Jeffersonite
A variety of Augite
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About Jeffersonite
Formula:
Ca(Mn,Zn,Fe)Si2O6
Colour:
Dark olive green to dark brown
Lustre:
Resinous, Waxy, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Hardness:
4½ - 5
Specific Gravity:
3.51 - 3.55
Name:
Named in 1822 by Lardner Vanuxem and William Hipolytus Keating in honour of Thomas Jefferson, naturalist and politician, former president of the USA, but the honoree was not stated in the description. However, Thomas Jefferson acknowledged the honour to Keating: "Monticello July 18.22. I thank you, Sir, for the Account of the new mineral discovered by yourself and mr Vanuxem, of which you have been so kind as to send me a copy, and more particularly for the honor done my name by the appellation given it. age and a decayed memory have very much weakened my attention to the physical sciences, but nothing can ever weaken my affection to them, and the pleasure with which I observe so many of my young countrymen pursuing them with an ardor & success equally honorable to themselves & our country. permit me to place here my friendly recollections of mr Vanuxem with assurances to yourself of my high esteem and respect. Th: Jefferson."
First Recorded Locality:
A Zn- and Mn-bearing variety of augite, a clinopyroxene.
Originally described from Passaic Pit (Marshall Mine; Passaic Mine), Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA.
Originally described from Passaic Pit (Marshall Mine; Passaic Mine), Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2085 (as Jeffersonite)
419 (as Augite)
419 (as Augite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2085:1 (as Jeffersonite)
mindat:1:1:419:0 (as Augite)
mindat:1:1:419:0 (as Augite)
Classification of Jeffersonite
9.DA.15 va
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
A : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; pyroxene family
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
A : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; pyroxene family
Physical Properties of Jeffersonite
Resinous, Waxy, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Colour:
Dark olive green to dark brown
Streak:
Light green
Hardness:
4½ - 5 on Mohs scale
Comment:
Softer when leached
Cleavage:
Very Good
Density:
3.51 - 3.55 g/cm3 (Measured)
Chemistry of Jeffersonite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(Mn,Zn,Fe)Si2O6
Element Weights:
First Recorded Occurrence of Jeffersonite
Geological Setting of First Recorded Material:
Highly metamorphose marble containing zinc minerals.
Associated Minerals at First Recorded Locality:
Other Language Names for Jeffersonite
German:Jeffersonit
Spanish:Jeffersonita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Jeffersonite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Jeffersonite associated with Almandine | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Jeffersonite associated with Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| 1 photo of Jeffersonite associated with Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Jeffersonite associated with Edenite | NaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DA. | Colomeraite | NaTi3+Si2O6 |
| 9.DA. | Protoenstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| 9.DA. | Ryabchikovite | CuMgSi2O6 |
| 9.DA.05 | Donpeacorite | (Mn2+,Mg)MgSi2O6 |
| 9.DA.05 | Enstatite | Mg2Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.05 | Ferrosilite | Fe2+2Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.10 | Clinoenstatite | MgSiO3 |
| 9.DA.10 | Clinoferrosilite | Fe2+2Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.10 | Kanoite | Mn2+(Mg,Mn2+)Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.10 | Pigeonite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Grossmanite | CaTi3+ AlSiO6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Hedenbergite | CaFe2+Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Johannsenite | CaMn2+Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Petedunnite | CaZnSi2O6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Esseneite | CaFe3+[AlSiO6] |
| 9.DA.15 | Kushiroite | CaAlAlSiO6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Augite | (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.15 | Davisite | CaScAlSiO6 |
| 9.DA.20 | Aegirine-augite | (NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(Fe3+eAlfFe2+gMgh)Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.20 | Omphacite | (NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(AleFe3+fFe2+gMgh)Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.25 | Jadeite | Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.25 | Namansilite | NaMn3+Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.25 | Natalyite | NaV3+Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.25 | Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.25 | Jervisite | NaSc3+Si2O6 |
| 9.DA.25 | Tissintite | (Ca,◻)AlSi2O6 |
| 9.DA.25 | Kosmochlor | NaCrSi2O6 |
| 9.DA.30 | Spodumene | LiAlSi2O6 |
| 9.DA.35 | Hiroseite | FeSiO3 |
Fluorescence of Jeffersonite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Fuses readily
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 Jeffersonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2085.html
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References for Jeffersonite
Localities for Jeffersonite
Showing 8 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 | |
| Record of Mines-Summary Card No:60 |
Sweden | |
| |
Tajikistan | |
| Xinjiang Tacheng International Resources Ltd. |
USA | |
| King (n.d.) |
| Frondel et al. (1966) | |
| Vanuxem et al. (1822) |
| Leavens et al. (2009) |
Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA