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Schaurteite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About SchaurteiteHide

Formula:
Ca3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Silky
Hardness:
Specific Gravity:
2.65
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
For German chemist, Werner T. Schaurte (May 22, 1893 - June 25, 1978).

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3559
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3559:6

IMA Classification of SchaurteiteHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca3Ge(S6+O4)2(OH)6·3H2O
First published:
1967

Classification of SchaurteiteHide

7.DF.25

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
F : With large and medium-sized cations
31.7.6.2

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
25.7.1

25 : Sulphates
7 : Sulphates of Pb

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
ShtIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of SchaurteiteHide

Silky
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Density:
2.65 g/cm3 (Measured)    2.64 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of SchaurteiteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.569 nε = 1.581
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
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.

Chemistry of SchaurteiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ca3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O51.509 %
Ca21.505 %
Ge12.992 %
S11.470 %
H2.524 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of SchaurteiteHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.525 Å, c = 10.803 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.267
Unit Cell V:
679.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0019753SchaurteiteOriglieri M J, Downs R T (2013) Schaurteite, Ca3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6*3H2O Acta Crystallographica E69 i6-i62013Tsumeb, Namibia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.34 Å(100)
4.26 Å(70)
2.129 Å(60)
7.40 Å(50)
3.49 Å(50)
2.579 Å(50)
2.239 Å(50)
Comments:
Tsumeb, Namibia. Data are from Strunz and Tennyson (1967).

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites]

Type Occurrence of SchaurteiteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Needlelike crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The holotype is missing from the Technical University, Berlin, Germany; National School of Mines, Paris, France; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 144520.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Secondary mineral formed in the oxidized zone of a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Other Language Names for SchaurteiteHide

Relationship of Schaurteite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Fleischerite Group:
DespujolsiteCa3Mn4+(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6m2 : P62c
FleischeritePb3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
GenplesiteCa3Sn(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
MallestigitePb3Sb5+(SO4)(AsO4)(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6 : P63
'Unnamed (Ba-Sb Silicate-Sulphate-Hydroxide-Hydrate)'Ba3Sb5+[(Si,S)O3(OH)]2(OH,O)6 · 3H2O Trig. 3 : P3

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
18 photos of Schaurteite associated with GermaniteCu13Fe2Ge2S16
7 photos of Schaurteite associated with LudlockitePbFe3+4As3+10O22
4 photos of Schaurteite associated with ChalcociteCu2S
4 photos of Schaurteite associated with Renierite(Cu+,Zn)11Fe4(Ge4+,As5+)2S16
4 photos of Schaurteite associated with Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
3 photos of Schaurteite associated with Tennantite-(Zn)Cu6(Cu4Zn2)As4S12S
3 photos of Schaurteite associated with CalciteCaCO3
3 photos of Schaurteite associated with 'Zinc-bearing Siderite'(Fe,Zn)CO3
2 photos of Schaurteite associated with SphaleriteZnS
2 photos of Schaurteite associated with SideriteFeCO3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.DF.Siligiite [Pb(H2O)5(SO4)][Zn9(OH)18]Mon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.AlcaparrosaiteK3Ti4+Fe3+(SO4)4O(H2O)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.DF.FlaggitePb4Cu2+4Te6+2(SO4)2O11(OH)2(H2O)Tric. 1 : P1
7.DF.BairditePb2Cu2+4Te6+2O10(OH)2(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.TzeferisiteCaZn8(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2(H2O)9Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
7.DF.Cherokeeite[Pb2Zn(OH)4](SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m
7.DF.Ammoniomathesiusite(NH4)5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2OTet. 4/m : P4/n
7.DF.Sigogglinite[Pb6Zn(OH)8]2(SO4)6 · (H2O)8-xMon. 2/m : P2/m
7.DF.XBlueridgeite[Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)2(S2O3)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.ErssoniteMg7Fe3+2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 12H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
7.DF.PoellmanniteCa6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DF.Carlsonite(NH4)5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 7H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.DF.Cuprocherokeeite[Pb8Zn3Cu2+(OH)16](SO4)4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m
7.DF.Haywoodite[Pb(H2O)10][Zn12(OH)20(H2O)(SO4)3]Tric. 1 : P1
7.DF.ChromschieffelinitePb10Te6+6O20(OH)14(CrO4)(H2O)5Orth. 222 : C2221
7.DF.05UklonskoviteNaMg(SO4)F · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.DF.10KainiteKMg(SO4)Cl · 3H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.10KaliochalciteKCu2(SO4)2[(OH)(H2O)]Mon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.15NatrochalciteNaCu2(SO4)2(OH) · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.17GenplesiteCa3Sn(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
7.DF.17'Unnamed (Ba-Sb Silicate-Sulphate-Hydroxide-Hydrate)'Ba3Sb5+[(Si,S)O3(OH)]2(OH,O)6 · 3H2O Trig. 3 : P3
7.DF.20SideronatriteNa2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · 3H2OOrth. 222 : P212121
7.DF.20MetasideronatriteNa2Fe(SO4)2(OH) · H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
7.DF.25FleischeritePb3Ge(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
7.DF.25MallestigitePb3Sb5+(SO4)(AsO4)(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6 : P63
7.DF.25DespujolsiteCa3Mn4+(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OHex. 6m2 : P62c
7.DF.30Slavíkite(H3O+)3Mg6Fe15(SO4)21(OH)18 · 98H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DF.35MetavoltineK2Na6Fe2+Fe3+6O2(SO4)12 · 18H2OTrig.
7.DF.40LannoniteMg2Ca4Al4(SO4)8F8 · 24H2OTet. 4/m : I4/m
7.DF.40VlodavetsiteAlCa2(SO4)2F2Cl · 4H2OTet. 4/m : I4/m
7.DF.45PeretaiteCa(SbO)4(SO4)2(OH)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.DF.50GordaiteNaZn4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2OTrig. 3 : P3
7.DF.50CalamaiteNa2TiO(SO4)2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ibam
7.DF.52Huizingite-(Al)[(NH4)9(SO4)2][(Al,Fe3+)3(OH)2(H2O)4(SO4)6]Tric. 1 : P1
7.DF.52ScordariiteK8(Fe3+0.670.33)[Fe3+3O(SO4)6]2 · 14H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DF.55Clairite(NH4)2Fe3(SO4)4(OH)3 · 3H2OTric.
7.DF.55GiacovazzoiteK5Fe3+3O(SO4)6 · 10H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.57MagnanelliiteK3Fe3+2(SO4)4(OH)(H2O)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
7.DF.60ArzruniteCu4Pb2(SO4)(OH)4Cl6 · 2H2O (?)Orth.
7.DF.60EvdokimoviteTl4(VO)3(SO4)5(H2O)5Mon. 2/m
7.DF.62Bridgesite-(Ce)CaCe2Cu6(SO4)4(OH)12 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
7.DF.65ElyitePb4Cu(SO4)O2(OH)4 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.70YecoraiteFe3+3Bi5(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)O9 · 9H2O
7.DF.70LautenthalitePbCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.DF.75RiomarinaiteBi(SO4)(OH) · H2OMon. 2/m
7.DF.80DukeiteBi3+24Cr6+8O57(OH)6 · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P31c

Other InformationHide

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 SchaurteiteHide

References for SchaurteiteHide

Localities for SchaurteiteHide

Showing 1 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Namibia (TL)
 
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
Strunz et al. (1967)
 
and/or  
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