Rosenhahnite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Rosenhahnite
Formula:
HCa3[Si3O9(OH)]
Colour:
White, beige, colourless, yellow-brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½ - 5
Specific Gravity:
2.89
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named by Adolf Pabst, E.B. Gross, and J.T Alfors in 1967 in honor of Leo Rosenhahn (1903/4 - 1991), amateur mineralogist from San Anselmo, California, USA.
This page provides mineralogical data about Rosenhahnite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3455
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3455:1
IMA Classification of Rosenhahnite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca3Si3O8(OH)2
Approval year:
1965
First published:
1967
Classification of Rosenhahnite
9.BJ.10
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
J : Sorosilicates with Si3O10, Si4O11, etc. anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
J : Sorosilicates with Si3O10, Si4O11, etc. anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
57.1.4.1
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
14.5.9
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
5 : Silicates of Ca
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
5 : Silicates of Ca
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rhh | 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 Rosenhahnite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White, beige, colourless, yellow-brown
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ - 5 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {001}, good on {100} and {010}.
Perfect on {001}, good on {100} and {010}.
Density:
2.89(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.905 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Berman balance. Calculated value is for the ideal formula.
Optical Data of Rosenhahnite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.624 - 1.625 nβ = 1.640 - 1.641 nγ = 1.646 - 1.647
2V:
Measured: 64° (4), Calculated: 64°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 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.
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:
r < v
Chemistry of Rosenhahnite
Mindat Formula:
HCa3[Si3O9(OH)]
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
B,Al,Fe,Mn,Mg,Sr,Ba,Na,H2O
Crystallography of Rosenhahnite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.955(2) Å, b = 9.484(2) Å, c = 6.812(2) Å
α = 108.64(2)°, β = 94.84(2)°, γ = 95.89(2)°
α = 108.64(2)°, β = 94.84(2)°, γ = 95.89(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.733 : 1 : 0.718
Unit Cell V:
420.23 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
The type crystals are tabular to lathlike with {010} by far the most prominent form. Other forms observed include {001}, {100}, {140}, {110}, {210}, {110}, {210}, {032}, {021}, {031}, {101}, {122}.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000580 | Rosenhahnite | Wan C, Ghose S, Gibbs G V (1977) Rosenhahnite, Ca3Si3O8(OH)2: crystal structure and the stereochemical configuration of the hydroxylated trisilicate group, [Si3O8(OH)2] American Mineralogist 62 503-512 |  | 1977 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.20 Å | (100) |
| 2.965 Å | (90) |
| 3.043 Å | (60) |
| 2.775 Å | (40) |
| 3.36 Å | (30) |
| 2.659 Å | (30) |
| 1.886 Å | (30) |
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) |
Type Occurrence of Rosenhahnite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Narrow veinlets less than 3 cm thick with small pockets.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
California Division of Mines & Geology, San Francisco, California, USA.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA 120124, 134562.
The Natural History Museum, London England, 1976,392-393.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA 120124, 134562.
The Natural History Museum, London England, 1976,392-393.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Veins in brecciated, fine-grained diopside-garnet metasedimentary rock.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Rosenhahnite
Other Language Names for Rosenhahnite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.BJ. | Arsenmedaite | Mn2+6 As5+Si5O18(OH) |
| 9.BJ.05 | Orientite | Ca8Mn3+10(SiO4)3(Si3O10)3(OH)10 · 4H2O |
| 9.BJ.15 | Trabzonite | Ca4(Si3O9)(OH)2 |
| 9.BJ.20 | Thalénite-(Y) | Y3Si3O10F |
| 9.BJ.25 | Tiragalloite | Mn2+4As5+Si3O12(OH) |
| 9.BJ.30 | Medaite | Mn2+6V5+Si5O18(OH) |
| 9.BJ.35 | Strontioruizite | Sr2Mn3+2Si4O11(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.35 | Ruizite | Ca2Mn3+2[Si4O11(OH)2](OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.35 | Taniajacoite | SrCaMn3+2Si4O11(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.40 | Ardennite-(As) | Mn2+4Al4(AlMg)(AsO4)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.40 | Kannanite | Ca4Al4(AlMg)(VO4)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.40 | Alpeite | Ca4Mn3+2Al2(Mn3+Mg)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(V5+O4)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.40 | Ardennite-(V) | Mn2+4Al4(AlMg)(VO4)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.45 | Kilchoanite | Ca6(SiO4)(Si3O10) |
| 9.BJ.50 | Prismatine | (◻,Fe,Mg)(Mg,Al,Fe)5Al4Si2(Si,Al)2(B,Si,Al)(O,OH,F)22 |
| 9.BJ.50 | Kornerupine | Mg3Al6(Si,Al,B)5O21(OH) |
| 9.BJ.55 | Zunyite | Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl |
| 9.BJ.60 | Hubeite | Ca2Mn2+Fe3+Si4O12(OH) · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.65 | Cassagnaite | (Ca,Mn2+)4(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al)4(V3+,Mg,Al)2(Si3O10)(SiO4)2(OH,O)8 |
| 9.BJ.70 | Pavlovskyite | Ca8(SiO4)2(Si3O10) |
Fluorescence of Rosenhahnite
Fluoresces light orangish pink under LW UV.
Other Information
Notes:
Slightly soluble in concentrated 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 Rosenhahnite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3455.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Rosenhahnite
Reference List:
Pabst, A., Gross, E. B., Alfors, J. T. (1967) Rosenhahnite, a new hydrous calcium silicate, from Mendocino County, California. American Mineralogist, 52 (3-4) 336-351
Localities for Rosenhahnite
Showing 9 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 | |
| R Bottrill unpub. Data |
Czech Republic | |
| Marek V.: Rosenhahnite from Staré Ransko (East Bohemia) |
Japan | |
| Henmi (1982) |
| Anthony et al. (2016) |
| Mineralogical Journal Vol. 13 (1986) |
New Zealand | |
| Leach et al. (1977) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Zadov +9 other references |
USA (TL) | |
| Pabst et al. (1967) +4 other references |
| Kenny Gay message 15.09.2005 +2 other references |
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Rosenhahnite occurrence, Russian River, Cloverdale area, Mendocino County, California, USA