Merelaniite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species

About MerelaniiteHide

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Specific Gravity:

4.895 (Calculated)

Name:

Named after the locality of its discovery in honor of the local miners.

Cylindrite homologous series.

An arsenic-rich variety is also known. Merelaniite consists of alternating centered pseudo-tetragonal (Q) and pseudo-hexagonal (H) layers with respective PbS and MoS2 structure types.

Awarded 'Mineral of the Year' by the IMA-CNMNC in 2016.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:50234:6

f3d2d35c-e673-4826-bbf7-9e06fb327de4

IMA Classification of MerelaniiteHide

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Type description reference:

Jaszczak, J., Rumsey, M.S., Bindi, L., Hackney, S.A., Wise, M.A., Stanley, C.J. & Spratt, J. (2016) Merelaniite, Mo4Pb4VSbS15, a New Molybdenum-Essential Member of the Cylindrite Group, from the Merelani Tanzanite Deposit, Lelatema Mountains, Manyara Region, Tanzania. Minerals: 6: 115 (19 pgs).

Classification of MerelaniiteHide

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2.HF.25a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
F : With SnS and PbS archetype structure units

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Physical Properties of MerelaniiteHide

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Streak:

Dark-gray to black

Density:

4.895 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of MerelaniiteHide

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Anisotropism:

Strong with pale blue and orange-brown rotation tints

Reflectivity:

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 47.6%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

Gray to white

Internal Reflections:

none

Chemistry of MerelaniiteHide

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Mindat Formula:

Mo4Pb4VSbS15

Crystallography of MerelaniiteHide

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Class (H-M):

1 - Pinacoidal

Cell Parameters:

a = 5.929(8) Å, b = 5.961(5) Å, c = 12.03(1) Å
α = 91.33(9)°, β = 90.88(5)°, γ = 91.79(4)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.995 : 1 : 2.018

Morphology:

Cylindrical whiskers tens of micrometers in diameter and up to a millimeter long.

Comment:

C1 or C-1 (both layer types); the above unit cell parameters are for the Q layer, the corresponding H-layer ones are: 5.547(9), 3.156(4), 11.91(1) Å, 89.52(9), 92.13(5), 90.18(4)°, V = 208 ų, Z = 2.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Type Occurrence of MerelaniiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:

As metallic dark gray cylindrical whiskers that are typically tens of micrometers in diameter and up to a millimeter long (but may reach 12 mm).

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Collections of the Natural History Museum, London, UK, registration numbers BM2016,100 .

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Regional geology dominated by ultrahigh temperature metamorphism of organic rich "black shale" deposits rich in vanadium.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Jaszczak, J., Rumsey, M.S., Bindi, L., Hackney, S.A., Wise, M.A., Stanley, C.J. & Spratt, J. (2016) Merelaniite, Mo4Pb4VSbS15, a New Molybdenum-Essential Member of the Cylindrite Group, from the Merelani Tanzanite Deposit, Lelatema Mountains, Manyara Region, Tanzania. Minerals: 6: 115 (19 pgs).

Synonyms of MerelaniiteHide

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Relationship of Merelaniite to other SpeciesHide

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Other Members of this group:

Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Fluorescence of MerelaniiteHide

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Other InformationHide

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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 MerelaniiteHide

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References for MerelaniiteHide

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Reference List:

Jaszczak, John, Rumsey, Michael, Bindi, Luca, Hackney, Stephen, Wise, Michael, Stanley, Chris, Spratt, John (2016) Merelaniite, Mo4Pb4VSbS15, a New Molybdenum-Essential Member of the Cylindrite Group, from the Merelani Tanzanite Deposit, Lelatema Mountains, Manyara Region, Tanzania. Minerals, 6 (4) 115 doi:10.3390/min6040115

Jaszczak, J., Rumsey, M.S., Bindi, L., Hackney, S.A., Wise, M.A., Stanley, C.J. & Spratt, J. (2016) Merelaniite, Mo4Pb4VSbS15, a New Molybdenum-Essential Member of the Cylindrite Group, from the Merelani Tanzanite Deposit, Lelatema Mountains, Manyara Region, Tanzania. Minerals: 6: 115 (19 pgs).

Localities for MerelaniiteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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- 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.