Roscherite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Roscherite
Formula:
Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O
Colour:
Brown, red, orange, greenish gray; yellowish green to brown in transmitted light
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
2.90 - 2.97
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1914 by František Slavik in honor of Mr. Woldemar Roscher [1866-1934], a pharmacist and mineral collector of Ehrenfriedersdorf, Saxony, Germany. Redefined as a beryllium-bearing mineral in 1958 by Marie Louise Lindberg.
Dimorph of:
Isostructural with:
Roscherite Group.
Occurs in cavities in granite or in complex zoned granitic pegmatites. Many roscherite localities are actually greifensteinite localities.
Occurs in cavities in granite or in complex zoned granitic pegmatites. Many roscherite localities are actually greifensteinite localities.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3448
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3448:3
Similar Names
| Rischorrite | A rock subtype |
| Roscherite-1A | A synonym of Footemineite |
IMA Classification of Roscherite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4·6H2O
Classification of Roscherite
8.DA.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small (and occasionally larger) cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small (and occasionally larger) cations
42.7.7.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
19.3.12
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rsc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Rsc | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Roscherite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Brown, red, orange, greenish gray; yellowish green to brown in transmitted light
Comment:
May exhibit abnormal interference colours. Distinctly green roscherite may be iro-rich and be greifensteinite
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
n {001}, good; on {010}, distinct.
n {001}, good; on {010}, distinct.
Fracture:
Splintery
Comment:
May be slintery due to radial fibrous aggregates
Density:
2.90 - 2.97 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.77(8) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Roscherite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.624 - 1.628 nβ = 1.639 - 1.644 nγ = 1.643 - 1.650
Birefringence:
0.020
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.019 - 0.022
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (59°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (59°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
r > v very strong, crossed dispersion
Optical Extinction:
X=b, Y^c - -15°to 24°
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = Yellow to olive green
Y = Yellow-brown, greenish brown
Z = Chestnut brown
Y = Yellow-brown, greenish brown
Z = Chestnut brown
Comments:
2V measured: large.
Chemistry of Roscherite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Roscherite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.88 Å, b = 11.90 Å, c = 6.62 Å
β = 94.7°
β = 94.7°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.334 : 1 : 0.556
Unit Cell V:
1,246.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Short prismatic [001], with an eight-or six-sided cross section; also or flattened on {100} or {010} thin tabular, and elongated [010], with forms {010}, {110}, and {111}. Spherical to botryoidal aggregates and crusts with an internally firbous structure; powdery massive.
Comment:
Monoclinic Space Group: C2/c, β = 94°42'. May be triclinic with space group C-1, with a = 15.921, b = 11.965, c = 6.741. α = 91°04', β = 94°21', γ = 89°59.5'.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015664 | Roscherite | Fanfani L, Zanazzi P F, Zanzari A R (1977) The crystal structure of a triclinic roscherite Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 24 169-178 | 1977 | Foote Mine, North Carolina, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.51 Å | (90) |
| 5.95 Å | (100) |
| 4.84 Å | (40) |
| 3.17 Å | (80) |
| 3.08 Å | (2b) |
| 2.788 Å | (60) |
| 2.644 Å | (40) |
Comments:
Similar to zanazziite
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] |
Geological Setting:
Miarolitic cavities in granites, complex zoned granitic pegmatites
Type Occurrence of Roscherite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic: #6472. The Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden
Natural History Museum, London, England: #1914,1381. U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #R6219.
Natural History Museum, London, England: #1914,1381. U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #R6219.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Roscherite
Dutch:Roscheriet
German:Roscherit
Russian:Росчерит
Simplified Chinese:水磷铍锰石
Spanish:Roscherita
Traditional Chinese:水磷鈹錳石
Relationship of Roscherite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Roscherite Group:
| Atencioite | Ca2Fe2+3Mg2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Footemineite | Ca2Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Greifensteinite | Ca2Fe2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Guimarãesite | Ca2Be4Zn5(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Okruschite | Ca2Mn2+5Be4(AsO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Ruifrancoite | Ca2(◻,Mn)2(Fe3+,Mn,Mg)4Be4(PO4)6(OH)4(OH,H2O)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Zanazziite | Ca2Mg5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 48 photos of Roscherite associated with Childrenite | Fe2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 46 photos of Roscherite associated with Tiptopite | K2(Na,Ca)2Li3Be6(PO4)6(OH)2 · H2O |
| 40 photos of Roscherite associated with Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| 25 photos of Roscherite associated with Englishite | K3Na2Ca10Al15(PO4)21(OH)7 · 26H2O |
| 19 photos of Roscherite associated with Eosphorite | Mn2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 17 photos of Roscherite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 15 photos of Roscherite associated with Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| 13 photos of Roscherite associated with Fairfieldite | Ca2Mn2+(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 12 photos of Roscherite associated with Hurlbutite | CaBe2(PO4)2 |
| 10 photos of Roscherite associated with Mitridatite | Ca2Fe3+3(PO4)3O2 · 3H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DA.05 | Bearsite | Be2(AsO4)(OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.05 | Moraesite | Be2(PO4)(OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Zanazziite | Ca2Mg5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Atencioite | Ca2Fe2+3Mg2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Guimarãesite | Ca2Be4Zn5(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Footemineite | Ca2Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Greifensteinite | Ca2Fe2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Ruifrancoite | Ca2(◻,Mn)2(Fe3+,Mn,Mg)4Be4(PO4)6(OH)4(OH,H2O)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Okruschite | Ca2Mn2+5Be4(AsO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.15 | Uralolite | Ca2Be4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.DA.20 | Weinebeneite | CaBe3(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.25 | Tiptopite | K2(Na,Ca)2Li3Be6(PO4)6(OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.DA.40 | Spencerite | Zn4(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 8.DA.45 | Glucine | CaBe4(PO4)2(OH)4 · 0.5H2O |
Fluorescence of Roscherite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in acids.
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 Roscherite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3448.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Roscherite
Reference List:
Larsen, E.S.; Berman, H. (1934) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin of the US Geological Survey Vol. 848. US Geological Survey p.1-266. doi:10.3133/b848 p.174
Lindberg, Marie L. (1958) Beryllium content of roscherite from the Sapucaia pegmatite mine, Minas Gerais, Brazil. American Mineralogist, 43 (9-10) 824-838
Fanfani, L., Zanazzi, P. F., Zanzari, Anna Rosa (1977) The crystal structure of a triclinic roscherite. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 24 (3). 169-178 doi:10.1007/bf01158194
Clark, A. M., Fejer, E. E., Couper, A. G., von Knorring, O., Turner, R. W., Barstow, R. W. (1983) Iron-rich roscherite from Gunnislake, Cornwall. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (342) 81-83 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.342.16
Localities for Roscherite
Showing 36 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.
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Tip Top Mine, Fourmile, Custer Mining District, Custer County, South Dakota, USA