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Tephroite

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Tephroite
Tephroite from Japan
General
CategorySilicate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Mn2SiO4
IMA symbolTep[1]
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPnma (no. 62)
Unit cella = 4.88(2) Å, b = 10.61(2) Å
c = 6.24(2) Å; Z = 4
Identification
ColorOlive-green, bluish green, gray, °esh-red, reddish brown; pale green in thin section, may be colorless
Crystal habitCrystals typically short, prismatic, to 4 cm, or anhedral, equidimensional. Commonly in disseminated grains, compact, or massive.
TwinningUncommon on {011}
Cleavage{010}, distinct; {001}, imperfect
FractureUneven to conchoidal
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness6
LusterVitreous to greasy
StreakPale gray
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
Specific gravity3.87 – 4.12
Optical propertiesBiaxial (−)
Refractive indexnα = 1.759 nβ = 1.797 nγ = 1.860
Birefringenceδ = 0.101
PleochroismWeak; X = brownish red; Y = reddish; Z = greenish blue.
2V angleMeasured: 60° to 70°, Calculated: 78°
References[2][3][4]

Tephroite is the manganese endmember of the olivine group of nesosilicate minerals with the formula Mn2SiO4. A solid solution series exists between tephroite and its analogues, the group endmembers fayalite and forsterite. Divalent iron or magnesium may readily replace manganese in the olivine crystal structure.

It was first described for an occurrence at the Sterling Hill Mine and Franklin, New Jersey, United States.[3] It occurs in iron-manganese ore deposits and their related skarns. It also occurs in metamorphosed manganese-rich sediments. It occurs in association with: zincite, willemite, franklinite, rhodonite, jacobsite, diopside, gageite, bustamite, manganocalcite, glaucochroite, calcite, banalsite and alleghanyite.[2] It can also be found in England and Sweden.

Tephroite has a hardness of 6 and a specific gravity of approximately 4.1, which is heavy for non-metallic minerals. Its name comes from the Greek tephros, "ash gray", for its color.[4] It can also be found olive-green, greenish-blue, pink, or brown. Other names for tephroite include mangan olivine and mangan peridot.

References

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  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/tephroite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. ^ a b http://www.mindat.org/min-3913.html Mindat.org
  4. ^ a b http://webmineral.com/data/Tephroite.shtml Webmineral data