Nelenite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Nelenite
Joseph A. Nelen
Formula:
Mn2+16As3+3Si12O36(OH)17
In the type material, Fe substitutes for Mn up to 5.8 of the 16 octahedrally coordinated cations.
Colour:
Light to medium brown
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous, Dull
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.46
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1984 by Pete J. Dunn and Donald R. Peacor in honor of Joseph A. Nelen (28 Aug 1923 - 7 Jun 2005), chemist at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA, for his contributions contributions "to the chemistry of minerals, in particular his analytical studies of the complex arsenosilicates of manganese which are found at Franklin and Sterling Hill." The material was earlier known as ferroschallerite.
Isostructural with:
Formerly known as ferroschallerite (note: "ferroschallerite" with Mn>Fe is Fe-bearing schallerite).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2874
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2874:1
Similar Names
| Helenite (of Brown and Snow) | A synonym of 'Mt St Helens Stone' | |
| Helenite (of Nawratil) | A variety of 'Ozocerite' | |
| Nolanite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | V83+Fe23+O14(OH)2 |
| Selenite | A variety of Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| Selenite (of Rau) | A synonym of Berzelianite |
IMA Classification of Nelenite
Approved
Approval year:
1982
First published:
1984
Classification of Nelenite
9.EE.15
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
72.4.1b.3
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
4 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-, 6-, and 12-membered rings
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
4 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-, 6-, and 12-membered rings
17.7.13
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
7 : Silicates with vanadate, arsenate or antimonate
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
7 : Silicates with vanadate, arsenate or antimonate
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nln | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Nln | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Nelenite
Vitreous, Resinous, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Vitreous on cleavages, resinous and duller on fractures.
Colour:
Light to medium brown
Streak:
Light brown
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Parallel to {0001}
Parallel to {0001}
Comment:
Cleavage plates are flat and highly lustrous, and it is this quality and appearance of the cleavage that immediately distinguishes nelenite from the other members of the friedelite group, which have cleavage fragments with slightly or grossly warped and curved surfaces.
Density:
3.46 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.45 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nelenite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.718(4) nε = 1.700(4)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.018
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 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.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
with e = colourless and w = light brown.
Comments:
May appear biaxial.
Chemistry of Nelenite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+16As3+3Si12O36(OH)17
In the type material, Fe substitutes for Mn up to 5.8 of the 16 octahedrally coordinated cations.
In the type material, Fe substitutes for Mn up to 5.8 of the 16 octahedrally coordinated cations.
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Zn,Mg,Ca,H2O
Crystallography of Nelenite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Setting:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.418(5) Å, c = 85.48(8) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 6.371
Unit Cell V:
13,328.18 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.552 Å | (100) |
| 2.878 Å | (70) |
| 3.55 Å | (60) |
| 1.677 Å | (60) |
| 1.723 Å | (50) |
| 7.10 Å | (40) |
| 2.402 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Nelenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Coarse granular, to 4.5 cm; massive
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Holotype material is deposited in the National Museum of
Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington, D.C., USA, under catalog no. C6219. Co-type samples are in the Smithsonian Institution under catalog no. R7824 and at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA under catalog no. H 92791-a.
Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington, D.C., USA, under catalog no. C6219. Co-type samples are in the Smithsonian Institution under catalog no. R7824 and at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA under catalog no. H 92791-a.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Nelenite
Other Language Names for Nelenite
Relationship of Nelenite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Pyrosmalite Group:
| Friedelite | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Mcgillite | (Mn,Fe)8Si6O15(OH)8Cl2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Pyrosmalite-(Fe) | Fe2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Pyrosmalite-(Mn) | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1 |
| Schallerite | Mn2+16As3Si12O36(OH)17 | Trig. 3m : P3m1 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 13 photos of Nelenite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 9 photos of Nelenite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 8 photos of Nelenite associated with Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| 7 photos of Nelenite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Nelenite associated with Clino-suenoite | ◻Mn2+2(Mg5)(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Nelenite associated with Genthelvite | Be3Zn4(SiO4)3S |
| 2 photos of Nelenite associated with Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Nelenite associated with 'Franklinphilite' | |
| 2 photos of Nelenite associated with 'Manganese-bearing Calcite' | (Ca,Mn)CO3 |
| 1 photo of Nelenite associated with Wickmanite | Mn2+[Sn(OH)6] |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.EE. | Cairncrossite | Sr2Ca7-xNa2x(Si4O10)4(OH)2(H2O)15-x |
| 9.EE.05 | Bementite | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| 9.EE.07 | Innsbruckite | Mn33(Si2O5)14(OH)38 |
| 9.EE.10 | 'Brokenhillite' | Mn8Si6O15(OH)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Mcgillite | (Mn,Fe)8Si6O15(OH)8Cl2 |
| 9.EE.10 | Friedelite | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Pyrosmalite-(Mn) | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Pyrosmalite-(Fe) | Fe2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.15 | Schallerite | Mn2+16As3Si12O36(OH)17 |
| 9.EE.20 | Palygorskite | ◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Yofortierite | Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Windhoekite | Fe3+(Fe3+1.67◻0.33)Ca2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Windmountainite | ◻Fe3+2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Ikorskyite | KMn3+(Si4O10) · 3H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Tuperssuatsiaite | Fe3+Fe3+2(Na◻)◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | 'Unnamed (Na-Ca-Fe-Silicate-Hydrate)' | NaCa(Fe2+,Al,Mn)5[Si8O19(OH)](OH)7 · 5H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Sepiolite | Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Loughlinite | Na2Mg3Si6O16 · 8H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Falcondoite | (Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Kalifersite | (K,Na)5Fe3+7Si20O50(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 9.EE.30 | Orlymanite | Ca4Mn3Si8O20(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.30 | Tungusite | Ca4Fe2Si6O15(OH)6 |
| 9.EE.30 | Gyrolite | NaCa16Si23AlO60(OH)8 · 14H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Reyerite | (Na,K)2Ca14(Si,Al)24O58(OH)8 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Kodamaite | Na3(Ca5Na)Si16O36(OH)4F2 · (14-x)H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Truscottite | (Ca,Mn)14Si24O58(OH)8 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.40 | Natrosilite | Na2Si2O5 |
| 9.EE.45 | Makatite | Na2Si4O8(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.50 | Varennesite | Na8Mn2Si10O25(OH,Cl)2 · 12H2O |
| 9.EE.55 | Raite | Mn2+Mn2+2Na2(◻1.75Ti0.25)Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · Na(H2O)6 |
| 9.EE.60 | Intersilite | Na6Mn2+Ti[Si10O24(OH)](OH)3 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.65 | Zakharovite | Na4Mn5Si10O24(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.65 | Shafranovskite | Na3K2(Mn,Fe,Na)4[Si9(O,OH)27](OH)2 · nH2O |
| 9.EE.70 | Zeophyllite | Ca13Si10O28(OH)2F8 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.75 | Minehillite | (K,Na)2-3Ca28Zn4Al4Si40O112(OH)16 |
| 9.EE.80 | Fedorite | (Na,K)2-3(Ca4Na3)Si16O38(OH,F)2 · 3.5H2O |
| 9.EE.80 | Martinite | (Na,◻,Ca)12Ca4(Si,S,B)14B2O38(OH,Cl)2F2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.80 | Ellingsenite | Na5Ca6Si18O38(OH)13 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.85 | Lalondeite | (Na,Ca)6(Ca,Na)3Si16O38(F,OH)2 · 3H2O |
Fluorescence of Nelenite
None
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 Nelenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2874.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Nelenite
Reference List:
Dunn, Pete J., Peacor, Donald R., Simmons, William B. (1984) Lennilenapeite, the Mg-analogue of stilpnomelane, and chemical data on other stilpnomelane species from Franklin, New Jersey. The Canadian Mineralogist, 22 (2) 259-263
Dunn, Pete J., Peacor, Donald R. (1984) Nelenite, a manganese arsenosilicate of the friedelite group, polymorphous with schallerite, from Franklin, New Jersey. Mineralogical Magazine, 48 (347) 271-275 doi:10.1180/minmag.1984.048.347.13
Localities for Nelenite
Showing 7 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 | |
| rruff.info (2013) |
Romania | |
| Hîrtopanu et al. (2003) +1 other reference | |
| Hârtopanu et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
| minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu (2008) |
| Hîrtopanu (1997) +1 other reference |
USA (TL) | |
| Dunn et al. (1984) +2 other references |
| Dietrich (1990) |
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Trotter Mine, Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA