Spurrite

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Spurrite

Spurrite from New Mexico
General
Category Nesosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Ca5(SiO4)2CO3
Strunz classification 09.AH.15
Identification
Color Gray, gray white to lilac gray
Crystal habit Massive to granular
Crystal system monoclinic 2/m
Twinning Polysynthetic twins on [001] and [101]
Cleavage Distinct on [100]
Fracture Uneven to splintery
Mohs scale hardness 5
Luster vitreous to resinous
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 3
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 1.640–1.641 nβ = 1.674–1.676 nγ = 1.679–1.681
Birefringence δ = 0.039–0.040
Other characteristics Green cathodoluminescence
References [1][2][3]

Spurrite is a white, yellow or light blue mineral with monoclinic crystals. Its chemical formula is Ca5(SiO4)2CO3.[4]

Spurrite is generally formed in contact metamorphism zones as mafic magmas are intruded into carbonate rocks.[5] Spurrite's space group is P 2/a. It is biaxial with a birefringence of 0.0390–0.0400, giving second order red interference colors when viewed under crossed polarizers in a petrographic microscope.[6]

The calcium is in six-fold coordination with the oxygen, the silicon is in a four-fold coordination with the oxygen and the carbon is in two-fold coordination. One unique characteristic of spurrite is that it actually abides by two twin laws. Polysynthetic twinning can occur along its (001) and another type of twinning can occur parallel to its optical axes.[5]

Discovery and occurrence

Spurrite was first described in 1908 for an occurrence in the Terneras Mine, Velardeña District, Durango, Mexico. It was named for American economic geologist, Josiah Edward Spurr (1870–1950).[2]

In addition to its type locality, spurrite has been reported from Riverside County, California; Luna County, New Mexico; and from the Little Belt Mountains, Lewis and Clark County, Montana. It is also found in Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Turkey, Israel, Japan and Siberia.[1]

Cement manufacture contaminant

Spurrite forms as contaminating spurrite rings on the walls of cement kilns during the production of Portland cement.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/spurrite.pdf Mineral Handbook
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.mindat.org/min-3734.html Mindat
  3. ↑ http://webmineral.com/data/Spurrite.shtml Webmineral data
  4. ↑ Richard V. Gaines, H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, and Abraham Rosenzweig: Dana's new mineralogy, p. 1106. John Wiley & Sons, 1997
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Smith, J.V. (1960) "The Crystal structure of Spurrite, Ca5(SiO4)2CO3". Acta. Cryst. 13, 454
  6. ↑ Barthemy, D. (2000) Afwillite Mineral Data, (http://webmineral.com/data/Afwillite.shtml)
  7. ↑ Mosci, Ricardo, 1998, How To Eliminate Calcining Zone Rings, Cement America http://cementamericas.com/mag/cement_eliminate_calcining_zone/
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