Armenite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Armenite
Formula:
Ba(H2O)2Ca2Al3[Al3Si9O30]
Colour:
Colourless, white, green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
7½
Specific Gravity:
2.77
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named after the type locality, the Armen Mine, Kongsberg, Norway.
The type specimen was collected already in 1877 by cand. min. O. A. Corneliussen. He labelled the sample as "Epidote?". It was kept in the collection of the University of Oslo until February 1939 when it was rediscovered by Henrich Neumann, who also recognized it as a new mineral.
The type specimen was collected already in 1877 by cand. min. O. A. Corneliussen. He labelled the sample as "Epidote?". It was kept in the collection of the University of Oslo until February 1939 when it was rediscovered by Henrich Neumann, who also recognized it as a new mineral.
This page provides mineralogical data about Armenite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
343
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:343:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
ef564e74-ba0c-4cbe-b451-9316843ffc3e
IMA Classification of Armenite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
BaCa2(Al6Si9)O30 · 2H2O
First published:
1940
Classification of Armenite
9.CM.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
M : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered double rings (sechser-Doppelringe)
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
M : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered double rings (sechser-Doppelringe)
63.2.1b.1
63 : CYCLOSILICATES Condensed Rings
2 : Condensed Rings (Milarite - Osumilite group)
63 : CYCLOSILICATES Condensed Rings
2 : Condensed Rings (Milarite - Osumilite group)
16.12.12
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
12 : Aluminosilicates of Sr, Ba and Zn
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
12 : Aluminosilicates of Sr, Ba and Zn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Armenite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Armenite
Vitreous
Colour:
Colourless, white, green
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect prismatic. One distinct pinacoidal.
Perfect prismatic. One distinct pinacoidal.
Parting:
Along sector boundaries.
Density:
2.77 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Armenite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.550 nβ = 1.552 nγ = 1.556
2V:
Measured: 59° to 60°, Calculated: 72°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.006
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:
r < v strong
Optical Extinction:
X = c; Z = b.
Chemistry of Armenite
Mindat Formula:
Ba(H2O)2Ca2Al3[Al3Si9O30]
Common Impurities:
Sr,Na,K
Crystallography of Armenite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnna
Setting:
Pnna
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.874(2) Å, b = 18.660(2) Å, c = 10.697(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.744 : 1 : 0.573
Unit Cell V:
2,769.33 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Prismatic pseudohexagonal crystals.
Twinning:
The pseudohexagonal form is due to twinning along an axis parallel to the optic direction a.
Comment:
Space group is Pnna. Symmetry reduction is due to partial ordering of Si and Al. Ordering of water gives primitive orthorhombic unit cell.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001458 | Armenite | Armbruster T, Czank M (1992) H2O ordering and superstructures in armenite, BaCa2Al6Si9O30.2H2O: A single-crystal X-ray and TEM study sample from Remigny, Quebec, Canada American Mineralogist 77 422-430 |  | 1992 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002054 | Armenite | Armbruster T (1999) Si,Al ordering in the double-ring silicate armenite, BaCa2Al6Si9O30.2H2O: A single-crystal X-ray and 29Si MAS NMR study American Mineralogist 84 92-101 | | 1999 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.86 Å | (100) |
| 3.41 Å | (90) |
| 2.91 Å | (90) |
| 6.94 Å | (80) |
| 2.78 Å | (80) |
| 4.25 Å | (65) |
| 9.31 Å | (55) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Armenite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France; The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1947,290.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A silver-bearing calcite-vein, Kongsberg, Norway.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Armenite
Relationship of Armenite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Agakhanovite-(Y) | K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Almarudite | K◻2Mn2+2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mmm |
| Aluminosugilite | KNa2Al2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Berezanskite | K◻2Ti2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Brannockite | K◻2Sn2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Chayesite | K◻2Mg2(Mg2Fe3+)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Darapiosite | KNa2Mn2(Zn2Li)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Dusmatovite | K(K◻)Mn2+2Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Eifelite | KNa2(MgNa)Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Friedrichbeckeite | K(◻Na)Mg2(Be2Mg)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Klöchite | K◻2(Fe2+Fe3+)Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Laurentthomasite | K◻2Mg2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Merrihueite | K(◻Na)Fe2+2Fe2+3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Milarite | K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Oftedalite | K◻2(ScCa)Be3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Osumilite | K◻2Fe2+2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Osumilite-(Mg) | K◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Poudretteite | K◻2Na2B3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Roedderite | K(◻Na)Mg2Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6 m2 : P62c |
| Shibkovite | K(◻K)Ca2Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Sogdianite | K◻2Zr2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Sugilite | KNa2Fe3+2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Trattnerite | ◻(◻)2Fe3+2Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| UM1990-73-SiO:KMnNaZn | K(KNa0.5◻0.5)(Mn1.5Na0.5)Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. |
| Unnamed (Mn3+-dominant analog of Sugilite) | KNa2Mn3+2Li3[Si12O30] | |
| Yagiite | Na◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Armenite associated with Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 4 photos of Armenite associated with Ganterite | (Ba,Na,K)(Al,Mg)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Armenite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 3 photos of Armenite associated with Chlorite Group | |
| 3 photos of Armenite associated with Thulite | {Ca2}{Al,Mn3+3}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Armenite associated with Rutile | TiO2 |
| 1 photo of Armenite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CM. | Agakhanovite-(Y) | K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Brannockite | K◻2Sn2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Chayesite | K◻2Mg2(Mg2Fe3+)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Darapiosite | KNa2Mn2(Zn2Li)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Eifelite | KNa2(MgNa)Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Merrihueite | K(◻Na)Fe2+2Fe2+3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Milarite | K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Osumilite-(Mg) | K◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Osumilite | K◻2Fe2+2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Poudretteite | K◻2Na2B3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Roedderite | K(◻Na)Mg2Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Sogdianite | K◻2Zr2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Sugilite | KNa2Fe3+2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Yagiite | Na◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Berezanskite | K◻2Ti2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Dusmatovite | K(K◻)Mn2+2Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Shibkovite | K(◻K)Ca2Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Almarudite | K◻2Mn2+2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Trattnerite | ◻(◻)2Fe3+2Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Oftedalite | K◻2(ScCa)Be3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Klöchite | K◻2(Fe2+Fe3+)Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Friedrichbeckeite | K(◻Na)Mg2(Be2Mg)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | UM1990-73-SiO:KMnNaZn | K(KNa0.5◻0.5)(Mn1.5Na0.5)Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Laurentthomasite | K◻2Mg2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.9.CM. | Aluminosugilite | KNa2Al2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.10 | Faizievite | K2Na(Ca6Na)Ti4Li6[Si6O18]2[Si12O30]F2 |
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 Armenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-343.html
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References for Armenite
Reference List:
Neumann, Heinrich (1939) Armenite, a new mineral. Preliminary note. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift [Norwegian Journal of Geology], 19 (4) 312-313
Armbruster, Thomas, Czank, Michael (1992) H2O ordering and superstructures in armenite, BaCa2Al6Si9O30·2H2O: A single-crystal X-ray and TEM study. American Mineralogist, 77 (3-4) 422-430
Localities for Armenite
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.
Australia | |
| Birch BH Book +1 other reference |
| Mason (1987) | |
| Brian Mason (1987) | |
Canada | |
| Tindle et al. (2005) |
| mineral assemblages +1 other reference |
| the second occurrence of armenite. The Canadian Mineralogist (3) +3 other references |
Cuba | |
| Torró et al. (2016) |
Czech Republic | |
| Novak et al. (2010) +2 other references |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Eswatini | |
| Roerdink et al. (2016) |
Italy | |
| Peyronel Pagliani (1958) +2 other references |
| Stara et al. (1994) |
| Cocco et al. (2022) |
Norway | |
| Bancroft et al. (2001) |
| Neumann (1941) |
Portugal | |
| L. Miguel Gaspar and Carlos M. C. Inverno (2000) |
| Gaspar et al. (2000) |
Russia | |
| ... |
| Kasatkin et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
South Korea | |
| Gi Young Jeong (2006) |
| Cheong et al. (2003) |
Spain | |
| C. Canet et al. |
Switzerland | |
| Mineralogical Record (2001) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Tindle (2008) | |
| Fortey N.J. +2 other references |
USA | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +2 other references |
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Bratteskjerpet Mine, Kongsberg, Buskerud, Norway