O12)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.DB.17 | Eliseevite | LiNa1.5Ti2(H1.5Si4O12)O2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DB.20 | Kukisvumite | Na6ZnTi4(Si8O24)O4 · 4H2O |
| 9.DB.20 | Manganokukisvumite | Na6MnTi4(Si8O24)O4 · 4H2O |
| 9.DB.25 | Vinogradovite | Na4Ti4(Si2O6)2[(Si,Al)4O10]O4 · (H2O,Na,K)3 |
| 9.DB.25 | Paravinogradovite | Na1-2(Ti,Fe3+)4(Si2O6)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)4 · H2O |
| 9.DB.30 | Nchwaningite | Mn2+2(SiO3)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.DB.35 | Plancheite | Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O |
| 9.DB.40 | Shattuckite | Cu5(Si2O6)2(OH)2 |
| 9.DB.40 | UM2005-31-SiO:CuH | Cu11(SiO4)(OH)18 · 9H2O (?) |
| 9.DB.50 | Capranicaite | KCaNaAl4B4Si2O18 |
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 Aerinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-34.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Aerinite
Reference List:
Localities for Aerinite
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.
Antarctica | |
| Mozer (2012) |
China | |
| Lu et al. (2016) |
France | |
| Azambre et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
Malaysia | |
| Syed Hasan et al. (2018) |
Mexico | |
| Parker (2010) |
Morocco | |
| Christopher O'Neill specimen |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Nicaragua | |
| Hynek et al. (2013, March) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar (2018) |
| Silva (1996) |
| Juan C.Romero Silva +3 other references |
| Colección Juan A.M. Barnestein | |
| Alejandro Sánchez Jiménez |
| Calvo (2018) |
| 113-121. +3 other references |
| Calvo (2018) | |
| Calvo (2008) +1 other reference | |
| Calvo (2008) | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Fernando Gascón collection |
| |
| Rius et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Casanova Honrubia |
| Casanova Honrubia | |
| Casanova Honrubia |
| Adrian Pesudo Collection |
| Casanova Honrubia |
USA | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Maertens (2007) |
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Lleida, Catalonia, Spain