Sterlinghillite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species
About SterlinghilliteHide
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Formula:
Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 3H2O
Originally, the mineral was thought to contain four H2O per formula unit.
Colour:
White, pale pinkish white, also very pale pink.
Lustre:
Waxy, Greasy, Silky
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1981 by Pete J. Dunn after its discovery locality, the Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA.
Occurs as tiny light white to pale pinkish white spherules on fracture surfaces, also irregular acicular crystals. Few verified specimens known from the type locality.
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3766:8
b3d3510f-ab04-423a-bd78-dffe13b10545
IMA Classification of SterlinghilliteHide
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Type description reference:
Classification of SterlinghilliteHide
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8.CD.25
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:2
40.3.5.3
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
20.8.9
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
8 : Arsenates of Mn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slg | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of SterlinghilliteHide
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Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Sorry, your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. | Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of SterlinghilliteHide
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Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White, pale pinkish white, also very pale pink.
Density:
2.94 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of SterlinghilliteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 1.656 _n_γ = 1.671
δ = 0.015
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of SterlinghilliteHide
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Mindat Formula:
Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 3H2O
Originally, the mineral was thought to contain four H2O per formula unit.
Crystallography of SterlinghilliteHide
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Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.39(2) Å, b = 11.23(2) Å, c = 11.62(2) Å
α = 90°, β = 98.45(5)°, γ = 90°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.103 : 1 : 1.035
Unit Cell V:
1,599.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Acicular crystals or mound-like botryoids showing a non-radial fibrous texture
Comment:
Space group and crystal structure unknown. Unit cell (tentative) from Matsubara et al. (2000), based on indexed powder diffraction pattern.
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
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Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 11.12 Å | (100) |
| 6.39 Å | (30) |
| 6.11 Å | (2) |
| 5.50 Å | (2) |
| 5.01 Å | (10) |
| 4.73 Å | (10) |
| 3.960 Å | (2) |
| 3.692 Å | (30) |
| 3.209 Å | (100) |
| 2.880 Å | (40) |
| 2.848 Å | (40) |
| 2.814 Å | (5) |
| 2.751 Å | (60) |
| 2.629 Å | (10) |
| 2.603 Å | (10) |
| 2.553 Å | (2) |
| 2.465 Å | (10) |
| 2.341 Å | (2) |
| 2.298 Å | (2) |
| 2.217 Å | (2) |
| 2.171 Å | (2) |
| 2.049 Å | (2) |
| 1.975 Å | (5) |
| 1.939 Å | (5) |
| 1.855 Å | (5) |
| 1.843 Å | (10) |
| 1.757 Å | (2) |
| 1.714 Å | (5) |
| 1.704 Å | (10) |
| 1.672 Å | (5) |
| 1.662 Å | (5) |
| 1.604 Å | (2) |
| 1.583 Å | (2) |
| 1.553 Å | (2) |
| 1.487 Å | (2) |
| 1.447 Å | (2) |
| 1.412 Å | (10) |
Comments:
Dunn, P. J. (1981) Sterlinghillite a New Hydrated Manganese Arsenate Mineral from Ogdensburg, New Jersey, American Mineralogist, v. 66, pp. 182-184.
Geological EnvironmentHide
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Type Occurrence of SterlinghilliteHide
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General Appearance of Type Material:
Tiny pinkish white spherules or white acicular crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington D.C., USA, #NMNH 147269.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
As a secondary mineral on fracture surfaces traversing franklinite-calcite ore in a Precambrian Zn-Mn-Fe orebody.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Dunn, P.J. (1981) Sterlinghillite, a new hydrated manganese arsenate mineral from Ogdensburg, New Jersey. American Mineralogist: 66: 182-184.
Synonyms of SterlinghilliteHide
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Other Language Names for SterlinghilliteHide
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Relationship of Sterlinghillite to other SpeciesHide
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Other Members of this group:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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Fluorescence of SterlinghilliteHide
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Not known to be fluorescent in UV
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 SterlinghilliteHide
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References for SterlinghilliteHide
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Reference List:
Matsubara, S., Miyawaki, R., Mouri, T., Kitamine, M. (2000) Sterlinghillite, a rare manganese arsenate, from the Gozaisho mine, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science Series C, 26 (1-2). 1-7
Localities for SterlinghilliteHide
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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.
| Italy | |
|---|---|
| Liguria La Spezia Province Rocchetta di Vara ⓘ Monte Nero Mine | analysed by Dr. Anthony Kampf +1 other reference |
| Japan | |
| Fukushima Prefecture Iwaki City ⓘ Gozaisho Mine | Ryuji Marumoto collection +2 other references |
| USA (TL) | |
| New Jersey Sussex County Ogdensburg Sterling Hill ⓘ Sterling Mine (TL) |
Dunn (1981) +1 other reference |