Epididymite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
About EpididymiteHide
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Formula:
Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O
Colour:
Colourless to white, rarely pink
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Derived from the Greek επ (near), and δίδνμος (twin) referring to the dimorphous relation with eudidymite.
A late-stage mineral found in nepheline syenite pegmatites.
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1388:4
b7fef349-db93-491f-8a15-5be4cc5b5d47
IMA Classification of EpididymiteHide
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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Type description reference:
Classification of EpididymiteHide
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9.DG.55
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
66.3.1.4
66 : INOSILICATES Double-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=2)
3 : Amphiboles - Ca-Na subgroup
14.3.7
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
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.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Edd | 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 EpididymiteHide
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Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Pearly on cleavage
Colour:
Colourless to white, rarely pink
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}, good on {010}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
2.548 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of EpididymiteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 1.544 _n_β = 1.544 _n_γ = 1.546
δ = 0.002
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Chemistry of EpididymiteHide
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Mindat Formula:
Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O
Common Impurities:
Al,Fe,Mg,Ca,K
Crystallography of EpididymiteHide
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Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.7334(4) Å, b = 13.6298(5) Å, c = 7.3467(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.934 : 1 : 0.539
Twinning:
Reticulated twins, trillings, pseudohexagonal trillings
Crystallographic forms of EpididymiteHide
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Crystal Atlas:
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Crystal StructureHide
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Epitaxial Relationships of EpididymiteHide
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Epitaxy Comments:
Epitaxial intergrowths of epididymite and eudidymite are common
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
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Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.37 Å | (10) |
| 3.08 Å | (10) |
| 2.96 Å | (10) |
| 1.790 Å | (6) |
| 1.634 Å | (6) |
| 2.48 Å | (5)' |
| 1.537 Å | (5) |
Comments:
From Handbook of Mineralogy, specimen from Narssârssuk, Greenland
Geological EnvironmentHide
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Type Occurrence of EpididymiteHide
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Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No material connected with Flink's first investigation and descriptions has survived.
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| SiO2 | 73.74 % |
|---|---|
| BeO | 10.56 % |
| Na2O | 12.88 % |
| H2O | 3.73 % |
| Total: | 100.91 % |
Reference:
Flink, G. (1893): Om några mineral från Grönland. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholms Förhandlingar. 15, 195-208
Synonyms of EpididymiteHide
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Other Language Names for EpididymiteHide
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Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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| 9.DG. | Calcinaksite | KNaCa(Si4O10) · H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.DG. | Barrydawsonite-(Y) | Na1.5Y0.5CaSi3O8(OH) | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/b |
| 9.DG. | Paratobermorite | Ca4(Al0.5Si0.5)2Si4O16(OH)(H2O)2 · (Ca · 3H2O) | Mon. 2/m |
| 9.DG. | Alvesite | NaKZrSi6O15 · 2H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) |
| 9.DG.02 | Steedeite | NaMn2[Si3BO9](OH)2 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.02 | Nolzeite | NaMn2[Si3BO9](OH)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Bustamite | CaMn2+(Si2O6) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Ferrobustamite | CaFe2+(Si2O6) | Tric. 1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Serandite | NaMn2+2Si3O8(OH) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Wollastonite-1A | CaSiO3 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Tanohataite | LiMn2Si3O8(OH) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Schizolite | NaCaMnSi3O8(OH) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Murakamiite | LiCa2Si3O8(OH) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.05 | Dalnegorskite | Ca5Mn(Si3O9)2 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.07 | Cascandite | CaScSi3O8(OH) | Tric. 1 |
| 9.DG.08 | Plombièrite | [Ca4Si6O16(OH)2 · 2H2O] · (Ca · 5H2O) | Orth. |
| 9.DG.10 | Clinotobermorite | [Ca4Si6O17 · 2H2O] · (Ca · 3H2O) | Mon. |
| 9.DG.10 | Riversideite | Ca5(HSi3O9)2 · 2H2O | Orth. |
| 9.DG.10 | Tobermorite | Ca4Si6O17(H2O)2 · (Ca · 3H2O) | Mon. 2 : _P_21 |
| 9.DG.12 | Jusite | Na2Ca15Al4Si16O54 · 17H2O | |
| 9.DG.12 | Kenotobermorite | Ca4Si6O15(OH)2(H2O)2 · 3H2O | Mon. |
| 9.DG.15 | Foshagite | Ca4(Si3O9)(OH)2 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.20 | Jennite | Ca9(Si3O9)2(OH)8 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.20 | Kamenevite | K2TiSi3O9 · H2O | Orth. 222 : _P_212121 |
| 9.DG.25 | Paraumbite | K3Zr2H(Si3O9)2 · nH2O | Orth. m _m_2 |
| 9.DG.25 | Umbite | K2(Zr,Ti)Si3O9 · H2O | Orth. 222 : _P_212121 |
| 9.DG.30 | Sørensenite | Na4SnBe2Si6O16(OH)4 | Mon. 2/m : _B_2/b |
| 9.DG.32 | Escheite | Ca2NaMnTi5[Si12O34]O2(OH)3 · 12H2O | Orth. m _m_2 : A m _a_2 |
| 9.DG.35 | Xonotlite | Ca6(Si6O17)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : _B_2/m |
| 9.DG.40 | Hillebrandite | Ca2(SiO3)(OH)2 | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : C m c m |
| 9.DG.45 | Zorite | Na8(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,O)5 · 14H2O | Orth. |
| 9.DG.45 | Chivruaiite | Ca4(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,O)5 · 13-14H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : C m m m |
| 9.DG.50 | Haineaultite | (Na,Ca)5Ca(Ti,Nb)5(Si6O17)2(OH,F)8 · 5H2O | Orth. 222 : _C_222 |
| 9.DG.60 | Eudidymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : _B_2/b |
| 9.DG.65 | Elpidite | Na2ZrSi6O15 · 3H2O | Orth. |
| 9.DG.65 | Patynite | NaKCa4[Si9O23] | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.67 | Whelanite | Cu2+2Ca6[Si6O17(OH)](CO3)(OH)3 · 2H2O | Orth. m _m_2 : P n _n_2 |
| 9.DG.70 | Fenaksite | (K,Na)4(Fe,Mn)2(Si4O10)2(OH,F) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.70 | Litidionite | CuNaKSi4O10 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.70 | Manaksite | KNaMnSi4O10 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.70 | Yusupovite | Na2Zr(Si6O15) · 2.5H2O | Mon. 2/m : _B_2/m |
| 9.DG.70 | Enricofrancoite | KNaCaSi4O10 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.75 | Tinaksite | K2Na(Ca,Mn2+)2TiO[Si7O18(OH)] | Tric. |
| 9.DG.75 | Tokkoite | K2Ca4[Si7O18(OH)](OH,F) | Tric. |
| 9.DG.75 | Senkevichite | CsKNaCa2TiO[Si7O18](OH) | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.80 | Canasite | K3Na3Ca5Si12O30(OH)4 | Mon. m : B m |
| 9.DG.80 | Fluorcanasite | K3Na3Ca5Si12O30F4 · H2O | Mon. m : B m |
| 9.DG.85 | Miserite | K1.5-x(Ca,Y,REE)5(Si6O15)(Si2O7)(OH,F)2 · yH2O | Tric. |
| 9.DG.90 | Frankamenite | K3Na3Ca5(Si12O30)(F,OH)4 · H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 9.DG.92 | Charoite | (K,Sr)15-16(Ca,Na)32[Si6O11(O,OH)6]2[Si12O18(O,OH)12]2[Si17O25(O,OH)18]2(OH,F)4 · ~3H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/m |
| 9.DG.95 | Yuksporite | K4(Ca,Na)14(Sr,Ba)2(◻,Mn,Fe)(Ti,Nb)4(O,OH)4(Si6O17)2(Si2O7)3(H2O,OH)3 | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/m |
| 9.DG.97 | Eveslogite | (Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)48 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe2+)12Si48O144(OH)12](F,OH,Cl)14 | Mon. 2/m : _P_2/m |
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 EpididymiteHide
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References for EpididymiteHide
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Reference List:
Gatta, G. D., Rotiroti, N., McIntyre, G.J., Guastoni, A., Nestola, F. (2008) New insights into the crystal chemistry of epididymite and eudidymite from Malosa, Malawi: A single-crystal neutron diffraction study. American Mineralogist, 93 (7) 1158-1165 doi:10.2138/am.2008.2965
Localities for EpididymiteHide
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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.