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Grossite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Grossite
Shulamit Gross
Formula:
CaAl4O7
Colour:
White to colourless; violet (Ardit et al., 2021)
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
2.88 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by D. Weber and A. Bischoff in 1994 in honour of Shulamit Gross (1 October 1923, Grodno, Poland (now Belarus) - 19 September 2012), geologist, mineralogist, and emeritus member of the Geological Survey of Israel. She did a lot of early work on the the Hatrurim Formation, showing that many of the minerals formed by pyrometamorphism. In 1977 she published "The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel" a monograph describing 123 mineral species discovered in the Hatrurim Formation. She discovered and described bentorite, ye’elimite, and hatrurite. She first discovered the natural mineral. The mineral shulamitite is also named for her.
Grossite is the natural counterpart of the synthetic compound Ca-dialuminate (CaAl4O7).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1754
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1754:7
Similar Names
| Brossite | A variety of 'Iron-bearing Dolomite' [Dolomite] | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Corsite | A synonym of 'Napoleonite' | |
| Crossite | A discredited species name | |
| Crusite | A synonym of 'Chiastolite' | |
| Griceite | A valid IMA mineral species | LiF |
| Krausite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | KFe(SO4)2 · H2O |
| Kyrosite | A synonym of 'Lonchidite' | |
| Rossite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O |
IMA Classification of Grossite
Classification of Grossite
4.CC.15
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
C : With large and medium-sized cations
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
C : With large and medium-sized cations
7.3.2.1
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
3 : (AB)10X14
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
3 : (AB)10X14
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Gss | 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 Grossite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
White to colourless; violet (Ardit et al., 2021)
Streak:
White
Density:
2.88 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Grossite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.6178(3) nβ = 1.6184(3) nγ = 1.6516(3)
2V:
Measured: 12° (1), Calculated: 15.5°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.034
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:
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 biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
noticable
Comments:
Optical data from synthetic Ca-dialuminate.
Chemistry of Grossite
Mindat Formula:
CaAl4O7
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 0.1 % |
| TiO2 | 0.1 % |
| Al2O3 | 78.2 % |
| V2O3 | 0.3 % |
| MgO | 0.1 % |
| CaO | 21.4 % |
| Na2O | 0.1 % |
| Total: | 100.3 % |
Sample references:
Crystallography of Grossite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.94(1) Å, b = 8.910(8) Å, c = 5.446(4) Å
β = 107.0(1)°
β = 107.0(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.452 : 1 : 0.611
Unit Cell V:
600.1 ų
Z:
4
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0017823 | Grossite | Goodwin D W, Lindop A J (1970) The crystal structure of CaO.2Al2O3 Acta Crystallographica B26 1230-1235 |  | 1970 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0009210 | Grossite | Boyko E R, Wisnyi L G (1958) The optical properties and structures of CaO*2Al2O3 and SrO*2Al2O3 Acta Crystallographica 11 444-445 | | 1958 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.460 Å | (43) |
| 3.609 Å | (13) |
| 3.515 Å | (100) |
| 2.882 Å | (13) |
| 2.605 Å | (36) |
| 2.440 Å | (21) |
| 1.764 Å | (20) |
Comments:
Meteoritic grossite (Acfer 182 meteorite).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 1: Primary nebular phases | 4.567-4.561 |
| 3 : Solar nebular condensates (CAIs, AOAs, URIs) | >4.565 |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 51 : Pyrometamorphic minerals (see also #54 and #56) | <0.36 |
Geological Setting:
In Ca–Al-rich inclusions of meteorites thought formed by condensation from a hot gas or molten droplets.
Type Occurrence of Grossite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Lath-like or rounded grains.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Institute for Planetology, Munster.
Natural History Museum, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Natural History Museum, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In argillaceous limestones metamorphosed at high temperature and low pressure.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Grossite
Other Language Names for Grossite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 6 photos of Grossite associated with Hibonite | CaAl12O19 |
| 5 photos of Grossite associated with Dellagiustaite | V2+Al2O4 |
| 5 photos of Grossite associated with Native Vanadium | V |
| 2 photos of Grossite associated with Perovskite | CaTiO3 |
| 1 photo of Grossite associated with Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) |
| 1 photo of Grossite associated with Gehlenite | Ca2Al[AlSiO7] |
| 1 photo of Grossite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 1 photo of Grossite associated with Kishonite | VH2 |
| 1 photo of Grossite associated with Spinel | MgAl2O4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.CC. | Bernwoodite | Ca5TiAl2Si2O14 |
| 4.CC. | Xuite | Ca3Fe3+2[(AlO3(OH)]3 |
| 4.CC. | Yttriaite-(Y) | Y2O3 |
| 4.CC. | Allendeite | Sc4Zr3O12 |
| 4.CC. | Chlorkyuygenite | Ca12Al14O32[(H2O)4Cl2] |
| 4.CC. | Magnesiohongruiite-(Fe3+) | (Mg2Fe3+)Fe3+NbO7(OH) |
| 4.CC. | Oboniobite | Mg4Nb2O9 |
| 4.CC. | Botuobinskite | SrFe2+Mg2(Cr3+6Ti4+12)[O36(OH)2] |
| 4.CC. | Mirnyite | SrZr4+Mg2(Cr3+6Ti4+12)O38 |
| 4.CC. | Haitaite-(La) | LaU4+Fe3+2(Ti13Fe2+4Fe3+)O38 |
| 4.CC. | Shagamite | KFe11O17 |
| 4.CC. | Bitikleite | Ca3(Sb5+Sn4+)[AlO4]3 |
| 4.CC. | Anzaite-(Ce) | Ce3+ 4Fe2+Ti6O18 (OH)2 |
| 4.CC. | Heamanite-(Ce) | (K0.5Ce0.5)TiO3 |
| 4.CC. | Priscillagrewite-(Y) | (Ca2Y)Zr2(AlO4)3 |
| 4.CC. | Strandite | Pb3Mn3+4Mn4+3O15 |
| 4.CC. | Saranovskite | SrCaFe2+2(Cr4Ti2)Ti12O38 |
| 4.CC.05 | Chrombismite | Bi3+16Cr6+O27 |
| 4.CC.10 | Freudenbergite | Na2(Ti,Fe)8O16 |
| 4.CC.10 | Fluormayenite | Ca12Al14O32F2 |
| 4.CC.10 | Fluorkyuygenite | Ca12Al14O32[(H2O)4F2] |
| 4.CC.17 | Goldschmidtite | KNbO3 |
| 4.CC.20 | 'Unnamed (HBU UK-4)' | NaFe2+Zn2(Ti,Fe3+,Nb)6Ti12O38 |
| 4.CC.20 | Chlormayenite | Ca12Al14O32[◻4Cl2] |
| 4.CC.20 | Paseroite | PbMn2+(Mn2+,Fe3+)2(V5+,Ti,◻)18O38 |
| 4.CC.20 | Mianningite | (◻,Pb,Ce,Na)(U4+,Mn,U6+)Fe3+2 (Ti,Fe3+)18O38 |
| 4.CC.20 | 'UM1987-03-O:FePbTiU' | ~(U,Pb)(Ti,Fe3+,Fe2+,Mn)21O38 |
| 4.CC.22 | Gorerite | CaAlFe3+11O19 |
| 4.CC.22 | Kahlenbergite | KAl11O17 |
| 4.CC.25 | Hopmannite | Ba2(Ti5Fe)O13 |
| 4.CC.25 | Nixonite | Na2Ti6O13 |
| 4.CC.25 | Yafsoanite | Ca3Te6+2(ZnO4)3 |
| 4.CC.30 | Latrappite | Ca2NbFe3+O6 |
| 4.CC.30 | Natroniobite | NaNbO3 |
| 4.CC.30 | Perovskite | CaTiO3 |
| 4.CC.30 | Lueshite | NaNbO3 |
| 4.CC.30 | Bariolakargiite | BaZrO3 |
| 4.CC.30 | Barioperovskite | BaTiO3 |
| 4.CC.30 | Megawite | CaSnO3 |
| 4.CC.30 | Lakargiite | Ca(Zr,Sn,Ti)O3 |
| 4.CC.32 | Usturite | Ca3(Sb5+Zr)[Fe3+O4]3 |
| 4.CC.32 | Elbrusite | Ca3(U6+0.5Zr1.5)[Fe3+O4]3 |
| 4.CC.32 | Monteneveite | Ca3Sb5+2(Fe3+2Fe2+)O12 |
| 4.CC.32 | Dzhuluite | Ca3(Sb5+Sn4+)[Fe3+O4]3 |
| 4.CC.35 | Tausonite | SrTiO3 |
| 4.CC.35 | Loparite | (Na,REE)2Ti2O6 |
| 4.CC.35 | Panguite | (Ti,Al,Sc,Mg,Zr,Ca)1.8O3 |
| 4.CC.35 | Isolueshite | (Na,La)NbO3 |
| 4.CC.35 | Macedonite | PbTiO3 |
| 4.CC.37 | Pauloabibite | NaNbO3 |
| 4.CC.40 | Landauite | NaMnZn2(Ti,Fe)6Ti12O38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Mathiasite | (Mg,Cr,Fe,Ca,K)2(Ti,Zr,Cr,Fe)5O12 |
| 4.CC.40 | Senaite | Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH)38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Gramaccioliite-(Y) | (Pb,Sr)(Y,Mn)Fe3+2(Ti,Fe3+)18O38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Lindsleyite | (Ba,Sr)(Zr,Ca)(Fe,Mg)2(Ti,Cr,Fe)18O38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Crichtonite | Sr(Mn,Y,U)Fe2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH)38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Loveringite | (Ca,Ce,La)(Zr,Fe)(Mg,Fe)2(Ti,Fe,Cr,Al)18O38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Cleusonite | (Pb,Sr)(U4+,U6+)(Fe2+,Zn)2(Ti,Fe2+,Fe3+)18(O,OH)38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Davidite-(Ce) | Ce(Y,U)Fe2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH,F)38 |
| 4.CC.40 | Davidite-(La) | La(Y,U)Fe2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH,F)38 |
| 4.CC.40 | 'Davidite-(Y)' | (La,Ce,Na,Ca,Pb)(Y,Fe2+,◻)(Fe2+,Mn2+)2(Ti,Fe3+,Nb,Zr)18O38 (hypothetical) |
| 4.CC.40 | 'Uhligite' | Ca3(Ti,Al,Zr)9O20 ? |
| 4.CC.40 | Dessauite-(Y) | (Sr,Pb)(Y,U)(Ti,Fe3+)20O38 |
| 4.CC.45 | Diaoyudaoite | NaAl11O17 |
| 4.CC.45 | Yimengite | K(Cr,Ti,Fe,Mg)12O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Nežilovite | PbZn2Mn4+2Fe3+8O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Hawthorneite | BaMgTi3Cr4Fe2+2Fe3+2O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Mizraite-(Ce) | Ce(Al11Mg)O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Haggertyite | BaFe2+4Fe3+2Ti5MgO19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Lindqvistite | Pb2Mn2+Fe16O27 |
| 4.CC.45 | Hibonite | CaAl12O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Kangite | (Sc,Ti,Al,Zr,Mg,Ca,◻)2O3 |
| 4.CC.45 | Chihuahuaite | FeAl12O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Barioferrite | BaFe3+12O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Plumboferrite | Pb[Fe3+10.67Mn2+0.33Pb]O18.33 |
| 4.CC.45 | Batiferrite | BaTi2Fe3+8Fe2+2O19 |
| 4.CC.45 | Magnetoplumbite | PbFe3+12O19 |
| 4.CC.50 | Jeppeite | K2Ti6O13 |
| 4.CC.55 | Zenzénite | Pb3Fe3+4Mn4+3O15 |
| 4.CC.60 | 'Mengxianminite (of Huang et al.)' | (Ca,Na)3(Fe,Mn)2Mg2(Sn,Zn)5Al8O29 |
Fluorescence of Grossite
Non-fluorescent.
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 Grossite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1754.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Grossite
Reference List:
Boyko, E.; Wisnyl, L. G. (1958) The optical properties and structures of CaO.2Al2O3 and SrO.2Al2O3. Acta Crystallographica, 11 (6). 444-445 doi:10.1107/s0365110x58001183
Goodwin, D. W.; Lindop, A. J. (1970) The crystal structure of CaO.2Al2O3. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 26 (9). 1230-1235 doi:10.1107/s056774087000393x
Weber, Dietmar, Bischoff, Adolf (1994) Grossite (CaAl4O7) - a rare phase in terrestrial rocks and meteorites. European Journal of Mineralogy, 6 (4) 591-594 doi:10.1127/ejm/6/4/0591
Localities for Grossite
Showing 26 localities.
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.
Algeria | |
| Weber et al. (1992, March) +1 other reference |
| Anorthite +2 other references |
| Weber et al. (1994) |
| Krot et al. (2008) | |
Antarctica | |
| Kojima et al. (1995) +1 other reference |
| American Mineralogist |
Argentina | |
| Cámara et al. (2018) |
| Färber (n.d.) +1 other reference | |
Australia | |
| Weber et al. (1994) |
| Weber et al. (1994) |
China | |
| Wang et al. (2009) |
France | |
| Hewins (2014) |
Israel | |
| Bindi et al. (2020) |
| Ma et al. (2023) | |
| Cámara et al. (2018) +1 other reference | |
Italy | |
| Weber et al. (1994) +2 other references |
Kazakhstan | |
| Weber et al. (1994) |
Mexico | |
| Brearley et al. (1998) |
Middle East (TL) | |
| Gross (1977) |
Morocco | |
| Ivanova et al. (2002) |
Northwest Africa Meteorites | |
| Stuart A. Sweeney Smith (2010) | |
Oman | |
| Zhang et al. (2009) |
Russia | |
| Ivanova et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| Rappenglück (2022) |
USA | |
| Brearley et al. (1998) |
| Grossite +1 other reference |
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Acfer 214 meteorite, Foggaret Ezzaouia, In Salah District, In Salah Province, Algeria