Siderite
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Formula:
FeCO3
System:
Trigonal
Colour:
Yellowish-brown to ...
Lustre:
Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Hardness:
3½ - 4½
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1845 by Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger from the Greek "σίδηρος" (sideros), "iron", in allusion to its composition.
Calcite Group. Magnesite-Siderite Series, Rhodochrosite-Siderite Series, Siderite-Smithsonite Series.
Crystals typically found as brown to tan rhombohedrons in clusters, faces often curved or composites; more often found as medium to dark brown massive fine-grained material or as massive crystalline material with exposed curved cleavage surfaces.
Fungi like Lichenothelia may oxidize iron to produce siderite, which is then a biomineral (e.g., Burford et al., 2003).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Siderite.
Crystals typically found as brown to tan rhombohedrons in clusters, faces often curved or composites; more often found as medium to dark brown massive fine-grained material or as massive crystalline material with exposed curved cleavage surfaces.
Fungi like Lichenothelia may oxidize iron to produce siderite, which is then a biomineral (e.g., Burford et al., 2003).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Siderite.
Classification of Siderite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
5/B.02-40
5.AB.05
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 7th ed.:
14.1.1.3
14.1.1.3
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
11.13.1
11 : Carbonates
13 : Carbonates of Fe
11 : Carbonates
13 : Carbonates of Fe
Physical Properties of Siderite
Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Translucent
Colour:
Yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, pale yellow to tannish, grey, brown, green, red, black and sometimes nearly colourless; tarnished iridescent at times; colourless to yellow and yellow-brown in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness (Mohs):
3½ - 4½
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {1011}.
Perfect on {1011}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
3.96(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.932 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Siderite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.875 nε = 1.633
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.242
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Dispersion:
Strong
Chemical Properties of Siderite
Formula:
FeCO3
Elements listed in formula:
Common Impurities:
Mn,Mg,Ca,Zn,Co
Crystallography of Siderite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3c
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.6916 Å, c = 15.3796 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.278
Unit Cell Volume:
V 293.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Morphology:
Crystals usually rhombohedral {1011} or {0112}, often curved or with composite faces; also more rarely thin to thick tabular {0001}, prismatic [0001] with {1120}, or scalenohedral; most often found as massive material, either fine-grained in sedimentary settings or massively crystalline in metamorphic settings; may also be botryoidal or globular with a fibrous internal structure.
Twinning:
On {0112}, lamellar, uncommon, with translation gliding on {0001} or {1011}. On {0001}, rare.
Crystallographic forms of Siderite
Crystal Atlas:
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Siderite no.27 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Siderite no.50 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
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Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.59 | (30) |
| 2.80 | (100) |
| 2.35 | (20) |
| 2.13 | (20) |
| 1.965 | (20) |
| 1.738 | (30) |
| 1.732 | (40) |
| 1.506 | (10) |
Occurrences of Siderite
Relationship of Siderite to other Species
Series:
Forms a series with Rhodochrosite (see here)
Forms a series with Magnesite (see here)
Forms a series with Smithsonite (see here)
Forms a series with Magnesite (see here)
Forms a series with Smithsonite (see here)
Member of:
Other Members of Group:
| Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Gaspéite | Ni(CO3) |
| Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| Otavite | CdCO3 |
| Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| Spherocobaltite | CoCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Gaspéite | Ni(CO3) |
| 5.AB.05 | Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Otavite | CdCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Spherocobaltite | CoCO3 |
| 5.AB.10 | Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Kutnohorite | Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.15 | Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Strontianite | SrCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Witherite | BaCO3 |
| 5.AB.20 | Vaterite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.25 | Huntite | CaMg3(CO3)4 |
| 5.AB.30 | Norsethite | BaMg(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.35 | Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Olekminskite | Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.45 | Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.50 | Carbocernaite | (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.55 | Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| 5.AB.60 | Juangodoyite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 |
| 11.13.2 | Pyroaurite | Mg6Fe23+(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O |
| 11.13.3 | Pyroaurite-2H | Mg6Fe23+(OH)16(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 11.13.4 | Brugnatellite | Mg6Fe3+(CO3)(OH)13 · 4H2O |
| 11.13.5 | Coalingite | Mg10Fe23+(OH)24[CO3] · 2H2O |
| 11.13.6 | Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| 14.1.1.1 | Calcite | CaCO3 |
Other Names for Siderite
Name in Other Languages:
French:Fer carbonaté
Sidérose
Sidérose
German:Aerosiderit
Bemmelenit
Brachytyper Parachrosbaryt
Chalybit
Eisenkalk
Eisenspat
Eisenspath (of Hausmann)
Gyrit
Järn med Kalkjord förenadt
Junckérit
Kohlensaures Eisen
Pelosiderit
Siderit
Spateisenstein
Spatheisenstein
Spathiger Eisen
Stahelreich Eisen
Stahlstein
Thomaît
Weißeisenerz
Bemmelenit
Brachytyper Parachrosbaryt
Chalybit
Eisenkalk
Eisenspat
Eisenspath (of Hausmann)
Gyrit
Järn med Kalkjord förenadt
Junckérit
Kohlensaures Eisen
Pelosiderit
Siderit
Spateisenstein
Spatheisenstein
Spathiger Eisen
Stahelreich Eisen
Stahlstein
Thomaît
Weißeisenerz
Russian:Сидерит
Simplified Chinese:菱铁矿
Swedish:Spatformig Jernmalm
Other Information
Magnetism:
Paramagnetic
Other Information:
Slighty soluble in water.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
An ore of iron when found in sufficient volumes to be economically recoverable.
Siderite in petrology
An essential component of (items highlighted in red)
Common component of (items highlighted in red)
References for Siderite
Reference List:
Gesner, C. (1565) De omni rerum fossilium genere, gemmis, lapidibus, metallis, etc. Tiguri (as Stahelreich Eisen).
Wallerius, J.G (1747) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm (as Spatformig Jernmalm).
Cronstedt, A. (1758) Mineralogie; eller Mineral-Rikets Upstallning. Stockholm: 29 (as Stahlstein).
de Lisle, R. (1783) Cristallographie, ou description des formes propres à tous les corps du regne minéral. 4 volumes, Paris: 3: 281 (as Fer spatique).
Wollaston (1812) Phil. Trans.: 159.
Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: 951, 952 (as Eisenspath).
Glocker, E.F. (1847) Generum et specierum mineralien secundum ordines naturals digestorum synopsis. Halle: 241.
Johnsen (1902) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: II: 133.
Hutchinson (1903) Mineralogical Magazine: 13: 209.
Kreutz (1909) Mineralogical Magazine: 15: 232.
Goldschmidt, V. (1916) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 3: 107.
Honess (1918) American Journal of Science: 45: 201.
Wyckoff (1920) American Journal of Science: 50: 317.
Niggli (1921) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 56: 224.
Klerk (1926) Beiträge zur Krystallographie und Mineralogie, Heidelberg: 3: 85.
Schoklitsch (1935) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 90: 433.
Fornaseri (1941) Rendus soc. min. ital. (1941): 1: 60.
Wayland, R.G. (1942) Composition, specific gravity and refractive indices of rhodochrosite; rhodochrosite from Butte, Montana. American Mineralogist: 27: 614.
Rowland, R.A., Jonas, E.C. (1949) Variations in differential thermal analysis curves of siderite. American Mineralogist: 34: 550.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 166-171.
Henderson, E.P., Perry, S.H. (1958) Studies of seven siderites: Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 107: 339-403.
Goldsmith, J.R., Graf, D.L., Witters, J., Northrop, D.A. (1962) Studies in the system CaCO3•MgCO3•FeCO3: (1) Phase relations; (2) A method for major element spectrochemical analyses; and (3) Composition of some ferroan dolomites. Journal of Geology: 70: 659-688.
Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1981) 156: 233-243.
Gaines, R.V., Skinner, H.C.W., Foord, E.E., Mason, B., Rosenzweig, A. (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy: The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 435.
Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.
Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 644.
Burford, E.P., Kierans, M., Gadd, G.M. (2003) Geomycology: fungi in mineral substrata. Mycologist: 17(3): 98-107; DOI: 10.1017/S0269915X03003112
E. Boulard, F. Guyot, G. Fiquet (2012) The influence on Fe content on Raman spectra and unit cell parameters of magnesite–siderite solid solutions. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 39: 239-246.
Wallerius, J.G (1747) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm (as Spatformig Jernmalm).
Cronstedt, A. (1758) Mineralogie; eller Mineral-Rikets Upstallning. Stockholm: 29 (as Stahlstein).
de Lisle, R. (1783) Cristallographie, ou description des formes propres à tous les corps du regne minéral. 4 volumes, Paris: 3: 281 (as Fer spatique).
Wollaston (1812) Phil. Trans.: 159.
Hausmann, J.F.L. (1813) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: 951, 952 (as Eisenspath).
Glocker, E.F. (1847) Generum et specierum mineralien secundum ordines naturals digestorum synopsis. Halle: 241.
Johnsen (1902) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: II: 133.
Hutchinson (1903) Mineralogical Magazine: 13: 209.
Kreutz (1909) Mineralogical Magazine: 15: 232.
Goldschmidt, V. (1916) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 3: 107.
Honess (1918) American Journal of Science: 45: 201.
Wyckoff (1920) American Journal of Science: 50: 317.
Niggli (1921) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 56: 224.
Klerk (1926) Beiträge zur Krystallographie und Mineralogie, Heidelberg: 3: 85.
Schoklitsch (1935) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 90: 433.
Fornaseri (1941) Rendus soc. min. ital. (1941): 1: 60.
Wayland, R.G. (1942) Composition, specific gravity and refractive indices of rhodochrosite; rhodochrosite from Butte, Montana. American Mineralogist: 27: 614.
Rowland, R.A., Jonas, E.C. (1949) Variations in differential thermal analysis curves of siderite. American Mineralogist: 34: 550.
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 166-171.
Henderson, E.P., Perry, S.H. (1958) Studies of seven siderites: Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 107: 339-403.
Goldsmith, J.R., Graf, D.L., Witters, J., Northrop, D.A. (1962) Studies in the system CaCO3•MgCO3•FeCO3: (1) Phase relations; (2) A method for major element spectrochemical analyses; and (3) Composition of some ferroan dolomites. Journal of Geology: 70: 659-688.
Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1981) 156: 233-243.
Gaines, R.V., Skinner, H.C.W., Foord, E.E., Mason, B., Rosenzweig, A. (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy: The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana: 435.
Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America: 11.
Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 644.
Burford, E.P., Kierans, M., Gadd, G.M. (2003) Geomycology: fungi in mineral substrata. Mycologist: 17(3): 98-107; DOI: 10.1017/S0269915X03003112
E. Boulard, F. Guyot, G. Fiquet (2012) The influence on Fe content on Raman spectra and unit cell parameters of magnesite–siderite solid solutions. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 39: 239-246.
Internet Links for Siderite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3647.html
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Panasqueira Mines, Covilhã, Castelo Branco District, Portugal