Aenigmatite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Aenigmatite
Formula:
Na4[Fe2+10Ti2]O4[Si12O36]
Colour:
Velvet-black
Lustre:
Greasy
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
From the Greek αίνιγμα ("aenigma"), "a riddle", alluding to the enigmatic, uncertain chemical composition of the mineral. Named in 1865 by Breithaupt.
Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Aenigmatite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1865
Approval history:
Approved: IMA 1967 special procedure.
Classification of Aenigmatite
9.DH.40
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12
69.2.1a.1
69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
14.9.34
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
9 : Silicates of Ti
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
9 : Silicates of Ti
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 |
---|---|---|
Aen | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Aen | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Aenigmatite
Greasy
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Velvet-black
Comment:
In thin section, reddish brown to black.
Streak:
Reddish brown
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{010} {100}
{010} {100}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Optical Data of Aenigmatite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.780 - 1.800 nβ = 1.800 - 1.820 nγ = 1.870 - 1.900
2V:
Measured: 27° to 55°, Calculated: 56° to 60°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.090 - 0.100
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:
Very High
Dispersion:
single
Optical Extinction:
Y = b; Z ∧ c = 45°.
Chemistry of Aenigmatite
Mindat Formula:
Na4[Fe2+10Ti2]O4[Si12O36]
Common Impurities:
Al,Mn,Mg,Ca,K,Cl
Crystallography of Aenigmatite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.415(1) Å, b = 10.840(1) Å, c = 8.931(1) Å
α = 105.107(4)°, β = 96.610(5)°, γ = 125.398(4)°
α = 105.107(4)°, β = 96.610(5)°, γ = 125.398(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.961 : 1 : 0.824
Unit Cell V:
746.8 ų
Morphology:
Crystals, prismatic after[001], to 10 cm; as irregular segregations.
Twinning:
By rotation (011) or about [010] of
the pseudomonoclinic cell; polysynthetic.
the pseudomonoclinic cell; polysynthetic.
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000224 | Aenigmatite | Cannillo E, Mazzi F, Fang J H, Robinson P D, Ohya Y (1971) The crystal structure of aenigmatite sample CM American Mineralogist 56 427-446 | 1971 | 0 | 293 | ||
0000225 | Aenigmatite | Cannillo E, Mazzi F, Fang J H, Robinson P D, Ohya Y (1971) The crystal structure of aenigmatite sample FRO American Mineralogist 56 427-446 | 1971 | 0 | 293 | ||
0002100 | Aenigmatite | Gasparik T, Parise J B, Reeder R J, Young V G, Wilford W S (1999) Composition, stability, and structure of a new member of the aenigmatite group, Na2Mg4+xFe2-2xSi6+xO20, synthesized at 13-14 GPa American Mineralogist 84 257-266 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0002350 | Aenigmatite | Yang H, Konzett J (2000) High-pressure synthesis of Na2Mg6Si6O18(OH)2 - a new hydrous silicate phase isostructural with aenigmatite American Mineralogist 85 259-262 | 2000 | 0 | 293 | ||
0007269 | Aenigmatite | Grew E S, Halenius U, Pasero M (2008) The crystal-chemistry of aenigmatite revisited: electron microprobe data, structure refinement and Mossbauer spectroscopy of aenigmatite from Vesteroya (Norway) European Journal of Mineralogy 20 983-991 | 2008 | Vesteroya, Vestfold District, Norway | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
8.09 Å | (very strong) |
3.145 Å | (very strong) |
2.706 Å | (strong) |
2.547 Å | (strong) |
2.937 Å | (medium strong) |
2.119 Å | (medium strong) |
2.414 Å | (medium) |
Comments:
Kola Peninsula, Russia.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies) | |
Stage 4a: Earth’s earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
20 : Acidic volcanic rocks | |
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks |
Geological Setting:
A primary constituent in sodium-rich alkalic volcanics, pegmatites, and other silica-poor igneous rocks.
Type Occurrence of Aenigmatite
Co-Type Localities:
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Academy, Freiberg, Germany, 29166.
Reference:
Breithaupt, J. F. A. (1865) Mineralogische studien. 29. Kölbingit. Ainigmatit. Berg- und Hüttenmännische Zeitung 24: 397-398
Synonyms of Aenigmatite
Other Language Names for Aenigmatite
Dutch:Aenigmatiet
German:Aenigmatit
Cosyrit
Kölbingit
Cosyrit
Kölbingit
Italian:Enigmatite
Norwegian:Ænigmatitt
Russian:Энигматит
Spanish:Aenigmatita
Cosyrita
Kölbingita
Cosyrita
Kölbingita
Relationship of Aenigmatite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Krinovite | Na2Mg4Cr3+2(Si6O18)O2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Kuratite | Ca2(Fe2+5Ti)O2[Si4Al2O18] | Tric. 1 : P1 |
UM1991-29-SiO:FeMgNa | Na4(Mg5Fe3+7)O4[Si9Fe3+3O36] | |
Wilkinsonite | Na2Fe2+4Fe3+2(Si6O18)O2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
23 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
20 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
20 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Eudialyte | Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2 |
17 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Astrophyllite | K2NaFe2+7Ti2Si8O26(OH)4F |
10 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
7 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
5 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
5 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Ferro-katophorite | {Na}{CaNa}{Fe2+4Al}[(AlSi7)O22](OH)2 |
4 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
4 photos of Aenigmatite associated with Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.DH. | Gageite-2M | (Mn,Mg,Zn)42Si16O54(OH)40 |
9.DH. | Bavsiite | Ba2V2O2[Si4O12] |
9.DH. | Devilliersite | Ca4Ca2Fe3+10O4[(Fe3+10Si2)O36] |
9.DH. | Yuzuxiangite | Sr3Fe3+(Si2O6)2(OH) · 3H2O |
9.DH. | Louisfuchsite | Ca2(Mg4Ti2)(Al4Si2)O20 |
9.DH.05 | Leucophanite | NaCaBeSi2O6F |
9.DH.10 | Ohmilite | Sr3(Ti,Fe3+)(Si4O12)(O,OH) · 2-3H2O |
9.DH.15 | Haradaite | SrVSi2O7 |
9.DH.15 | Suzukiite | BaVSi2O7 |
9.DH.20 | Batisite | BaNaNaTi2(Si4O12)O2 |
9.DH.20 | Shcherbakovite | (K,Ba)KNa(Ti,Nb)2(Si4O12)O2 |
9.DH.20 | Noonkanbahite | BaKNaTi2(Si4O12)O2 |
9.DH.25 | Taikanite | Sr3BaMn2+2(Si4O12)O2 |
9.DH.30 | Krauskopfite | BaSi2O5 · 3H2O |
9.DH.35 | Balangeroite | (Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Mn2+)42Si16O54(OH)40 |
9.DH.35 | Gageite | Mn21(Si4O12)2O3(OH)20 |
9.DH.40 | Dorrite | Ca4(Mg3Fe3+9)O4(Si3Al8Fe3+O36) |
9.DH.40 | Høgtuvaite | Ca4[Fe2+6Fe3+6]O4[Si8Be2Al2O36] |
9.DH.40 | Krinovite | Na2Mg4Cr3+2(Si6O18)O2 |
9.DH.40 | Makarochkinite | (Ca,Na)4[Fe2+8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si8Be2Al2O36] |
9.DH.40 | Rhönite | Ca4[Mg8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36] |
9.DH.40 | Serendibite | Ca4[Mg6Al6]O4[Si6B3Al3O36] |
9.DH.40 | Welshite | Ca4Mg9Sb3O4[Si6Be3AlFe2O36] |
9.DH.40 | Wilkinsonite | Na2Fe2+4Fe3+2(Si6O18)O2 |
9.DH.40 | Leucorhönite | Ca2(Mg,Fe3+,Al)6(Si,Al)6O20 |
9.DH.40 | Kuratite | Ca2(Fe2+5Ti)O2[Si4Al2O18] |
9.DH.40 | Khesinite | Ca4(Mg3Fe3+9)O4(Fe3+9Si3)O36 |
9.DH.40 | UM1991-29-SiO:FeMgNa | Na4(Mg5Fe3+7)O4[Si9Fe3+3O36] |
9.DH.45 | Sapphirine | Mg4(Mg3Al9)O4[Si3Al9O36] |
9.DH.50 | Khmaralite | (Mg,Al,Fe)16[(Al,Si,Be)12O36]O4 |
9.DH.55 | Surinamite | (Mg,Fe)3Al4BeSi3O16 |
9.DH.55 | UM1988-26-SiO:AlMg | Mg4Al2O[Si3Al2O15] |
9.DH.60 | Deerite | (Fe,Mn)6(Fe,Al)3[Si6O17]O3(OH)5 |
9.DH.65 | Howieite | Na(Fe,Mn)10(Fe,Al)2Si12O31(OH)13 |
9.DH.65 | Taneyamalite | (Na,Ca)(Mn,Mg,Fe)12Si12(O,OH)44 |
9.DH.70 | Johninnesite | Na2Mn2+9Mg7(OH)8[AsO4]2[Si6O17]2 |
9.DH.75 | Agrellite | NaCa2Si4O10F |
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.
Aenigmatite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Aenigmatite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-33.html
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References for Aenigmatite
Reference List:
Cannillo, E., Mazzi, F ., Fang, J. H., Robinson, Paul D., Ohya, and Y. (1971) The crystal structure of aenigmatite. American Mineralogist, 56 (3-4) 427-446
Jensen, B. B. (1996) Solid solution among members of the aenigmatite group. Mineralogical Magazine, 60 (403) 982-986 doi:10.1180/minmag.1996.060.403.14
Kunzmann, Thomas (1999) The aenigmatite-rhönite mineral group. European Journal of Mineralogy, 11 (4) 743-756 doi:10.1127/ejm/11/4/0743
Grew, Edward S., Hålenius, Ulf, Pasero, Marco (2008) The crystal-chemistry of aenigmatite revisited: electron microprobe data, structure refinement and Mossbauer spectroscopy of aenigmatite from Vesteroya (Norway) European Journal of Mineralogy, 20 (5) 983-991 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2008/0020-1854
Localities for Aenigmatite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Kangerluarsuk Fjord, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland