Roweite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Roweite
George Rowe
Formula:
Ca2Mn2+2B4O7(OH)6
Colour:
Light brown; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½ - 5
Specific Gravity:
2.935
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1937 by Harry Berman and Forest A. Gonyer in honor of Mr. George Rowe [1868 Cornwall, England, United Kingdom - 1947 USA], Mine Captain and mineral collector, of Franklin, New Jersey, USA.
Type Locality:
Fedorovskite-Roweite Series. The manganese analogue of Fedorovskite.
Only one specimen known is known from the type locality (all additional specimens are "crumbs" from the original single specimen).
Only one specimen known is known from the type locality (all additional specimens are "crumbs" from the original single specimen).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3466
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3466:7
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Roweite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1937
Classification of Roweite
6.DA.25
6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
25.4.1.1
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : Tetraborates
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : Tetraborates
9.4.1
9 : Borates
4 : Borates of Ca and Mn
9 : Borates
4 : Borates of Ca and Mn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rwe | 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 Roweite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Light brown; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness:
4½ - 5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
{100}, fair; on {001}, {021}, poor
{100}, fair; on {001}, {021}, poor
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.935(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.939 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Roweite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.631 - 1.648 nβ = 1.640 - 1.660 nγ = 1.641 - 1.663
2V:
Measured: 15° to 28°, Calculated: 44°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.010 - 0.015
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:
weak
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X = very pale brown to colorless; Y = pale amber; Z = yellowish brown.
Comments:
Orientation: X = c; Y = b; Z = a
Chemistry of Roweite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2Mn2+2B4O7(OH)6
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Roweite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbam
Setting:
Pbam
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.28 Å, b = 13.35 Å, c = 9.02 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.62 : 1 : 0.676
Unit Cell V:
997.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals rough, lath-shaped, flattened {010} and elongated [001]. Terminations not measurable.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000393 | Roweite | Moore P B, Araki T (1974) Roweite, Ca2Mn2(OH)4[B4O7(OH)2]: Its atomic arrangement American Mineralogist 59 60-65 |  | 1974 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.974 Å | (100) |
| 2.600 Å | (72) |
| 2.184 Å | (49) |
| 2.128 Å | (37) |
| 2.264 Å | (32) |
| 1.708 Å | (32) |
| 1.641 Å | (29) |
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 | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Roweite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Narrow veinlet of almost pure roweite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Harvard University, Cambridge,Massachusetts, USA, 96252.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 105493, C6291.
Harvard University, Cambridge,Massachusetts, USA, 96252.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 105493, C6291.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal veinlets transversing Precambrian metamorphosed Zn-Mn-Fe orebody (Franklin, NJ).
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Roweite
Relationship of Roweite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 62 photos of Roweite associated with Olshanskyite | Ca2[B3O3(OH)6](OH) · 3H2O |
| 32 photos of Roweite associated with Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 14 photos of Roweite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 9 photos of Roweite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 8 photos of Roweite associated with Johnbaumite | Ca5(AsO4)3(OH) |
| 2 photos of Roweite associated with Wurtzite | (Zn,Fe)S |
| 1 photo of Roweite associated with Borcarite | Ca4Mg(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2 |
| 1 photo of Roweite associated with Bultfonteinite | Ca2(HSiO4)F · H2O |
| 1 photo of Roweite associated with Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| 1 photo of Roweite associated with Tatarinovite | Ca3Al(SO4)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.DA.10 | Borax | Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O |
| 6.DA.15 | Tincalconite | Na2(B4O7) · 5H2O |
| 6.DA.20 | Hungchaoite | Mg(B4O7) · 9H2O |
| 6.DA.25 | Fedorovskite | Ca2Mg2B4O7(OH)6 |
| 6.DA.30 | Hydrochlorborite | Ca4B8O15Cl2 · 21H2O |
| 6.DA.35 | Uralborite | Ca2[B3O3(OH)5 · OB(OH)3] |
| 6.DA.40 | Numanoite | Ca4Cu(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2 |
| 6.DA.40 | Borcarite | Ca4Mg(B4O6(OH)6)(CO3)2 |
| 6.DA.60 | Fontarnauite | (Na,K)2(Sr,Ca)(SO4)[B5O8(OH)] · 2H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Perfectly soluble in dilute HCl, solution giving boron reaction with turmeric paper.
Fuses at 1 (candle flame) to a black glass.
Colors the flame faintly green. With boron flux a strong green (boron).
In closed tube turns brown, gives off water and after long heating melts to a glass.
Fuses at 1 (candle flame) to a black glass.
Colors the flame faintly green. With boron flux a strong green (boron).
In closed tube turns brown, gives off water and after long heating melts to a glass.
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 Roweite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3466.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 Roweite
Reference List:
Berman, Harry, Gonyer, F. A. (1937) Roweite, a new mineral from Franklin, New Jersey. American Mineralogist, 22 (4) 301-303
Moore, Paul Brian, Araki, Takaharu (1974) Roweite, Ca2Mn2+2(OH)4[B4O7(OH)2]: Its atomic arrangement. American Mineralogist, 59 (1-2) 60-65
Localities for Roweite
Showing 6 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 | |
| Pristine Minerals +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Ando et al. (2015) |
Mexico | |
| Christopher Emproto |
| Chris Emproto (SCXRD,PXRD) | |
Russia | |
| Nikita Chukanov (IR- and EDS-analyses) +2 other references |
USA (TL) | |
| Berman et al. (1937) +2 other references |
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Shijiangshan mine, Hexigten Banner, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia, China