Aminoffite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Aminoffite
Gregori Aminoff
Formula:
Ca3(BeOH)2Si3O10
Colour:
Colorless to light yellowish.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Specific Gravity:
2.94
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
To honor Dr. Gregori Aminoff (1883-1947), Swedish mineralogist and expert on Långban mineralogy, associated with the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet) Stockholm, Sweden.
This page provides mineralogical data about Aminoffite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
200
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:200:4
IMA Classification of Aminoffite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Aminoffite
9.BH.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
H : Sorosilicates with Si3O10, Si4O11, etc. anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
H : Sorosilicates with Si3O10, Si4O11, etc. anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
57.1.1.1
57 : SOROSILICATES Si3O10 Groups and Larger Noncyclic Groups
1 : Insular Si3O10 and Larger Noncyclic Groups with [Si3O10] groups
57 : SOROSILICATES Si3O10 Groups and Larger Noncyclic Groups
1 : Insular Si3O10 and Larger Noncyclic Groups with [Si3O10] groups
16.6.4
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
6 : Aluminosilicates of Be
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
6 : Aluminosilicates of Be
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amf | 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 Aminoffite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless to light yellowish.
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {001}
Poor on {001}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.94 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.86 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Aminoffite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.647 nε = 1.637
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.010
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 uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Comments:
may be abnormally biaxial.
Chemistry of Aminoffite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3(BeOH)2Si3O10
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mn
Crystallography of Aminoffite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P42/n
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.865(2) Å, c = 9.930(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.007
Unit Cell V:
966.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
As small, euhedral, pyramidal crystals, to 1 mm. Forms: simple tetragonal bipyramids {l11} truncated by the basal {001} face.
Twinning:
Commonly twinned, polysynthetically on {001}.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Labels
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005773 | Aminoffite | Huminicki D M C, Hawthorne F C (2002) Refinement of the crystal structure of aminoffite The Canadian Mineralogist 40 915-922 |  | 2002 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.614 Å | (100) |
| 2.84 Å | (90) |
| 4.02 Å | (80) |
| 2.141 Å | (80) |
| 6.97 Å | (70) |
| 4.40 Å | (70) |
| 3.48 Å | (70) |
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) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Geological Setting:
in fluorite veins at the contact between marbles and hornblende granites associated with hastingsite nepheline syenites (Dugdinsk massif, Russia); in fluorite veins in tinguaite and nephelinite dikes (Bayankolsk dike field, Russia).
Type Occurrence of Aminoffite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Well-formed crystals in veins and cavities in massive magnetite and limonite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 94627, 106916, 106917; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 137291, R7823; The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1984,423.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Aminoffite
Dutch:Aminoffiet
French:Aminoffite
German:Aminoffit
Norwegian:Aminoffitt
Russian:Аминовит
Spanish:Aminoffita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.BH. | Bunnoite | Mn2+6AlSi6O18(OH)3 |
| 9.BH.10 | Kinoite | Ca2Cu2(H2O)2[Si3O10] |
| 9.BH.15 | Akatoreite | Mn2+9Al2Si8O24(OH)8 |
| 9.BH.20 | Fencooperite | Ba6Fe3+3Si8O23(CO3)2Cl3 · H2O |
Fluorescence of Aminoffite
Strong organge color.
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 Aminoffite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-200.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Aminoffite
Localities for Aminoffite
Showing 5 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 | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Russia | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Kapustin (1973) +1 other reference | |
Sweden (TL) | |
| Hurlbut (1937) +2 other references |
| Thulin (2003) |
Quick NavTopAbout AminoffiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Långban Mine, Långban Ore District, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden