Aspedamite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Aspedamite
Aspedammen train station
Formula:
◻ 12(Fe+23Fe2+)Nb4(ThNb9Fe+23 Ti4+O42)(H2O)9(OH)3
Colour:
Brownish orange to deep red
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
4.070 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named after the locality close to Aspedammen, Halden, Østfold, Norway.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
A natural heteropolyniobate - the second known after menezesite. Chemically somewhat related to hexaniobates peterandresenite and hansesmarkite.
Found on only one specimen at the TL (status 2018).
Found on only one specimen at the TL (status 2018).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
42356
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:42356:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
67872c4b-de4f-4e12-b73f-b41800f01881
IMA Classification of Aspedamite
Approved
IMA Formula:
◻12(Fe3+,Fe2+)3Nb4[Th(Nb,Fe3+)12O42][(H2O),(OH)]12
Approval year:
2011
First published:
2012
Type description reference:
Cooper, M. A., Abdu, Y. A., Ball, N. A., Cerny, P., Hawthorne, F. C., Kristiansen, R. (2012) Aspedamite, ideally ◻12(Fe3+,Fe2+)3Nb4[Th(Nb,Fe3+)12O42]{(H2O),(OH)}12, a new heteropolyniobate mineral species from the Herrebøkasa Quarry, Aspedammen, Østfold, southern Norway: description and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist, 50 (4) 793-894 doi:10.3749/canmin.50.4.793
Classification of Aspedamite
4.FN.
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
N : Hydroxides with H2O±(OH); frameworks of corner and/or face-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
N : Hydroxides with H2O±(OH); frameworks of corner and/or face-sharing octahedra
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apd | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Aspedamite
Adamantine
Colour:
Brownish orange to deep red
Streak:
Very pale orange
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
None observed
Density:
4.070 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aspedamite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 2.084
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
Very High
Comments:
Refractive index is calculated.
Chemistry of Aspedamite
Mindat Formula:
◻ 12(Fe+23Fe2+)Nb4(ThNb9Fe+23 Ti4+O42)(H2O)9(OH)3
Crystallography of Aspedamite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3 (2/m 3) - Diploidal
Space Group:
Im3
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.9078(6) Å
Unit Cell V:
2150.6 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Dominant forms: the dodecahedron {110} modified by the cube {100}
Twinning:
None observed
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.107 Å | (100) |
| 4.567 Å | (15) |
| 4.083 Å | (15) |
| 3.454 Å | (18) |
| 3.233 Å | (28) |
| 2.889 Å | (33) |
| 2.635 Å | (36) |
| 1.726 Å | (29) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Aspedamite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small to 50 micron, euhedral crystals of dodecahedra and cubes perched on a white mat of an Al-Nb-Fe-Ti-Ca-K-bearing silicate on a partly 12 x 12 x 6 mm large monazite crystal.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, catalogue number M56117
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
K0.09Ca0.13Ce0.26La0.08Nd0.07Fe2+1.00Mn0.30Fe3+3.48Th0.56Ti 4+0.71Si0.34Nb12.98Ta0.21O42(H2O)9(OH)3
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| Nb2O5 | 65.64 % |
|---|---|
| Ta2O5 | 1.78 % |
| SiO2 | 0.78 % |
| ThO2 | 5.64 % |
| Fe2O3 | 10.56 % |
| FeO | 2.73 % |
| MnO | 0.82 % |
| CaO | 0.28 % |
| K2O | 0.16 % |
| La2O3 | 0.52 % |
| Ce2O3 | 1.62 % |
| Nd2O3 | 0.44 % |
| H2O | 7.20 % |
| TiO2 | 2.15 % |
| Total: | 100.32 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Cooper, M.A., Abdu, Y.A., Ball, N.A., Černý, P., Hawthorne, F. and Kristiansen, R. (2012): Aspedamite, Ideally □12(Fe3+, Fe2+)3Nb4[Th(Nb,Fe3+)12O42]{(H2O),(OH)}12, a New Heteropolyniobate Mineral Species from the Herrebøkasa Quarry, Aspedammen, Østfold, Southern Norway: Description and Crystal Structure. Canadian Mineralogist. 50: 793-894
Synonyms of Aspedamite
Other Language Names for Aspedamite
Norwegian:Aspedamitt
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Aspedamite associated with Monazite | REE(PO4) |
| 1 photo of Aspedamite associated with Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 1 photo of Aspedamite associated with Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| 1 photo of Aspedamite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 1 photo of Aspedamite associated with Mica Group |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.FN.05 | Menezesite | Ba2MgZr4(BaNb12O42) · 12H2O |
Fluorescence of Aspedamite
None
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 Aspedamite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-42356.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Aspedamite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2011) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2011. CNMNC Newsletter No 11. Mineralogical Magazine, 75 (6) 2887-2893 doi:10.1180/minmag.2011.075.6.2887
Cooper, M. A., Abdu, Y. A., Ball, N. A., Cerny, P., Hawthorne, F. C., Kristiansen, R. (2012) Aspedamite, ideally ◻12(Fe3+,Fe2+)3Nb4[Th(Nb,Fe3+)12O42]{(H2O),(OH)}12, a new heteropolyniobate mineral species from the Herrebøkasa Quarry, Aspedammen, Østfold, southern Norway: description and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist, 50 (4) 793-894 doi:10.3749/canmin.50.4.793
Localities for Aspedamite
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.
Norway (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
| Larsen et al. (2012) |
Quick NavTopAbout AspedamiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Herrebøkasa, Aspedammen, Idd, Halden, Østfold, Norway