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Sassite

A valid IMA mineral species
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08282530017775723145049.jpg
Sassite, etc.

Mount Carmel, Kishon Mid Reach zone 2, Kishon river, Haifa District, Israel
08282530017775723145049.jpg
Sassite, etc.

Mount Carmel, Kishon Mid Reach zone 2, Kishon river, Haifa District, Israel
03675660017775723106761.jpg
Sassite, etc.

Mount Carmel, Kishon Mid Reach zone 2, Kishon river, Haifa District, Israel
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About SassiteHide

Formula:
Ti3+2Ti4+O5
β-Ti3O5.
Colour:
brown
Specific Gravity:
3.81 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Name is in honor of Eytan Sass (b. 1932), a geologist at the Freddy and Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He performed the excellent mapping work on Mt. Carmel that identified the various volcanic centers.
Dimorph of:
Kaitianite
As inclusions in corundum xenocrysts.

Close to being the Ti3+ analogue of berdesinskiite (V-dominant) and pseudobrookite (Fe3+-dominant), but the space groups of the latter differ.

Synthetic β-Ti3O5 has orthorhombic symmetry, Cmcm, a =3.798(2), b = 9.846(3), c = 9.988(4) Å, which corresponds to sassite.

Compare magnéliite, panguite, tistarite, vestaite, titanomaghemite, UM1978-08-O:AlCaCrFeMgTi, and UM1987-04-O:Ti.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
56025
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:56025:2

Similar NamesHide

KassiteA valid IMA mineral speciesCaTi2O4(OH)2
SasaiteA valid IMA mineral species(Al,Fe3+)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7 · 83H2O
SouesiteA synonym of Awaruite
SuessiteA valid IMA mineral speciesFe3Si
ZeasiteA synonym of 'Wood Opal'
ZiesiteA valid IMA mineral speciesβ-Cu2(V2O7)
ZoisiteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Zoisite-(Pb)A valid IMA mineral species(CaPb)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)

IMA Classification of SassiteHide

IMA status:
Approved
Approval year:
2022
Approval history:
IMA no. 2022-014

Classification of SassiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
4.CB.15

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

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
SsiIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of SassiteHide

Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Brown
Density:
3.81 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Chemistry of SassiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ti3+2Ti4+O5

β-Ti3O5.
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Ti64.223 %
O35.777 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Ti
O
Elements listed:
O, Ti - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SassiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Cmcm
Setting:
Cmcm
Cell Parameters:
a = 3.80(1) Å, b = 9.85(1) Å, c = 9.99(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.386 : 1 : 1.014
Unit Cell V:
373.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.925 Å(40)
3.545 Å(100)
2.759 Å(74)
2.209 Å(24)
1.980 Å(26)
1.900 Å(44)
1.651 Å(25)
1.565 Å(27)
Locality:
Mount Carmel, Kishon Mid Reach zone 2, Kishon river, Haifa District, Israel

Type Occurrence of SassiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Mount Carmel, Kishon Mid Reach zone 2, Kishon river, Haifa District, Israel
General Appearance of Type Material:
subhedral-euhedral crystals ~4–16 μm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
mineralogical collections of the Università di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milano, Italy, registration number MCMGPG-H2021-004
Geological Setting of Type Material:
inclusions in corundum.
High-temperature oxide or alloy phases formed under extremely reduced conditions in the upper mantle.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AlabanditeBaddeleyiteCorundumMulliteOsbornite

Synonyms of SassiteHide

Other Language Names for SassiteHide

Dutch:Sassiet
German:Sassit

Relationship of Sassite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Pseudobrookite Group
Other Members of Pseudobrookite Group:
ArmalcoliteMgTi4+2O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
FerropseudobrookiteFe2+Ti4+2O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
GriffiniteAl2Ti4+O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
PseudobrookiteFe3+2Ti4+O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Sassite associated with OsborniteTiN
1 photo of Sassite associated with CorundumAl2O3
1 photo of Sassite associated with 'Glass'

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

4.CB.Magnesiohögbomite-6N12SMg5Al11TiO23(OH)Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.CB.KidoditeBaMg2Fe16O27Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
4.CB.Ferrohögbomite-2N2S[(Fe2+,Mg,Zn,Al)3(Al,Ti,Fe3+)8O15(OH)]2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.Zhenruite(MoO3)2 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
4.CB.FuyuaniteMg7Nb6O18(OH)8Trig. 3 : P3
4.CB.VirgilluethiteMoO3 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/c
4.CB.Pengite(Pb8Sb3+3)Σ11Sb5+9O35Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.CB.05BrizziiteNaSb5+O3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05TistariteTi3+2O3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
4.CB.05HematiteFe2O3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
4.CB.05EcandrewsiteZnTiO3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05MelanostibiteMn2+2Fe3+Sb5+O6Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05'UM1998-11-O-AuHSb'Au+2Sb3+O2(OH)
4.CB.05KarelianiteV3+2O3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
4.CB.05CorundumAl2O3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
4.CB.05EskolaiteCr2O3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
4.CB.05GeikieliteMgTiO3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05AkimotoiteMgSiO3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05'Unnamed (Fe-Cr Oxide)'FeCrO3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05'Auroantimonate'AuSbO3
4.CB.05HemleyiteFe2+SiO3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05IlmeniteFe2+TiO3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.05PyrophaniteMn2+TiO3Trig. 3 : R3
4.CB.10Bixbyite-(Fe)(Fe,Mn)2O3Iso.
4.CB.10Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn3+2O3Iso. m3(2/m3) : Ia3
4.CB.10AvicenniteTl3+2O3Iso. m3(2/m3) : Ia3
4.CB.15ArmalcoliteMgTi4+2O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
4.CB.15FerropseudobrookiteFe2+Ti4+2O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
4.CB.15GriffiniteAl2Ti4+O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
4.CB.15Pseudobrookite Group
4.CB.15PseudobrookiteFe3+2Ti4+O5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
4.CB.20Zincovelesite-6N6SZn3(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al,Ti)8O15(OH)Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-2N4S(Mg8.43Fe2+1.57)Σ=10Al22Ti4+2O46(OH)2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.20Magnesiobeltrandoite-2N3S(Mg6Al2)(Al18Fe3+2)O38(OH)2 Trig. 3m : P3m1
4.CB.20Zincohögbomite-2N6S[(Zn,Mg)7(Al,Fe3+,Ti)16O31(OH)]2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-6N6S[(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Ti,Fe3+)8O15(OH)]6Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-2N3S[(Mg,Fe2+,Zn)4(Al,Ti,Fe3+)10O19(OH)]2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31m
4.CB.20Magnesiohögbomite-2N2S[(Mg,Fe2+)3[Al7(Ti,Fe3+)]O15(OH)]2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.20'Ferrohögbomite-6N12S'[(Fe2+,Mg,Zn)5(Al,Ti,Fe3+)12O23(OH)]6Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
4.CB.20Zincohögbomite-2N2S[(Zn,Al,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+,Ti)8O15(OH)]2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.25KleberiteFeTi6O11(OH)5Mon. 2/m : P21/c
4.CB.25PseudorutileFe3+2Ti4+3O9Hex. 622 : P6322
4.CB.30OxyvaniteV3+2V4+O5Mon. 2/m : B2/b
4.CB.30BerdesinskiiteV3+2TiO5Mon.
4.CB.30KaitianiteTi3+2Ti4+O5Mon. 2/m : B2/b
4.CB.35MachiiteAl2Ti3O9Mon. 2/m : B2/b
4.CB.35Vestaite(Ti4+Fe2+)Ti4+3O9Mon. 2/m : B2/b
4.CB.35Olkhonskite(Cr,V)2Ti3O9Mon.
4.CB.35SchreyeriteV3+2Ti4+3O9Mon. 2/m : B2/b
4.CB.40Zincorinmanite-(Zn)Zn2Sb2(Fe3+4Zn2)O14(OH)2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.40MajindeiteMg2Mo3O8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.40AlmagreraiteCuZnMn4+3O8Orth. mm2 : Pmn21
4.CB.40KamiokiteFe2Mo3O8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.40NolaniteV3+8Fe3+2O14(OH)2Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.40IseiteMn2Mo3O8Hex. 6mm : P63mc
4.CB.40RinmaniteZn2Sb2Mg2Fe4O14(OH)2Hex. 6 : P63
4.CB.45StibioclaudetiteAsSbO3Mon. 2/m : P21/m
4.CB.45ClaudetiteAs2O3Mon. 2/m : P21/c
4.CB.50SenarmontiteSb2O3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.CB.50ArsenoliteAs2O3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Fd3m
4.CB.55ValentiniteSb2O3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pccn
4.CB.60BismiteBi2O3Mon. 2/m : P21/c
4.CB.65SphaerobismoiteBi2O3Tet.
4.CB.70SilléniteBi12SiO20Iso. 23 : I23
4.CB.75KyzylkumiteV3+Ti2O5(OH)Mon. 2/m : P21/c
4.CB.80'Tietaiyangite'Fe3+4Fe2+TiO9Hex.
4.CB.85LiuiteFeTiO3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.CB.90LuogufengiteFe2O3Orth. mm2 : Pna21
4.CB.95WangdaodeiteFeTiO3Trig. 3m : R3c

Other InformationHide

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 SassiteHide

References for SassiteHide

Localities for SassiteHide

Showing 1 localities.

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.
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Locality ListHide

- 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.
Israel (TL)
 
  • Haifa District
    • Kishon river
      • Kishon Mid Reach zone 2
Miyawaki et al. (2022)
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