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Sillénite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Sillénite
Lars G. Sillén
Formula:
Bi12SiO20
Colour:
Olive-green, yellowish-green, gray- or brown-green
Lustre:
Adamantine
Specific Gravity:
9.16
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named after Lars Gunnar Sillén (July 11, 1916, Stockholm, Sweden - July 23, 1970, Djursholm, Sweden), chemist who worked extensively on bismuth-oxygen compounds.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Sillénite.
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Sillenite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3663
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3663:0
Similar Names
| Sahlinite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Pb14(AsO4)2O9Cl4 |
| Selenite | A variety of Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Selenite (of Rau) | A synonym of Berzelianite | |
| Selwynite | A valid IMA mineral species | NaK(Be,Al)Zr2(PO4)4 · 2H2O |
| Selwynite (of Ulrich) | ||
| Silinaite | A valid IMA mineral species | NaLiSi2O5 · 2H2O |
| Suolunite | A valid IMA mineral species | Ca2(H2Si2O7) · H2O |
IMA Classification of Sillénite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Bi3+12SiO20
First published:
1943
Classification of Sillénite
4.CB.70
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With 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
B : With medium-sized cations
4.3.12.1
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
7.13.13
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
13 : Oxides of As, Sb and Bi
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
13 : Oxides of As, Sb and Bi
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sén | 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 Sillénite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Olive-green, yellowish-green, gray- or brown-green
Streak:
Yellowish to brownish white
Hardness:
VHN50=345 - 386 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Waxy
Density:
9.16 g/cm3 (Measured) 9.18 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sillénite
Type:
Isotropic
Comments:
RI greater than 2.5
Chemistry of Sillénite
Mindat Formula:
Bi12SiO20
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
CAS Registry number:
Crystallography of Sillénite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
23 - Tetartoidal
Space Group:
I23
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.110(2) Å
Unit Cell V:
1,033.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Fine-grained masses at type locality. As cubes to 5 mm at Fuka.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.216 Å | (10) |
| 1.743 Å | (9) |
| 2.730 Å | (8) |
| 2.939 Å | (7) |
| 1.651 Å | (6) |
| 1.499 Å | (6) |
| 1.216 Å | (5) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Sillénite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Fine-grained granular masses intimately admixed with bismutite. Waxy masses that closely resemble bismutite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 83256.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, C1926.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, C1926.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidation of bismuth-bearing minerals.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Sillénite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Sillénite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 5 photos of Sillénite associated with Shattuckite | Cu5(Si2O6)2(OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Sillénite associated with Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
| 3 photos of Sillénite associated with Native Bismuth | Bi |
| 3 photos of Sillénite associated with 'Duhamelite' | (Pb,Bi,Ca)Cu(VO4)(OH,O) |
| 3 photos of Sillénite associated with Ajoite | (K,Na)Cu7AlSi9O24(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 3 photos of Sillénite associated with Namibite | Cu(BiO)2(VO4)(OH) |
| 1 photo of Sillénite associated with Schlegelite | Bi7(AsO4)3(MoO4)2O4 |
| 1 photo of Sillénite associated with Petitjeanite | Bi3(PO4)2O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Sillénite associated with Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.CB. | Magnesiohögbomite-6N12S | Mg5Al11TiO23(OH) |
| 4.CB. | Kidodite | BaMg2Fe16O27 |
| 4.CB. | Ferrohögbomite-2N2S | [(Fe2+,Mg,Zn,Al)3(Al,Ti,Fe3+)8O15(OH)]2 |
| 4.CB. | Zhenruite | (MoO3)2 · H2O |
| 4.CB. | Fuyuanite | Mg7Nb6O18(OH)8 |
| 4.CB. | Virgilluethite | MoO3 · H2O |
| 4.CB. | Pengite | (Pb8Sb3+3)Σ11Sb5+9O35 |
| 4.CB.05 | Brizziite | NaSb5+O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Tistarite | Ti3+2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Ecandrewsite | ZnTiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Melanostibite | Mn2+2Fe3+Sb5+O6 |
| 4.CB.05 | 'UM1998-11-O-AuHSb' | Au+2Sb3+O2(OH) |
| 4.CB.05 | Karelianite | V3+2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Corundum | Al2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Eskolaite | Cr2O3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Geikielite | MgTiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Akimotoite | MgSiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | 'Unnamed (Fe-Cr Oxide)' | FeCrO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | 'Auroantimonate' | AuSbO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Hemleyite | Fe2+SiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| 4.CB.05 | Pyrophanite | Mn2+TiO3 |
| 4.CB.10 | Bixbyite-(Fe) | (Fe,Mn)2O3 |
| 4.CB.10 | Bixbyite-(Mn) | Mn3+2O3 |
| 4.CB.10 | Avicennite | Tl3+2O3 |
| 4.CB.15 | Armalcolite | MgTi4+2O5 |
| 4.CB.15 | Ferropseudobrookite | Fe2+Ti4+2O5 |
| 4.CB.15 | Griffinite | Al2Ti4+O5 |
| 4.CB.15 | Pseudobrookite Group | |
| 4.CB.15 | Sassite | Ti3+2Ti4+O5 |
| 4.CB.15 | Pseudobrookite | Fe3+2Ti4+O5 |
| 4.CB.20 |
Navojoa, Navojoa Municipality, Sonora, Mexico