Oldhamite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Oldhamite
Thomas Oldham
Formula:
(Ca,Mg)S
Colour:
pale brown to dark brown
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
2.58
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
Named after Thomas Oldham (4 May 1816, Dublin, Ireland – 17 July 1878, Rugby, England), Director of the Indian Geological Survey (1850-1876).
Galena Group.
Known from several meteorites.
Terrestrial oldhamite is associated with pyrometamorpism (especially with coal fires). Quite unstable in air: hydrolysis makes it pass into portlandite.
Also occurs in anthropogenic blast furnace slag. As such, it may accumulate as much as 25 wt.% Mn and 8 wt.% K (Grapes, 2006).
Known from several meteorites.
Terrestrial oldhamite is associated with pyrometamorpism (especially with coal fires). Quite unstable in air: hydrolysis makes it pass into portlandite.
Also occurs in anthropogenic blast furnace slag. As such, it may accumulate as much as 25 wt.% Mn and 8 wt.% K (Grapes, 2006).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2970
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2970:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
9fdf9ccf-99de-44c8-bb54-cc8b2bc131e4
IMA Classification of Oldhamite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CaS
First published:
1870
Classification of Oldhamite
2.CD.10
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
3.4.2
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Old | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Old | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Oldhamite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Oldhamite
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
pale brown to dark brown
Comment:
tarnishes strongly on exposure to humid air
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{001}
{001}
Density:
2.58 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.589 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Oldhamite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 2.137
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
Very High
Internal Reflections:
many
Comments:
colorless to pale brown in transmitted light
Chemistry of Oldhamite
Mindat Formula:
(Ca,Mg)S
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Mg,Na,Fe,Cu
Crystallography of Oldhamite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fm3m
Setting:
Fm3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.6948 Å
Unit Cell V:
184.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
on synthetic material
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011284 | Oldhamite | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York rocksalt structure Crystal Structures 1 85-237 | 1963 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018102 | Oldhamite | Oftedal I (1927) Die Gitterkonstanten von Ca O, Ca S, Ca Se, Ca Te. _cod_database_code 1011236 Zeitschrift fur Physikalische Chemie 128 135-158 | 1927 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.846 Å | (100) |
| 2.013 Å | (70) |
| 1.6439 Å | (21) |
| 1.2737 Å | (20) |
| 1.1627 Å | (14) |
| 1.4238 Å | (10) |
| 0.9491 Å | (8) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Pre-terrestrial "Ur-minerals" | >4.57 |
| 1 : Stellar atmosphere condensates | |
| Stage 1: Primary nebular phases | 4.567-4.561 |
| 4 : Primary chondrule phases | 4.566–4.561 |
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 5 : Primary asteroid phases | 4.566–4.560 |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| 51 : Pyrometamorphic minerals (see also #54 and #56) | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) | |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Oldhamite
General Appearance of Type Material:
single-crystal nodules, to 3 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 32100.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
enstatite chondrite meteorite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Oldhamite
Relationship of Oldhamite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Alabandite | MnS | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
| Altaite | PbTe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
| Clausthalite | PbSe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
| Galena | PbS | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
| Niningerite | (Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)S | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Oldhamite associated with Shulamitite | Ca3TiFe3+AlO8 |
| 5 photos of Oldhamite associated with Fluorkyuygenite | Ca12Al14O32[(H2O)4F2] |
| 5 photos of Oldhamite associated with Larnite | Ca2SiO4 |
| 4 photos of Oldhamite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 4 photos of Oldhamite associated with Periclase | MgO |
| 4 photos of Oldhamite associated with Portlandite | Ca(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Oldhamite associated with Cuspidine | Ca8(Si2O7)2F4 |
| 3 photos of Oldhamite associated with Thaumasite | Ca3(SO4)[Si(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 3 photos of Oldhamite associated with Spurrite | Ca5(SiO4)2(CO3) |
| 2 photos of Oldhamite associated with Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CD. | Svetlanaite | SnSe |
| 2.CD.05 | Herzenbergite | SnS |
| 2.CD.05 | Teallite | PbSnS2 |
| 2.CD.10 | Alabandite | MnS |
| 2.CD.10 | Altaite | PbTe |
| 2.CD.10 | Clausthalite | PbSe |
| 2.CD.10 | Galena | PbS |
| 2.CD.10 | Niningerite | (Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)S |
| 2.CD.10 va | Quiroguite | Pb23Sb6S32 |
| 2.CD.10 | Keilite | (Fe2+,Mg)S |
| 2.CD.15a | Cinnabar | HgS |
| 2.CD.15b | Hypercinnabar | HgS |
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
tarnishes strongly on exposure to humid air
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 Oldhamite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2970.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Oldhamite
Localities for Oldhamite
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.
Algeria | |
| Bischoff et al. (1992) |
Antarctica | |
| Grossman et al. (1993) |
| Bullock et al. (2012, March) | |
| Lin et al. (1991) | |
| El Gorsey et al. (1988) |
| bersite |
| Gannoun et al. (2011) | |
| Fogel (1997) |
| Keil et al. (2011) |
| Weisberg et al. (1997) |
Australia | |
| Alderman (1940) |
| Buseck et al. (1972) |
Azerbaijan | |
| rruff.geo.arizona.edu (n.d.) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| Dawson +5 other references |
| Mason (1966) |
Chile | |
| Thompson et al. (2004) |
China | |
| Daode Wang and Rambaldi (1988) |
Estonia | |
| Ramdohr (1972) +1 other reference |
Finland | |
| Binns (1969) +2 other references |
| Ramdohr |
France | |
| Watters et al. (1979) |
| Eytier J.R. & Ch. et al. (2004) |
| Keil (1968) |
Germany | |
| G. Simon et al. : "The Meteorite ... +2 other references |
| - (n.d.) |
| T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998 (7/8) |
India | |
| Bhandari et al. (1975) |
| Min Mag 37 (1969) |
Israel | |
| Galuskin et al. (2015) |
Jordan | |
| Sokol +9 other references |
| Pitty et al. (2010) |
Malawi | |
| Keil (1968) |
Middle East | |
| Vapnik et al. (2014) | |
Morocco | |
| Harold C. Connally (2007) |
New Zealand | |
| Ramdohr (1972) |
Nigeria | |
| Watters et al. (1979) |
North Africa | |
| Gannoun et al. (2011) +3 other references |
| Piani et al. (2016) | |
Northwest Africa Meteorites | |
| Bunch et al. (2008) | |
| Bunch et al. (2008) | |
Pakistan | |
| Prior (1918) +1 other reference |
| Mason (1966) |
| Klaus Keil & Christian A. Andersen (1965) |
Poland | |
| Kruszewski et al. (2012) |
| The Meteoritical Bulletin et al. (August, 2000) |
| Kruszewski L. 2006: Oldhamite-periclase-portlandite-fluorite assemblage and coexisting minerals of burnt dump in Siemianowice Śląskie - Dąbrówka Wielka area (Upper Silesia, Poland) |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu (2006) |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Am Min 90:1556-1562 +1 other reference | |
| Watters et al. (1979) |
| Paul Ramdohr (1972) |
South Africa | |
| Mason (1966) |
| Prior (1918) +1 other reference |
Sudan | |
| Hey et al. (10) +1 other reference |
| Ahmed El Goresy et al. (2012) +1 other reference |
Tanzania | |
| Mason (1966) |
Ukraine | |
| Шарыгин (2015) |
USA | |
| Zolensky (2014) +1 other reference |
| Ramdohr (1972) |
| Okada et al. (1984) |
| C. W. Neal & M. E. Lipschutz (1981) |
| Keil (1968) |
| Piatak et al. (2012) |
| Watters et al. (1979) |
| Katherina Lodders (1993) |
| Meteoritics (ISSN 0026-1114) +1 other reference |
Western Sahara | |
| Patzer et al. (2001) |
Yemen | |
| Zolensky et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
Mercury | |
| Vilas et al. (2014) |
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West Africa