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Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Formula:
Ba4Mn3+4(Si4O12)O2(OH)4Cl2[Si2O3(OH)4]
Colour:
Deep green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4 - 5
Specific Gravity:
3.62
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named cerchiaraite by Basso et al. in 2000, for the type locality of Cerchiara mine, Italy. It was renamed with a suffix by Kampf et al. in 2013 following the discovery of the Fe and Al analogues. The suffix is for the dominant trivalent M cation.
Isostructural with:
The Mn analogue of cerchiaraite-(Al) and cerchiaraite-(Fe). Related to bobmeyerite and ashburtonite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7081
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7081:8
Similar Names
| Cerchiaraite-(Al) | A valid IMA mineral species | Ba4Al4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl |
| Cerchiaraite-(Fe) | A valid IMA mineral species | Ba4Fe43+O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl |
| Cherchiaraite | A synonym of Cerchiaraite Group |
IMA Classification of Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Approved
Approval year:
1999
First published:
2000
Classification of Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
9.CF.25
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
F : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered single rings, with insular complex anions
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
F : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered single rings, with insular complex anions
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ccr-Mn | 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 Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Deep green
Streak:
Pale green
Hardness:
4 - 5 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN50=296 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
None
None
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.62 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.70 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.745(5) nε = 1.765(5)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.020
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:
Moderate
Chemistry of Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Mindat Formula:
Ba4Mn3+4(Si4O12)O2(OH)4Cl2[Si2O3(OH)4]
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Setting:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.223(16) Å, c = 6.141(4) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.432
Unit Cell V:
1,242.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014905 | Cerchiaraite-(Mn) | Basso R, Lucchetti G, Zefiro L, Palenzona A (2000) Cerchiaraite, a new natural Ba-Mn-mixed-anion silicate chloride from the Cerchiara mine, northern Apennines, Italy Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 2000 373-384 | 2000 | Cerchiara mine, Va di Vara, northern Apennines, Italy | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.15 Å | (88) |
| 4.417 Å | (49) |
| 3.319 Å | (75) |
| 3.01 Å | (100) |
| 2.619 Å | (74) |
| 2.577 Å | (62) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) |
Type Occurrence of Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
General Appearance of Type Material:
grains and radial aggregates
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Dipartimento per Studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse, Università di Genova, Italy.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Other Language Names for Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Dutch:Cerchiaraiet-(Mn)
German:Cerchiarait-(Mn)
Cerchiarait
Cerchiarait
Russian:Черкьяраит-(Mn)
Spanish:Cerchiaraita
Relationship of Cerchiaraite-(Mn) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Cerchiaraite Group:
| Cerchiaraite-(Al) | Ba4Al4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm |
| Cerchiaraite-(Fe) | Ba4Fe3+4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl | Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I4/mmm |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Mn) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Mn) associated with Namansilite | NaMn3+Si2O6 |
| 3 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Mn) associated with Orientite | Ca8Mn3+10(SiO4)3(Si3O10)3(OH)10 · 4H2O |
| 2 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Mn) associated with Braunite | Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8 |
| 2 photos of Cerchiaraite-(Mn) associated with K Feldspar |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CF. | Bobmeyerite | Pb4(Al3Cu)(Si4O12)(S0.5Si0.5O4)(OH)7Cl(H2O)3 |
| 9.CF.05 | Ashburtonite | Pb4Cu4(Si4O12)(HCO3)4(OH)3Cl · H2O |
| 9.CF.10 | Kainosite-(Y) | Ca2Y2(SiO3)4(CO3) · H2O |
| 9.CF.15 | Clinophosinaite | Na12(Ca,Sr)4(Si4O12)(PO4)4 |
| 9.CF.15 | Phosinaite-(Ce) | Na13Ca2(Ce,La,Th,Nd,Pr)(Si4O12)(PO4)4 |
| 9.CF.20 | Strakhovite | NaBa3Mn2+2Mn3+2Si6O19(OH)3 |
| 9.CF.25 | Cerchiaraite-(Al) | Ba4Al4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl |
| 9.CF.25 | Cerchiaraite-(Fe) | Ba4Fe3+4O3(OH)3(Si4O12)[Si2O3(OH)4]Cl |
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 Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7081.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Reference List:
Coombs, Douglas S., Kawachi, Yosuke, Miura, Hiroyuki, Chappell, Debra (2004) Cerchiaraite and Ca-bearing noelbensonite from Woods mine, New South Wales, Australia. European Journal of Mineralogy, 16 (1) 185-189 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2004/0016-0185
Localities for Cerchiaraite-(Mn)
Showing 3 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.
Australia | |
| Coombs et al. (2004) |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2025) |
Italy (TL) | |
| Basso et al. (2000) +2 other references |
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