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Spinel Subgroup

A group of related mineral species

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Photos of Spinel Subgroup (6940)Recorded Ages and Analyses Discuss Spinel Subgroup

Spinel Subgroup Gallery Search Photos of Spinel Subgroup

Edit Spinel Subgroup Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Hercynite

Laacher See Volcanic Complex, Germany

Hetaerolite

Esperanza Mine, Kaminiza mines, Km 3, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

Magnesioferrite

Nickenicher Sattel, Nickenich, Pellenz, Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Hercynite

Laacher See Volcanic Complex, Germany

Hetaerolite

Esperanza Mine, Kaminiza mines, Km 3, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

Magnesioferrite

Nickenicher Sattel, Nickenich, Pellenz, Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Hercynite

Laacher See Volcanic Complex, Germany

Hetaerolite

Esperanza Mine, Kaminiza mines, Km 3, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece

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About Spinel SubgroupHide

Formula:

A²⁺D³⁺₂O₄

A = Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺D = Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Al³⁺, V³⁺
X = O^2-
Note: the D site, named as B in the IMA Proposal 17-H, was named here D to avoid confusion with boron.

Member of:

Oxyspinel Group > Spinel Supergroup

The Spinel Subgroup is a subgroup of the Oxyspinel Group in the Spinel Supergroup, and with divalent cations in the A site, and trivalent cations in the D site.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

52933

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:52933:4

IMA Classification of Spinel SubgroupHide

IMA status notes:

IMA Approved Group Name

Approval history:

A classification of spinel supergroup was approved by IMA in march 2018 (Proposal 17-H).

Chemistry of Spinel SubgroupHide

Mindat Formula:

A²⁺D³⁺₂O₄

A = Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺D = Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Al³⁺, V³⁺
X = O^2-
Note: the D site, named as B in the IMA Proposal 17-H, was named here D to avoid confusion with boron.

Age distributionHide

Recorded ages:

Phanerozoic : 220 ± 30 Ma to 0 Ma - based on 15 recorded ages.

Sample ages:

Sample ID	Recorded age	Geologic Time	Dating method
1	2.588 Ma to present day	Pleistocene	Formed in peat.
2	220 ± 30 Ma	Late/Upper Triassic	Sm-Nd

Sample references:

ID	Type	Locality	Reference	Notes
1		Grieves Siding prospect, Zeehan mineral field, Zeehan mining district, West Coast municipality, Tasmania, Australia	Awid-Pascual, Richelle, Kamenetsky, Vadim S., Goemann, Karsten, Allen, Neil, Noble, Taryn L., Lottermoser, Bernd G., Rodemann, Thomas (2015) The evolution of authigenic Zn–Pb–Fe-bearing phases in the Grieves Siding peat, western Tasmania. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 170 (2). 1-16 doi:10.1007/s00410-015-1167-y
2		Weiya V-Ti deposit, Weiya, Yizhou District, Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang, China	Han C, Xiao W, Zhao G, Sun M, Qu W, Du A (2014): Re-Os geochronology on molybdenites from the Donggebi Mo Deposit in the Eastern Tianshan of the Central Asia Orogenic Belt and its geological significance. Resource Geology 64 (2) 136-148.

Chemical AnalysisHide

Oxide wt%:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
TiO₂	0.53 %				0.02 %	0.10 %	0.01 %	0.41 %	0.01 %
Al₂O₃	6.72 %	0.45 %	57.44 %	62.53 %	61.36 %	59.42 %	69.75 %	63.77 %	69.41 %	55.61 %	62.21 %	39.43 %
Cr₂O₃	50.13 %		0.02 %	0.07 %	0.27 %	8.66 %		0.85 %	0.11 %	10.68 %		0.27 %
FeO	23.29 %	13.33 %			27.52 %						22.54 %
Fe₂O₃	13.20 %	47.86 %										17.96 %
MnO	0.79 %	0.48 %		0.23 %	0.03 %	0.09 %	0.23 %	0.11 %	0.13 %	0.39 %	0.07 %
MgO	5.34 %		1.63 %	9.76 %	10.66 %	20.40 %	23.89 %	14.40 %	22.98 %	15.48 %	13.00 %
CaO		0.99 %		0.24 %							0.12 %
V₂O₅		7.08 %
ZnO		29.94 %	30.47 %			0.08 %	0.01 %	0.23 %	0.38 %	0.71 %		17.45 %
Ga₂O₃			0.05 %			0.01 %	0.01 %	0.04 %	0.02 %	0.02 %
V₂O₃			0.03 %			0.06 %	0.01 %	0.23 %	0.08 %	0.01 %
FeO*			10.27 %			9.70 %	6.19 %	20.16 %	7.74 %	15.64 %
CoO			0.01 %			0.02 %		0.05 %		0.11 %
SiO₂				0.13 %		0.08 %		0.01 %	0.03 %	0.03 %	0.03 %
FeOt				26.22 %
Fe₂O₃*						0.60 %			0.06 %	0.70 %
NiO						0.40 %		0.02 %	0.01 %	0.16 %
CuO												25.01 %
Total:	100 %	100.13 %	99.92 %	99.18 %	99.86 %	99.62 %	100.1 %	100.28 %	100.96 %	99.54 %	97.97 %	100.12 %

Empirical formulas:

Sample ID	Empirical Formula
3	(Zn_0.67Fe²⁺_0.25Mg_0.07)Al_2.00O₄
4	Fe²⁺_0.59Mg_0.39Mn_0.01 Ca_0.01Al_1.99O₄
5	Fe²⁺_0.59Mg_0.43 Cr_0.01Fe³⁺_0.04Al_1.96O₄
13	(Mg_0.69Fe_0.34)Al_1.92Si_0.04O₄
6	(Mg_0.78Fe²⁺_0.21Ni_0.01)(Al_1.80Cr_0.18Fe³⁺_0.01)O₄
7	(Mg_0.87Fe²⁺_0.13)(Al_2.00)O₄
8	(Mg_0.56Fe²⁺_0.44)(Al_1.96Cr_0.02Ti_0.01)O₄
9	(Mg_0.83Fe²⁺_0.16Zn_0.01)Al_1.99O₄
10	(Mg_0.62Fe²⁺_0.35Mn²⁺_0.01Zn_0.01)(Al_1.76Cr_0.23Fe³⁺_0.01)O₄
12	(Cu_0.619Zn_0.422)_Σ1.041(Al_1.523Fe³⁺_0.443Cr_0.007)_Σ1.973O₄

Sample references:

ID	Type	Locality	Reference	Notes
1	MC13	Salem ultrabasic rocks, Tamil Nadu, India	Manjunatha Reddy, B., Janardhan, A. S. (1988) Titanoclinohumite from Ultrabasic Rocks of Salem, Tamil Nadu. Journal Geological Society of India, 31 (5). 499-503 doi:10.17491/jgsi/1988/310509	Wet chemical analysis of chromite from an ultramafic body.
2	01+042:3	Hasselhöjden, Grythyttan, Hällefors, Örebro County, Sweden	Holtstam, Dan (2002) New occurrences of willemite-franklinite assemblages in Bergslagen, central Sweden. European Journal of Mineralogy, 14 (3) 621-626 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2002/0014-0621	Electron-microprobe analyses
3	FKM-12	Nine Mile Mine, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia	Frank K. Mazdab collection; sample FKM-12; https://www.rockptx.com/fkm-1-to-fkm-25/#FKM-12	abundant blue-gray gahnite in gahnite-metaquartzite
4	OBI3a	Obidim eclogite, Bansko Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria	Janák, M.; Froitzheim, N.; Georgiev, N.; Nagel, T. J.; Sarov, S. (2011) P-T evolution of kyanite eclogite from the Pirin Mountains (SW Bulgaria): implications for the Rhodope UHP Metamorphic Complex. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 29 (3). 317-332 doi:10.1111/j.1525-1314.2010.00920.x	EMPA analysis ( State Geological Institute of Dionyz Stur in Bratislava).of a spinel from a plagioclase+spinel+/-corundum symplectite after kyanite from a kyanite-eclogite
5		Kosavankovilpatti, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India	Yadav, Roopali; Prakash, Divya; Kumar Rai, Swapnil; K. Yadav, Manoj; Kumar Singh, Pradip; Jaiswal, Srishti (2021) Decompression Textures in Garnet–Cordierite Gneiss from Kosavankovilpatti, Southern India: Constraints from Reaction Textures and Phase Equilibria Modelling. Geologica Carpathica, 72 (4). doi:10.31577/geolcarp.72.4.1	Spinel subgroup mineral from a granulite facies cordierite/garnet gneiss. EMPA analysis
6	FKM-162	Kilbourne Hole, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA	Frank K. Mazdab collection; sample FKM-162; https://www.rockptx.com/fkm-151-to-fkm-175/#FKM-162	deep green (in thin section) spinel accompanying forsterite, enstatite and diopside, in lherzolite xenolith in basalt
7	FKM-191	Andranokaolo thorianite deposit, Tranomaro, Amboasary Sud District, Anosy, Madagascar	Frank K. Mazdab collection; sample FKM-191; https://www.rockptx.com/fkm-176-to-fkm-200/#FKM-191	spinel with hibonite and abundant corundum and anorthite, in Ca-Al-rich granulite
8	FKM-189-2	Pennycross sapphire occurrence, Loch Scridain area, Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK	Frank K. Mazdab collection; sample FKM-189; https://www.rockptx.com/fkm-176-to-fkm-200/#FKM-189	scattered spinel with corundum, cordierite, mullite, sanidine, plagioclase, glass, and additional oxides in clots of sanidinite-facies metapelite ("buchite")
9	FKM-184	Edenville, Town of Warwick, Orange County, New York, USA	Frank K. Mazdab collection; sample FKM-184; https://www.rockptx.com/fkm-176-to-fkm-200/#FKM-184	spinel with warwickite, forsterite and clinohumite in high-grade magnesian marble
10	pt. 9	Longido District, Arusha Region, Tanzania	Frank K. Mazdab Collection	sparse partially-relict(?) Cr-bearing spinel as tiny inclusions within zoisite, in a zoisite+pargasite+corundum high-grade meta-gabbroid
11	spl4	Danmarkshavn eclogites, Danmarkshavn, Northeast Greenland National Park, Greenland	Cao, Wentao (2016) Metamorphic pressure-temperature paths of eclogites from The North-East Greenland Caledonides. PhD Thesis, The University of Iowa. doi:10.17077/etd.tbxxgcs0	Retrograde spinel from a sapphirine+spinel+plagioclase symplectite after kyanite in a kyanite-eclogite. EMPA analysis.
12	Type Specimen	Arsenatnaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik Volcanic field, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia	Pekov, Igor, Sandalov, Fedor, Koshlyakova, Natalia, Vigasina, Marina, Polekhovsky, Yury, Britvin, Sergey, Sidorov, Evgeny, Turchkova, Anna (2018) Copper in Natural Oxide Spinels: The New Mineral Thermaerogenite CuAl2O4, Cuprospinel and Cu-Enriched Varieties of Other Spinel-Group Members from Fumaroles of the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. Minerals, 8 (11) 498 doi:10.3390/min8110498	wt.%, by electron microprobe
13	E-1	Kjøde, Selje, Stad, Vestland, Norway	Wikstr	A coarse-grained spinel-plagioclase symplectite in a kyanite-eclogite. Sample has been taken from Eskola's (1921)original material.

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0020145	Trevorite	O'Driscoll B, Clay P L, Cawthorn P L, Lenaz D, Adetunji J, Kronz A (2014) Trevorite: Ni-rich spinel formed by metasomatism and desulfurization processes at Bon Accord, South Africa? Mineralogical Magazine 78 145-163	2014	Bon Accord, South Africa	0	293
0020517	Maghemite	Solano E, Frontera C, Puig T, Obradors X, Ricart S, Ros J (2014) Neutron and X-ray diffraction study of ferrite nanocrystals obtained by microwave-assisted growth. A structural comparison with the thermal synthetic route Journal of Applied Crystallography 47 414-420	2014	Synthetic	0	293
0020411	Gahnite	Fregola R A, Skogby H, Bosi F, D'Ippolito V, Andreozzi G B, Halenius U (2014) Optical absorption spectroscopy study of the causes for color variations in natural Fe-bearing gahnite: Insights from iron valency and site distribution data American Mineralogist 99 2187-2195	2014	Migiandone mine, Val d'Ossola, Italy	0	293
0020410	Gahnite	Fregola R A, Skogby H, Bosi F, D'Ippolito V, Andreozzi G B, Halenius U (2014) Optical absorption spectroscopy study of the causes for color variations in natural Fe-bearing gahnite: Insights from iron valency and site distribution data American Mineralogist 99 2187-2195	2014	Migiandone mine, Val d'Ossola, Italy	0	293
0020409	Gahnite	Fregola R A, Skogby H, Bosi F, D'Ippolito V, Andreozzi G B, Halenius U (2014) Optical absorption spectroscopy study of the causes for color variations in natural Fe-bearing gahnite: Insights from iron valency and site distribution data American Mineralogist 99 2187-2195	2014	Jemaa, Kaduna, Nigeria	0	293
0020408	Gahnite	Fregola R A, Skogby H, Bosi F, D'Ippolito V, Andreozzi G B, Halenius U (2014) Optical absorption spectroscopy study of the causes for color variations in natural Fe-bearing gahnite: Insights from iron valency and site distribution data American Mineralogist 99 2187-2195	2014	Jemaa, Kaduna, Nigeria	0	293
0020092	Gahnite	Halenius U, Bosi F (2014) Color of Mn-bearing gahnite: A first example of electronic transitions in heterovalent exchange coupled IVMn2+-VIMn3+ pairs in minerals. American Mineralogist 99 261-266	2014	Kittelgruvan, Nordmark, Varmland, Sweden	0	293
0019968	Gahnite	D'Ippolito V, Andreozzi G B, Bosi F, Halenius U, Mantovani L, Bersani D, Fregola R A (2013) Crystallographic and spectroscopic characterization of a natural Zn-rich spinel approaching the endmember gahnite (ZnAl2O4) composition Mineralogical Magazine 77 2941-2953	2013	Jemaa, Kaduna State, Nigeria	0	293
0019261	Gahnite	Ardit M, Cruciani G, Dondi M (2012) Structural relaxation in tetrahedrally coordinated Co2+ along the gahnite-Co-aluminate spinel solid solution American Mineralogist 97 1394-1401	2012	synthetic	0	293
0019260	Gahnite	Ardit M, Cruciani G, Dondi M (2012) Structural relaxation in tetrahedrally coordinated Co2+ along the gahnite-Co-aluminate spinel solid solution American Mineralogist 97 1394-1401	2012	synthetic	0	293
0019259	Gahnite	Ardit M, Cruciani G, Dondi M (2012) Structural relaxation in tetrahedrally coordinated Co2+ along the gahnite-Co-aluminate spinel solid solution American Mineralogist 97 1394-1401	2012	synthetic	0	293
0004821	Magnetite	Bosi F, Halenius U, Skogby H (2009) Crystal chemistry of the magnetite-ulvospinel series American Mineralogist 94 181-189	2009	synthetic	0	293
0004820	Magnetite	Bosi F, Halenius U, Skogby H (2009) Crystal chemistry of the magnetite-ulvospinel series American Mineralogist 94 181-189	2009	synthetic	0	293
0004819	Magnetite	Bosi F, Halenius U, Skogby H (2009) Crystal chemistry of the magnetite-ulvospinel series American Mineralogist 94 181-189	2009	synthetic	0	293
0004818	Magnetite	Bosi F, Halenius U, Skogby H (2009) Crystal chemistry of the magnetite-ulvospinel series American Mineralogist 94 181-189	2009	synthetic	0	293
0004817	Magnetite	Bosi F, Halenius U, Skogby H (2009) Crystal chemistry of the magnetite-ulvospinel series American Mineralogist 94 181-189	2009	synthetic	0	293
0004816	Magnetite	Bosi F, Halenius U, Skogby H (2009) Crystal chemistry of the magnetite-ulvospinel series American Mineralogist 94 181-189	2009	synthetic	0	293
0004815	Magnetite	Bosi F, Halenius U, Skogby H (2009) Crystal chemistry of the magnetite-ulvospinel series American Mineralogist 94 181-189	2009	synthetic	0	293
0004923	Hercynite	Lavina B, Cesare B, Alvarez-Valero A M, Uchida H, Downs R T, Koneva A, Dera P (2009) Closure temperatures of intracrystalline ordering in anatectic and metamorphic hercynite, Fe2+Al2O4 American Mineralogist 94 657-665	2009	the Anga metamorphic complex, Lake Baikal, Russia	0	293
0004922	Hercynite	Lavina B, Cesare B, Alvarez-Valero A M, Uchida H, Downs R T, Koneva A, Dera P (2009) Closure temperatures of intracrystalline ordering in anatectic and metamorphic hercynite, Fe2+Al2O4 American Mineralogist 94 657-665	2009	the Anga metamorphic complex, Lake Baikal, Russia	0	293