Pyroxferroite
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About Pyroxferroite
Formula:
(Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO3
Colour:
Pale yellow, orange-yellow, yellow, light brown
Hardness:
4½ - 5½
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in 1970 by Edward Ching-Te Chao, Jean A. Minkin, Clifford Frondel, Cornelius Klein, Jr., John C. Drake, Louis H. Fuchs, B. Tani, Joseph V. Smith, A. T. Anderson, Paul B. Moore, G. R. Zechman, Jr., Robert James Traill, A. G. Plant, J. A. V. Douglas, and Michael R. Dence for the mineral's iron-rich relationship to pyroxmangite.
Type Locality:
Polymorph of:
Isostructural with:
Classification of Pyroxferroite
Approved
8/F.31-10
9.DO.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
O : Inosilicates with 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-periodic chains
65.6.1.2
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
6 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=7
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
6 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=7
14.22.2
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
22 : Silicates of Fe and Ca
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
22 : Silicates of Fe and Ca
Physical Properties of Pyroxferroite
Colour:
Pale yellow, orange-yellow, yellow, light brown
Hardness:
4½ - 5½ on Mohs scale
Optical Data of Pyroxferroite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.746 - 1.756 nβ = 1.750 - 1.758 nγ = 1.764 - 1.768
2V:
Measured: 30° to 40°, Calculated: 50° to 58°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.018

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 marked
Chemical Properties of Pyroxferroite
Formula:
(Fe,Mn,Ca)SiO3
IMA Formula:
Fe2+SiO3
Common Impurities:
Ti,Al,Mg,Na
Crystallography of Pyroxferroite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.62 Å, b = 7.55 Å, c = 17.38 Å
α = 144.26°, β = 82.68°, γ = 94.75°
α = 144.26°, β = 82.68°, γ = 94.75°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.877 : 1 : 2.302
Unit Cell V:
502.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0015363 | Pyroxferroite | Burnham C W (1971) The crystal structure of pyroxferroite from Mare Tranquillitatis Proceedings of the Second Lunar Science Conference 1 47-57 | 1971 | Apollo 11 microgabbro sample 10047, Mare Tranquillitatis, Moon | 0 | 293 |
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Type Occurrence of Pyroxferroite
Synonyms of Pyroxferroite
Other Language Names for Pyroxferroite
Relationship of Pyroxferroite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
9.DO. | Braccoite | NaMn2+5[Si5As5+O17(OH)](OH) | Tric. 1 : P1 |
9.DO.05 | Pyroxmangite | MnSiO3 | Tric. 1 |
9.DO.10 | Pellyite | Ba2Ca(Fe,Mg)2Si6O17 | Orth. |
9.DO.15 | Nordite-(Ce) | (Ce,La)(Sr,Ca)Na2(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si6O17 | |
9.DO.15 | Nordite-(La) | (La,Ce)(Sr,Ca)Na2(Na,Mn)(Zn,Mg)Si6O17 | |
9.DO.15 | Ferronordite-(Ce) | Na3SrCeFe2+Si6O17 | Orth. |
9.DO.15 | Manganonordite-(Ce) | Na3SrCeMn2+Si6O17 | Orth. |
9.DO.15 | Ferronordite-(La) | Na3Sr(La,Ce)FeSi6O17 | Orth. |
9.DO.20 | Alamosite | PbSiO3 | Mon. |
9.DO.25 | Liebauite | Ca3Cu5Si9O26 | Mon. |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
65.6.1.1 | Pyroxmangite | MnSiO3 | Tric. 1 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
14.22.1 | Hedenbergite | CaFe2+Si2O6 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
14.22.3 | Ferro-akermanite | Ca2FeSi2O7 | |
14.22.4 | Kirschsteinite | CaFe2+SiO4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
14.22.5 | Tungusite | Ca4Fe2Si6O15(OH)6 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
14.22.6 | Ferro-actinolite | ◻Ca2Fe2+5(Si8O22)OH2 | Mon. |
14.22.7 | Ilvaite | CaFe3+Fe2+2(Si2O7)O(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
14.22.8 | Julgoldite-(Fe2+) | Ca2Fe2+Fe3+2[Si2O6OH][SiO4](OH)2(OH) | Mon. |
14.22.9 | Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
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 Pyroxferroite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Chao E.C.T., Minkin J.A., Frondel C., Klein C., Drake J.C., Fuchs L., Tani B., Smith J.V., Anderson A.T., Moore P.B., Zechman G.R., Traill R.J., Plant A.G., Douglas J.A.V., Dence M.R. (1970) Pyroxferroite, a new calcium-bearing iron silicate from Tranquillity Base, - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Supplemental Proceedings of the Apollo XI Lunar Science Conference,v.34(1), pp. 65-79.
Edward Ching-Te Chao, J. A. Minkin, Clifford Frondel, Cornelius Klein, Jr., J. C. Drake, L. Fuchs, B. Tani, Joseph V. Smith, A. T. Anderson, Paul B. Moore, G. R. Zechman, Jr., R. J, Traill, A. G. Plant, J. A. V. Douglas, and M. R. Dence (1970) American Mineralogist: 55: 2137.
Burnham, C. (1971) The crystal structure of pyroxferroite from Mare Tranquilitatis. Supplement to Geochemica et Cosmochimica Acta: 34(2): 47-57.
Nikischer, Tony and Joe Orosz (2007) Lunar Mineral Found at Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Mineral News: 23(8): 1, 2, 9, 14.
Internet Links for Pyroxferroite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3326.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Pyroxferroite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| McSween Jr., HY & Treiman, AH (1998) Martian Meteorites. In: Planetary Materials (Papike, JJ - Ed.), Chapter 6: 1-53: Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, DC, USA. |
| McSween Jr., H.Y. & Treiman, A.H. (1998) Martian Meteorites. In: Planetary Materials (Papike, JJ - Ed.), Chapter 6: 1-53: Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, DC, USA.; Aramovich, C. J., Herd, C. D. K. & Papike, J. J. (2001) Possible Causes for Late-Stage Reaction Textures Associated with Pyroxferroite and Metastable Pyroxenes in the Basaltic Martian Meteorites (abstract): 32nd Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, abstract#1003. (Mar 2001) |
Australia | |
| USGS Open-File Report 2009-1252 Sediment-hosted zinc-lead deposits of the world - Database and grade and tonnage models |
Finland | |
| Ahven, Marja (2012) Rautalammin Kiviniemen granaattipitoinen ferrogabbro. Pro gradu tutkielma. Geotieteiden ja maantieteen laitos, Geologian osasto, Helsingin yliopisto. |
| Bulletin de la Commission Geologique de Finlande 115; 387-400, 1936 |
| Mancini, F., Alviola, R., Marshall, B., Satoh, H., & Papunen, H. (2000). The manganese silicate rocks of the early Proterozoic Vittinki group, southwestern Finland: Metamorphic grade and genetic interpretations. The Canadian Mineralogist, 38(5), 1103-1124.; Heikkilä, Pasi 2003. Vittinki-ryhmän metaserttien geologia ja mineralogia Etelä-Pohjanmaalla. Pro gradu, matemaattis-luonnontieteellinen tiedekunta, Geologian laitos. Helsingin Yliopisto. |
Germany | |
| [Blass, G., Graf, H.W., Neufunde von bekannten Fundorten (20), Mineralien-Welt 9/1, 45, 1998] [A. Wittern: Mineralfundorte in Deutschland, Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001] |
Japan | |
| Alfredo Petrov - private communication (2008) |
Masutomi Museum specimens (Kyoto) | |
Yamada et al (1980), Chigaku Kenkyu: 31: 205-222. | |
Oman | |
| Taylor, L. A., Nazarov, M. A., Demidova, S. I., & Patchen, A. D. (2001). Dhofar 287: A new lunar mare basalt from Oman. Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, 36, 204. |
Yukio, I., Makoto, K., Hiroshi, T., Gen, S., Kita, N., Yuichi, M., ... & Gerlind, D. (2006). Petrology of a new basaltic shergottite: Dhofar 378. Antarctic Meteorite Research, 19, 20-44. | |
Romania | |
| http://minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu; Hîrtopanu, P. (2006) One Hundred Minerals For One Hundred Years (dedicated To The Centennial Of The Geological Institute Of Romania) Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica, Abstract Series 5, Szeged, p38; Hirtopanu, P. (2006). One hundred minerals for one hundred years (dedicated to the Centennial of the Geological Institute of Romania). In 3rd Conference on Mineral Sciences in the Carpathians, Miskolc Hungary. Acta Mineralogica–Petrographica, Abstract series (Vol. 5, p. 86). |
Sweden | |
| Holtstam, D. (2001): Pyroxferroit, ett månmineral från Väster Silvberg, Dalarna. Litiofilen. 18(2), 23-25 |
USA | |
| Nikischer, Tony and Joe Orosz (2007) Lunar Mineral Found at Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Mineral News: 23(8): 1, 2, 9, 14. |
| Nikischer, Tony and Joe Orosz (2007) Lunar Mineral Found at Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Mineral News: 23(8): 1, 2, 9, 14. |
The Moon (TL) | |
Chao E.C.T., Minkin J.A., Frondel C., Klein C., Drake J.C., Fuchs L., Tani B., Smith J.V., Anderson A.T., Moore P.B., Zechman G.R., Traill R.J., Plant A.G., Douglas J.A.V., Dence M.R. (1970) Pyroxferroite, a new calcium-bearing iron silicate from Tranquillity Base, - Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Supplemental Proceedings of the Apollo XI Lunar Science Conference,v.34(1), pp. 65-79. | |
Schmitt, H.H., Lofgren, G., Swann, G.A., Simmons, G. (1970) The Apollo 11 samples: Introduction, Vol.1, 1-59. In: Levinson, A.A. (ed.) (1970) Proceedings of the Apollo 11 Lunar Science Conference, Houston Texas, January 5-8, 1970. (3 volumes: Vol.1: Mineralogy and Petrology; Vol.2: Chemical Isotope Analyses; Vol.3: Physical Properties). Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Journal of The Geochemical Society and The Meteoritical Society, Pergamon Press Inc. New York, NY, USA. | |
| Longhi, J., Walker, D., Grove, T. L., Stolper, E. M., & Hays, J. F. (1974) The petrology of the Apollo 17 mare basalts. In: Lunar Science Conference, 5th, Houston, Tex., March 18-22, 1974, Proceedings. Volume 1. (A75-39540 19-91) New York, Pergamon Press, Inc., 1974, p. 447-469. |
Caspar quarry, Ettringen, Vordereifel, Mayen-Koblenz District, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany