Ferrocarpholite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Ferrocarpholite
Formula:
Fe2+Al2Si2O6(OH)4
Colour:
Dark green, bright green, grayish green, pale green
Lustre:
Pearly
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
3.04
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1951 by Willem Paul de Roever for the ferrous iron relationship to carpholite.
Carpholite-Ferrocarpholite Series and the Ferrocarpholite-Magnesiocarpholite Series.
A typical low-temperature blueschist facies index mineral in metapelites.
A typical low-temperature blueschist facies index mineral in metapelites.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1512
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1512:3
IMA Classification of Ferrocarpholite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1951
Classification of Ferrocarpholite
9.DB.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals
65.1.5.2
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
1 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=2
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
1 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=2
16.19.11
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
19 : Aluminosilicates of Fe and Mg
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
19 : Aluminosilicates of Fe and Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Fcar | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Fcar | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
Physical Properties of Ferrocarpholite
Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Dark green, bright green, grayish green, pale green
Comment:
Colorless in thin section.
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}, indistinct on {110}.
Perfect on {010}, indistinct on {110}.
Density:
3.04 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.05 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ferrocarpholite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.617 - 1.628 nβ = 1.633 - 1.644 nγ = 1.638 - 1.647
2V:
Measured: 49° to 61°, Calculated: 56°
Birefringence:
0.019
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.019 - 0.021
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:
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:
none
Optical Extinction:
X = c; Y = b; Z = a.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = yellowish to greenish; Y = colorless to yellowish; Z = pale bluish to bluish green.
Comments:
Absorption: X > Y > Z.
Chemistry of Ferrocarpholite
Mindat Formula:
Fe2+Al2Si2O6(OH)4
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Ti,Mn
Crystallography of Ferrocarpholite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Ccca
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.797(9) Å, b = 20.20(2) Å, c = 5.116(5) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.683 : 1 : 0.253
Unit Cell V:
1,425.83 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Crystals prismatic, elongated along [001]. Forms include {010}, {100} and {110}.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014864 | Ferrocarpholite | Ferraris G, Ivaldi G, Goffe B (1992) Structural study of a magnesian ferrocarpholite: Are carpholites monoclinic? Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1992 337-347 | 1992 | Mascate nappes, Ruwi, Oman | 0 | 293 | |
| 0017757 | Ferrocarpholite | MacGillavry C H, Korst W L, Weichel Moore E J, van der Plas H J (1956) The crystal structure of ferrocarpholite Acta Crystallographica 9 773-776 |  | 1956 | west of Tomata, eastern Central Celebes, Indonesia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.04 Å | (100) |
| 5.69 Å | (70) |
| 3.355 Å | (30) |
| 2.603 Å | (25) |
| 3.019 Å | (20) |
| 1.680 Å | (11) |
| 3.44 Å | (10) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 39 : High-? metamorphism (blueschist, eclogite, ultrahigh ? facies) |
Geological Setting:
Sericite quartzite
Type Occurrence of Ferrocarpholite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Dark green prismatic crystals in a cobble of vein-quartz.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 106754.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Blastopsammitic schistose carpholite-quartzite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Ferrocarpholite
Relationship of Ferrocarpholite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Carpholite Group:
| Carpholite | Mn2+Al2(Si2O6)(OH)4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
| Magnesiocarpholite | MgAl2Si2O6(OH)4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
| Potassiccarpholite | K(Mn2+,Li)2Al4Si4O12(OH,F)8 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
| Vanadiocarpholite | Mn2+V3+Al(Si2O6)(OH)4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
Forms a series with:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DB.05 | Potassiccarpholite | K(Mn2+,Li)2Al4Si4O12(OH,F)8 |
| 9.DB.05 | Carpholite | Mn2+Al2(Si2O6)(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Vanadiocarpholite | Mn2+V3+Al(Si2O6)(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Magnesiocarpholite | MgAl2Si2O6(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Balipholite | BaLiMg2Al3(Si2O6)2(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.10 | Lorenzenite | Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3 |
| 9.DB.15 | Punkaruaivite | LiTi2(HSi4O12)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.DB.15 | Lintisite | LiNa3Ti2(Si2O6)2O2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DB.17 | Eliseevite | LiNa1.5Ti2(H1.5Si4O12)O2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DB.20 | Kukisvumite | Na6ZnTi4(Si8O24)O4 · 4H2O |
| 9.DB.20 | Manganokukisvumite | Na6MnTi4(Si8O24)O4 · 4H2O |
| 9.DB.25 | Vinogradovite | Na4Ti4(Si2O6)2[(Si,Al)4O10]O4 · (H2O,Na,K)3 |
| 9.DB.25 | Paravinogradovite | Na1-2(Ti,Fe3+)4(Si2O6)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)4 · H2O |
| 9.DB.30 | Nchwaningite | Mn2+2(SiO3)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.DB.40 | Shattuckite | Cu5(Si2O6)2(OH)2 |
| 9.DB.40 | 'UM2005-31-SiO:CuH' | Cu11(SiO4)(OH)18 · 9H2O (?) |
| 9.DB.45 | Aerinite | (Ca5.1Na0.5)(Fe3+,Al,Fe2+,Mg)4(Al,Mg)6[HSi12O36(OH)12][(CO3)1.2(H2O)12] |
| 9.DB.50 | Capranicaite | KCaNaAl4B4Si2O18 |
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 Ferrocarpholite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1512.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Ferrocarpholite
Reference List:
de Roever, W. P. (1951) Ferrocarpholite, the hitherto unknown ferrous iron analogue of carpholite proper. American Mineralogist, 36 (9-10) 736-745
de Roever, W. P., Kieft, C. (1971) Additional data, on ferrocarpholite from Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia. American Mineralogist, 56 (11-12) 1976-1982
Viswanathan, K., Seidel, E. (1979) Crystal chemistry of Fe-Mg-carpholites. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 70 (1) 41-47 doi:10.1007/bf00371870
Goffé, Bruno, Oberhänsli, Roland (1992) Ferro- and magnesiocarpholite in the “Bündnerschiefer” of the eastern Central Alps (Grisons and Engadine window). European Journal of Mineralogy, 4 (4) 835-838 doi:10.1127/ejm/4/4/0835
Jambor, L., Puziewicz, Jacek (1993) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 78 (3-4) 450-455 pp.453-454
Agard, P., Labrousse, L., Elvevold, S., Lepvrier, C. (2005) Discovery of Paleozoic Fe-Mg carpholite in Motalafjella, Svalbard Caledonides: A milestone for subduction-zone gradients. Geology, 33 (10) 761 doi:10.1130/g21693.1
Localities for Ferrocarpholite
Showing 28 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.
Quick NavTopAbout FerrocarpholiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Monte Leoni, Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy