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Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Formula:
Fe2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
Hardness:
4½
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1808 by Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann from the Greek πυρ = fire and οσμη = smell, because of the strong odor the mineral gives off when strongly heated. Renamed by IMA with a suffix -(Fe), indicating its relationship to pyrosmalite-(Mn).
Pyrosmalite-(Fe)-Pyrosmalite-(Mn) Series.
"The mineral was originally named pyrodmalith (Hausmann 1808), then shortly after changed to pyrosmalite by Karsten (1808). History, crystallography and chemistry was discussed by Zambonini (1901, Zeitschrift für Krystallographie vol. 34, p.554-561), who remarked that all historical investigations was performed on material from Bjelke mine up until when material from Dannemora, Sweden was described by Lindström 1888. Essentially all investigations up until Zambonini displayed slight to moderate Fe > Mn, Zambonini’s own investigation on material from Nordmark confirmed this.
In the description of the new mineral manganpyrosmalite (Frondel & Bauer, 1953), it was acknowleged that six old (Fe-dominant) analyses together with the new (Mn-dominant) indicated a continuous solid solution series with Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio from about 0.60-0.25. The old name pyrosmalite was retained for members with Fe>Mn and manganpyrosmalite was applied to members of the series with Mn>Fe.
In The iron end-member of the pyrosmalite series,from Pegmont lead-zinc deposit, Queensland, Vaughan (1986, Min. Mag. vol.50:527-531) reported an extremely iron-rich member of the series that had Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio 0.92. Vaughan explained the nomenclature used by Frondel & Baur, and noted that the Pegmont material fell within the pyrosmalite field sensu stricto. However, Vaughan self in the article used “pyrosmalite” to designate the series and expressed an opinion that the nomenclature was unresolved. In a later short communication, Vaughan (1987, Min. Mag. vol.51:174) could report that the IMA Commission had resolved the nomenclature issue “and the Fe-rich species described in Vaughan (1986) is designated ferropyrosmalite”. This may briefly sound as Vaughan discovered a new species, when in fact he was decribing the most Fe-rich of the (Fe-rich) pyrosmalites. Thus, Vaughan was “only” enforcing a nomenclature revision, so that pyrosmalite came to designate the Fe-Mn solid solution series and the Fe vs Mn fields, came to bear names, ferropyrosmalite and manganpyrosmalite, that directly indicated the composition.
I think this is a good example of how name revisions get confounded with “new” discoveries and mineralogical history unfortunately gets erased."
(Johan Kjellman posting on Mindat forum)
"A slightly later paper by Stillwell and McAndrew (1957, Min. Mag., p. 371) also mentions Frondel and Bauer and states:
"In doing so (i.e. proposing the name manganpyrosmalite) they relegate the name pyrosmalite from that for a species as found with approximately equal amounts of Fe and Mn to that of a variety with Fe>Mn; this departure from the earlier usage is undesirable. The name pyrosmalite is here retained for all members of the isomorphous series."
(Jeffrey Vaughan, pers. comm. to Uwe Kolitsch)
The work of Yang et al. (2012) suggests the presence of disordered structural water in pyrosmalite-(Fe), consistent with infrared spectroscopic data measured from the same sample.
"The mineral was originally named pyrodmalith (Hausmann 1808), then shortly after changed to pyrosmalite by Karsten (1808). History, crystallography and chemistry was discussed by Zambonini (1901, Zeitschrift für Krystallographie vol. 34, p.554-561), who remarked that all historical investigations was performed on material from Bjelke mine up until when material from Dannemora, Sweden was described by Lindström 1888. Essentially all investigations up until Zambonini displayed slight to moderate Fe > Mn, Zambonini’s own investigation on material from Nordmark confirmed this.
In the description of the new mineral manganpyrosmalite (Frondel & Bauer, 1953), it was acknowleged that six old (Fe-dominant) analyses together with the new (Mn-dominant) indicated a continuous solid solution series with Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio from about 0.60-0.25. The old name pyrosmalite was retained for members with Fe>Mn and manganpyrosmalite was applied to members of the series with Mn>Fe.
In The iron end-member of the pyrosmalite series,from Pegmont lead-zinc deposit, Queensland, Vaughan (1986, Min. Mag. vol.50:527-531) reported an extremely iron-rich member of the series that had Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio 0.92. Vaughan explained the nomenclature used by Frondel & Baur, and noted that the Pegmont material fell within the pyrosmalite field sensu stricto. However, Vaughan self in the article used “pyrosmalite” to designate the series and expressed an opinion that the nomenclature was unresolved. In a later short communication, Vaughan (1987, Min. Mag. vol.51:174) could report that the IMA Commission had resolved the nomenclature issue “and the Fe-rich species described in Vaughan (1986) is designated ferropyrosmalite”. This may briefly sound as Vaughan discovered a new species, when in fact he was decribing the most Fe-rich of the (Fe-rich) pyrosmalites. Thus, Vaughan was “only” enforcing a nomenclature revision, so that pyrosmalite came to designate the Fe-Mn solid solution series and the Fe vs Mn fields, came to bear names, ferropyrosmalite and manganpyrosmalite, that directly indicated the composition.
I think this is a good example of how name revisions get confounded with “new” discoveries and mineralogical history unfortunately gets erased."
(Johan Kjellman posting on Mindat forum)
"A slightly later paper by Stillwell and McAndrew (1957, Min. Mag., p. 371) also mentions Frondel and Bauer and states:
"In doing so (i.e. proposing the name manganpyrosmalite) they relegate the name pyrosmalite from that for a species as found with approximately equal amounts of Fe and Mn to that of a variety with Fe>Mn; this departure from the earlier usage is undesirable. The name pyrosmalite is here retained for all members of the isomorphous series."
(Jeffrey Vaughan, pers. comm. to Uwe Kolitsch)
The work of Yang et al. (2012) suggests the presence of disordered structural water in pyrosmalite-(Fe), consistent with infrared spectroscopic data measured from the same sample.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1525
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1525:3
Similar Names
| Pyrosmalit | A synonym of 'Pyrosmalite' | |
| Pyrosmalite | A synonym of 'Pyrosmalite-(Fe)-Pyrosmalite-(Mn) Series' | |
| Pyrosmalite-(Mn) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Mn82+Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
IMA Classification of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Fe2+8Si6O15(OH)10
Classification of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
9.EE.10
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
72.4.1a.1
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
4 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-, 6-, and 12-membered rings
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
4 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-, 6-, and 12-membered rings
17.3.12
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
3 : Silicates with chloride (including aluminosilicates)
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
3 : Silicates with chloride (including aluminosilicates)
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Pys-Fe | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Pys | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Optical Data of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.68 nε = 1.64
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.040
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Chemistry of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Mindat Formula:
Fe2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Al,Mg
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 34.71 % |
| Al2O3 | 0.16 % |
| Fe2O3* | 4.37 % |
| FeO* | 23.80 % |
| MnO | 23.03 % |
| MgO | 1.08 % |
| CaO | 0.03 % |
| SrO | 0.01 % |
| K2O | 0.01 % |
| Cl | 2.90 % |
| H2O* | 7.94 % |
| =O-(F+Cl) | -0.65 % |
| Total: | 97.39 % |
Sample references:
Crystallography of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
P3m1
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.3165(2) Å, c = 7.0845(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.532
Unit Cell V:
1,087.98 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018558 | Pyrosmalite-(Fe) | Yang H, Downs R T, Yang Y W, Allen W H (2011) Pyrosmalite-(Fe), Fe8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 Acta Crystallographica E68 i7-i8 |  | 2011 | Burguillos del Cerro, Badajos, Spain | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Synonyms of Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Other Language Names for Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Relationship of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Pyrosmalite Group:
| Friedelite | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Mcgillite | (Mn,Fe)8Si6O15(OH)8Cl2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Nelenite | Mn2+16As3+3Si12O36(OH)17 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Pyrosmalite-(Mn) | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Schallerite | Mn2+16As3Si12O36(OH)17 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 14 photos of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 5 photos of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| 3 photos of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| 2 photos of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5(T8O22)W2 |
| 2 photos of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Chrysotile | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 1 photo of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Johannsenite | CaMn2+Si2O6 |
| 1 photo of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Ilvaite | CaFe3+Fe2+2(Si2O7)O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 1 photo of Pyrosmalite-(Fe) associated with Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.EE. | Cairncrossite | Sr2Ca7-xNa2x(Si4O10)4(OH)2(H2O)15-x |
| 9.EE.05 | Bementite | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| 9.EE.07 | Innsbruckite | Mn33(Si2O5)14(OH)38 |
| 9.EE.10 | 'Brokenhillite' | Mn8Si6O15(OH)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Mcgillite | (Mn,Fe)8Si6O15(OH)8Cl2 |
| 9.EE.10 | Friedelite | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Pyrosmalite-(Mn) | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.15 | Nelenite | Mn2+16As3+3Si12O36(OH)17 |
| 9.EE.15 | Schallerite | Mn2+16As3Si12O36(OH)17 |
| 9.EE.20 | Palygorskite | ◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Yofortierite | Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Windhoekite | Fe3+(Fe3+1.67◻0.33)Ca2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Windmountainite | ◻Fe3+2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Ikorskyite | KMn3+(Si4O10) · 3H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Tuperssuatsiaite | Fe3+Fe3+2(Na◻)◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | 'Unnamed (Na-Ca-Fe-Silicate-Hydrate)' | NaCa(Fe2+,Al,Mn)5[Si8O19(OH)](OH)7 · 5H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Sepiolite | Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Loughlinite | Na2Mg3Si6O16 · 8H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Falcondoite | (Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Kalifersite | (K,Na)5Fe3+7Si20O50(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 9.EE.30 | Orlymanite | Ca4Mn3Si8O20(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.30 | Tungusite | Ca4Fe2Si6O15(OH)6 |
| 9.EE.30 | Gyrolite | NaCa16Si23AlO60(OH)8 · 14H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Reyerite | (Na,K)2Ca14(Si,Al)24O58(OH)8 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Kodamaite | Na3(Ca5Na)Si16O36(OH)4F2 · (14-x)H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Truscottite | (Ca,Mn)14Si24O58(OH)8 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.40 | Natrosilite | Na2Si2O5 |
| 9.EE.45 | Makatite | Na2Si4O8(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.50 | Varennesite | Na8Mn2Si10O25(OH,Cl)2 · 12H2O |
| 9.EE.55 | Raite | Mn2+Mn2+2Na2(◻1.75Ti0.25)Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · Na(H2O)6 |
| 9.EE.60 | Intersilite | Na6Mn2+Ti[Si10O24(OH)](OH)3 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.65 | Zakharovite | Na4Mn5Si10O24(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.65 | Shafranovskite | Na3K2(Mn,Fe,Na)4[Si9(O,OH)27](OH)2 · nH2O |
| 9.EE.70 | Zeophyllite | Ca13Si10O28(OH)2F8 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.75 | Minehillite | (K,Na)2-3Ca28Zn4Al4Si40O112(OH)16 |
| 9.EE.80 | Fedorite | (Na,K)2-3(Ca4Na3)Si16O38(OH,F)2 · 3.5H2O |
| 9.EE.80 | Martinite | (Na,◻,Ca)12Ca4(Si,S,B)14B2O38(OH,Cl)2F2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.80 | Ellingsenite | Na5Ca6Si18O38(OH)13 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.85 | Lalondeite | (Na,Ca)6(Ca,Na)3Si16O38(F,OH)2 · 3H2O |
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 Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1525.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
Reference List:
Kato, T., Takéuchi, Y. (1983) The pyrosmalite group of minerals: I. Structure refinement of manganpyrosmalite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 21, 1-6.(manganpyrosmalite structure)
Jambor, John L.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Ercit, T. Scott; Grice, Joel D.; Grew, Edward S. (1988) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 73 (7-8). 927-935
Burke, Ernst A. J. (2008) Tidying up mineral names: an IMA-CNMNC scheme for suffixes, hyphens and diacritical marks. The Mineralogical Record, 39 (2) 131-135
Nordmark Odal Field, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden