Clinohedrite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Clinohedrite
Formula:
CaZn(SiO4) · H2O
Colour:
Colorless, pale amethystine (rare)
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
3.28 - 3.335
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1898 by Samuel L. Penfield and Harry W. Foote from the Greek κλινειν klinein "to incline" and εδρα hedra, for "face", for the characteristic inclined faces of the crystals.
Type Locality:
Visit gemdat.org for Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1075
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1075:3
Similar Names
| Clinohedrite (of Breithaupt) | A synonym of Tetrahedrite Subgroup |
IMA Classification of Clinohedrite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CaZn2+SiO4·H2O
First published:
1898
Classification of Clinohedrite
9.AE.30
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
E : Nesosilicates with additional anions (O,OH,F,H2O); cations in tetrahedral [4] coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
E : Nesosilicates with additional anions (O,OH,F,H2O); cations in tetrahedral [4] coordination
52.2.1.2
52 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and O,OH,F,H2O
2 : Insular SiO4 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [4] and >[4] coordination
52 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and O,OH,F,H2O
2 : Insular SiO4 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [4] and >[4] coordination
14.7.16
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
7 : Silicates of Ba, Sr and Zn
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
7 : Silicates of Ba, Sr and Zn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cnh | 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 Clinohedrite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, pale amethystine (rare)
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}
On {010}
Density:
3.28 - 3.335 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.32 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Clinohedrite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.662 nβ = 1.667 nγ = 1.669
2V:
Measured: 64°
Birefringence:
0.007
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.007
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:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
weak r > v
Optical Extinction:
Y = b, Z ∧ c = 61°.
Chemistry of Clinohedrite
Mindat Formula:
CaZn(SiO4) · H2O
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Al,Mn,Mg
Crystallography of Clinohedrite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
m - Domatic
Space Group:
Bb
Setting:
Cc
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.09 Å, b = 15.82 Å, c = 5.38 Å
β = 103.39°
β = 103.39°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.322 : 1 : 0.34
Unit Cell V:
421.44 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Usually massive in veinlets, crystal rare and show low symmetry.
Crystallographic forms of Clinohedrite
Crystal Atlas:
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Clinohedrite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010788 | Clinohedrite | Venetopoulos C C, Rentzeperis P J (1976) Redetermination of the crystal structure of clinohedrite, CaZnSiO4*H2O Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 144 377-392 |  | 1976 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.81 Å | (50) |
| 3.97 Å | (50) |
| 3.23 Å | (70) |
| 2.76 Å | (100) |
| 2.50 Å | (60) |
| 2.47 Å | (40) |
| 2.36 Å | (50) |
| 1.990 Å | (40) |
Comments:
ICDD 17-214
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 51 : Pyrometamorphic minerals (see also #54 and #56) | <0.36 |
Type Occurrence of Clinohedrite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Extremely thin to thick fracture coatings, in cavities, rarely as crusts of free growing crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, 2.4855.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 131872.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 131872.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In hydrothermally altered, metamorphosed zinc-manganese-iron silicate-oxide orebody.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Clinohedrite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 271 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
| 191 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Hardystonite | Ca2Zn[Si2O7] |
| 109 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Franklinite | Zn2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 70 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 60 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 55 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Hendricksite | KZn3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2 |
| 48 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Axinite-(Mn) | Ca2Mn2+Al2BSi4O15(OH) |
| 39 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Xonotlite | Ca6(Si6O17)(OH)2 |
| 35 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Hancockite | (CaPb)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 34 photos of Clinohedrite associated with Charlesite | Ca6(Al,Si)2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH,O)12 · 26H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.AE.05 | Beryllite | Be3(SiO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.AE.10 | Euclase | BeAl(SiO4)(OH) |
| 9.AE.15 | Sverigeite | NaMnMgSnBe2(SiO4)3(OH) |
| 9.AE.20 | Hodgkinsonite | Mn2+Zn2(SiO4)(OH)2 |
| 9.AE.25 | Gerstmannite | MnMgZn(SiO4)(OH)2 |
| 9.AE.35 | Stringhamite | CaCu(SiO4) · H2O |
| 9.AE.40 | Katoptrite | (Mn2+,Mg)13(Al,Fe3+)4Sb5+2(SiO4)2O20 |
| 9.AE.45 | Yeatmanite | Zn6Mn2+9Sb5+2(SiO4)4O12 |
| 9.AE.50 | Sphaerobertrandite | Be3(SiO4)(OH)2 |
Fluorescence of Clinohedrite
Bright orange (SW UV); dull orange (LW UV).
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.
Industrial Uses:
None.
Internet Links for Clinohedrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1075.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Clinohedrite
Reference List:
Palache, Charles (1935) The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, Sussex County, New Jersey. Professional Paper 180. US Geological Survey 135 pp. doi:10.3133/pp180
Venetopoulos, Cl. C., Rentzeperis, P. J. (1976) Redetermination of the crystal structure of clinohedrite, CaZnSiO4· H2O. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 144 (1). 377-392 doi:10.1524/zkri.1976.144.1-6.377
Localities for Clinohedrite
Showing 10 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.
China | |
| Hanjie Wen et al. (2006) |
Israel | |
| collected May 2025 by Michael J. Feldman |
Jordan | |
| Information from Russian mineralogists ... |
| Galuskina et al. (2019) | |
Middle East | |
| Vapnik et al. (2014) | |
USA | |
| Rocks & Min.:60:238 +2 other references |
| Penfield et al. (1898) +3 other references |
| Steven Phillips | |
| King (n.d.) +2 other references | |
| Weissman purchased specimen |
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Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA