Aurorite
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Formula:
(Mn2+,Ag,Ca)Mn34+O7 · 3H2O
System:
Trigonal
Colour:
Black, pale brown in ...
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 3
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1967 by Arthur S. Radtke, Charles M. Taylor, and Donnel Foster Hewett for the type locality.
This page provides mineralogical data about Aurorite.
Classification of Aurorite
Approved
4/F.11-10
4.FL.20
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
L : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
L : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 7th ed.:
7.8.2.2
7.8.2.2
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
8 : AB3X7
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
8 : AB3X7
7.18.12
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
18 : Oxides of Mn
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
18 : Oxides of Mn
Physical Properties of Aurorite
Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Opaque
Colour:
Black, pale brown in transmitted light at the edges of very thin, platy grains
Hardness (Mohs):
2 - 3
Density:
3.81 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aurorite
Type:
Biaxial
Type:
Anisotropic
Anisotropism:
Yellow-grey to brownish grey
Bireflectance:
Strong, cream-white to medium black
Reflectivity:
| 400 nm | R1=10.4% | R2= 36.5% |
| 420 nm | R1=10.3% | R2= 35.3% |
| 440 nm | R1=10.2% | R2= 34.0% |
| 460 nm | R1=9.99% | R2= 32.4% |
| 480 nm | R1=9.67% | R2= 30.6% |
| 500 nm | R1=9.49% | R2= 29.2% |
| 520 nm | R1=9.31% | R2= 27.8% |
| 540 nm | R1=9.16% | R2= 26.6% |
| 560 nm | R1=9.11% | R2= 25.6% |
| 580 nm | R1=8.93% | R2= 24.9% |
| 600 nm | R1=8.88% | R2= 24.5% |
| 620 nm | R1=8.87% | R2= 24.0% |
| 640 nm | R1=8.85% | R2= 23.7% |
| 660 nm | R1=8.84% | R2= 23.4% |
| 680 nm | R1=8.82% | R2= 22.9% |
| 700 nm | R1=8.80% | R2= 22.7% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 36.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Chemical Properties of Aurorite
Formula:
(Mn2+,Ag,Ca)Mn34+O7 · 3H2O
Analytical Data:
Electron microprobe analysis of type material; Mn content (44.02 wt.-%) partitioned as MnO2 (59.99 wt.-%) by analogy to chalcophanite, the remainder reported as MnO; water content calculated from the mass balance
MnO2 (59.99) SiO2 (0.11) Al2O3 (0.15) Fe2O3 (0.07) MnO (7.89) NiO (0.03) CuO (1.06) ZnO (0.25) PbO (1.30) MgO (0.12) CaO (2.50) BaO (3.07) Na2O (0.07) K2O (1.11) Ag2O (7.50) H2O (14.78) sum 100.00 wt.-%
Crystallography of Aurorite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.514 Å, c = 20.734 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.759
Unit Cell Volume:
V 1,013.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Comment:
Could be R-3.
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 |
|---|---|
| 6.94 | (100) |
| 6.20 | (20) |
| 4.06 | (50) |
| 3.46 | (70) |
| 3.29 | (20) |
| 3.20 | (10) |
| 2.76 | (30) |
| 2.70 | (5) |
| 2.54 | (50) |
| 2.45 | (40) |
| 2.40 | (40) |
| 2.23 | (50) |
| 2.13 | (30) |
| 1.98 | (5) |
| 1.899 | (40) |
| 1.841 | (20) |
| 1.795 | (30) |
| 1.748 | (5) |
| 1.712 | (10) |
| 1.668 | (5) |
| 1.563 | (5) |
| 1.560 | (50) |
| 1.508 | (20) |
| 1.429 | (50) |
| 1.398 | (5) |
| 1.321 | (10) |
| 1.277 | (10) |
| 1.234 | (5) |
| 1.204 | (10) |
| 1.144 | (10) |
| 1.119 | (5) |
| 1.064 | (20) |
| 1.036 | (10) |
| ( |
Comments:
ICDD 19-88 (note subsequent change in crystal system). The pattern is nearly indistinguishable from those of Chalcophanite and Jianshuiite. Recorded on type material (Aurora Mine, Hamilton, Nevada).
Type Occurrence of Aurorite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small, irregular masses and platy or scaly grains, to 8 µm
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In veinlets filling microfractures in manganoan calcite
Empirical Formula:
(Mn2+0.48Ag0.28Ca0.19K0.10Ba0.06Cu0.06Pb0.02Mg0.01Zn0.01)=1.21Mn4+2.97O7 · 3.53H2O
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Relationship of Aurorite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Group:
| Chalcophanite | (Zn,Fe,Mn)Mn3O7 · 3H2O |
| Jianshuiite | (Mg,Mn,Ca)Mn3O7 · 3H2O |
| 4.FL. | Trébeurdenite | Fe22+Fe43+O2(OH)10CO3·3H2O |
| 4.FL.05 | Woodallite | Mg6Cr2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O |
| 4.FL.05 | Iowaite | Mg6Fe23+(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O |
| 4.FL.05 | Jamborite | M2+1−xMx3+(OH)2−x(SO4)x·nH2O |
| 4.FL.05 | Meixnerite | Mg6Al2(OH)16(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 4.FL.05 | Muskoxite | Mg7Fe4O13 · 10H2O |
| 4.FL.05 | Fougèrite | Fe42+Fe23+(OH)12[CO3]·3H2O |
| 4.FL.10 | Hydrocalumite | Ca4Al2(OH)12(Cl,CO3,OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 4.FL.15 | Kuzelite | Ca4Al2(OH)12[SO4] · 6H2O |
| 4.FL.20 | Chalcophanite | (Zn,Fe,Mn)Mn3O7 · 3H2O |
| 4.FL.20 | Ernienickelite | NiMn3O7 · 3H2O |
| 4.FL.20 | Jianshuiite | (Mg,Mn,Ca)Mn3O7 · 3H2O |
| 4.FL.25 | Woodruffite | Zn2+x/2(Mn4+1-xMnx3+)O2·yH2O |
| 4.FL.30 | Asbolane | (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2O |
| 4.FL.35 | Buserite | Na4Mn14O27 · 21H2O |
| 4.FL.40 | Ranciéite | (Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O |
| 4.FL.40 | Takanelite | (Mn,Ca)Mn4O9 · H2O |
| 4.FL.45 | Birnessite | (Na,Ca)0.5(Mn4+,Mn3+)2O4 · 1.5H2O |
| 4.FL.55 | Cianciulliite | Mn(Mg,Mn)2Zn2(OH)10 · 2-4H2O |
| 4.FL.60 | Jensenite | Cu3[TeO6] · 2H2O |
| 4.FL.65 | Leisingite | CuMg2Te6+O6 · 6H2O |
| 4.FL.70 | Akdalaite | 5Al2O3 · H2O |
| 4.FL.75 | Cafetite | CaTi2O5 · H2O |
| 4.FL.80 | Mourite | UMo5O12(OH)10 |
| 4.FL.85 | Deloryite | Cu4(UO2)(MoO4)2(OH)6 |
| 7.18.1 | Manganosite | MnO |
| 7.18.2 | Hausmannite | Mn2+Mn23+O4 |
| 7.18.3 | Pyrolusite | MnO2 |
| 7.18.4 | Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| 7.18.5 | Akhtenskite | ε-Mn4+O2 |
| 7.18.6 | Feitknechtite | Mn3+O(OH) |
| 7.18.7 | Manganite | Mn3+O(OH) |
| 7.18.8 | Groutite | Mn3+O(OH) |
| 7.18.9 | Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| 7.18.10 | Pyrochroite | Mn(OH)2 |
| 7.18.11 | Birnessite | (Na,Ca)0.5(Mn4+,Mn3+)2O4 · 1.5H2O |
| 7.18.13 | Cianciulliite | Mn(Mg,Mn)2Zn2(OH)10 · 2-4H2O |
Other Names for Aurorite
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 Aurorite
Reference List:
Radtke, A. S., Taylor, C. M. and Hewett, D. F. (1967): Aurorite, argentian todorokite, and hydrous silver-bearing lead manganese oxide. Econ. Geol. 62, 186-206. - American Mineralogist (1967) 52, 1581 (abstract).
Grice, J. D., Gartrell, B., Gault, R. A. and Van Velthuizen, J. (1994): Ernienickelite, NiMn3O7 . 3H2O, a new mineral species from the Siberia complex, Western Australia: comments on the chalcophanite group. Canadian Mineralogist 32, 333-337.
Criddle, A. J. and Stanley, C. J., Eds. (1993): Quantitative data file for ore minerals, 3rd. ed., Chapman & Hall (London), 29.
Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 30.
Grice, J. D., Gartrell, B., Gault, R. A. and Van Velthuizen, J. (1994): Ernienickelite, NiMn3O7 . 3H2O, a new mineral species from the Siberia complex, Western Australia: comments on the chalcophanite group. Canadian Mineralogist 32, 333-337.
Criddle, A. J. and Stanley, C. J., Eds. (1993): Quantitative data file for ore minerals, 3rd. ed., Chapman & Hall (London), 29.
Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 30.
Internet Links for Aurorite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-428.html
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Localities for Aurorite
This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality.
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can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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(TL) indicates type locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) indicates first recorded locality for everything else. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
Australia | |
| Peter Elliott |
| |
| V. Peisley & P. Elliott in prep | |
| Francis, G.L., Peisley, V., 2012. Minerals from Fairview and St John's phosphate deposits, South Australia. (self published). |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch, U. (2013): 1818) Aurorit und Chalkophanit vom Bergbau am Arzberg bei Steinhaus am Semmering, Steiermark. Pp. 129-130 in Niedermayr, G. et al. (2013): Neue Mineralfunde aus Österreich LXII. Carinthia II, 203./123., 91-146. |
China | |
| Baisheng Zhang (1998): Mineral Resources and Geology 12(5), 318-323 |
| Yongwei Li, Xinguo Liu, and Changxi Guo (2010): Gold Science and Technology 18(2), 45-50 |
Greece | |
| No reference listed |
Japan | |
| Matsubara & Kato (1981) Memoirs of the National Science Museum (Japan), 14, 5-18; The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) |
South Africa | |
| Minerals of South Africa |
USA | |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 123. |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 124. |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 124. |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 124, 165, 240, 343, 398. |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 124; Cousins, N.B. (1972), Relationship of black calcite to gold and silver mineralization in the Sheep Tanks mining district, Yuma Co., AZ, AZ State Univ. M.S. thesis. |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada | |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada | |
| Dunn(1995):Pt4:584. |
North Aurora mine, Summit area, Treasure Hill, Silver Belt, White Pine District, White Pine Co., Nevada, USA