Plimerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Plimerite
Ian Plimer
Formula:
ZnFe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5
Colour:
Pale-green to dark-olive-green, almost black
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.67
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named by P. Elliot, Uwe Kolitsch, G. Giester, E. Libowitzky, C. McCammon, A. Pring, William D. Birch, and J. Brugger in 2009 in honor of Professor Ian Rutherford Plimer (b. 12 February 1946, Sydney, Australia), Professor of Mining Geology, The University of Adelaide and Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences at The University of Melbourne, in recognition of his contributions to the geology of ore deposits, and in particular the geology of the Broken Hill deposit.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
36041
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:36041:2
Similar Names
| Palmerite | A synonym of Taranakite | |
| Palmierite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | K2Pb(SO4)2 |
| Plombièrite | A valid IMA mineral species | Ca5Si6O16(OH)2 · 7H2O |
IMA Classification of Plimerite
Classification of Plimerite
8.BC.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 1:1 and < 2:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 1:1 and < 2:1
41.9.2.3
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)5(XO4)3Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)5(XO4)3Zq
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pme | 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 Plimerite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pale-green to dark-olive-green, almost black
Streak:
Pale-greyish-green
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Very Good
excellent cleavage parallel to {100} and {010} and distinct cleavage parallel to {001}
excellent cleavage parallel to {100} and {010} and distinct cleavage parallel to {001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.67(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.62 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Plimerite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.756(5) nβ = 1.764(4) nγ = 1.767(4)
2V:
Calculated: 63°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.011
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 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.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = pale-greenish-brown, Y = pale-brown, Z = pale-bluish-green
Comments:
Absorption Z > X > Y; optical orientation XYZ = cab
Chemistry of Plimerite
Mindat Formula:
ZnFe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Plimerite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.865(3) Å, b = 16.798(3) Å, c = 5.151(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.825 : 1 : 0.307
Unit Cell V:
1187 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Elongated along [001] and the principal form observed is {100} with minor {010} and {001}.
Twinning:
none observed
Comment:
SG Bbmm (non-standard setting of Cmcm)
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014590 | Plimerite | Elliot P, Kolitsch U, Giester G, Libowitzky E, McCammon C, Pring A, Birch W D, Brugger J (2009) Description and crystal structure of a new mineral - plimerite, ZnFe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 - the Zn-analogue of rockbridgeite and frondelite, from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia Mineralogical Magazine 73 131-148 | 2009 | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0014590 | Plimerite | Elliot P, Kolitsch U, Giester G, Libowitzky E, McCammon C, Pring A, Birch W D, Brugger J (2009) Description and crystal structure of a new mineral - plimerite, ZnFe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 - the Zn-analogue of rockbridgeite and frondelite, from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia Mineralogical Magazine 73 131-148 | 2009 | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.638 Å | (50) |
| 3.388 Å | (50) |
| 3.369 Å | (55) |
| 3.168 Å | (100) |
| 2.753 Å | (60) |
| 2.575 Å | (90) |
| 2.414 Å | (75) |
| 2.400 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Plimerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Acicular and bladed crystals up to 0.5 mm long and as hemispherical aggregates of radiating acicular crystals up to 3 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Department of Mineralogy of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia (Registration numberG32005).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidation zone of a sulfide deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Plimerite
Other Language Names for Plimerite
Relationship of Plimerite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Rockbridgeite Group:
| Ferrirockbridgeite | (Fe3+0.67◻0.33)2(Fe3+)3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Ferrorockbridgeite | (Fe2+,Mn2+)2(Fe3+)3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Frondelite | (Mn2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5 | Orth. 222 : C2221 |
| Manganrockbridgeite | Mn2+2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O) | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
| Rockbridgeite | (Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Plimerite associated with Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2O |
| 2 photos of Plimerite associated with Krásnoite | Ca3Al7.7Si3P4O23.5(OH)12.1F2 · 8H2O |
| 2 photos of Plimerite associated with Ferroberaunite | Fe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)5 · 6H2O |
| 2 photos of Plimerite associated with Hillite | Ca2Zn(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Plimerite associated with Scholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Plimerite associated with Corkite | PbFe3+3(PO4)(SO4)(OH)6 |
| 2 photos of Plimerite associated with Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 1 photo of Plimerite associated with Eosphorite | Mn2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 1 photo of Plimerite associated with Strengite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Plimerite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BC. | Manganrockbridgeite | Mn2+2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O) |
| 8.BC. | Elaliite | (Fe2+8Fe3+)(PO4)O8 |
| 8.BC. | Elkinstantonite | Fe4(PO4)2O |
| 8.BC.05 | Leybovite-K | KCuNa(MgFe3+)(AsO4)3 |
| 8.BC.05 | Angelellite | Fe3+4(AsO4)2O3 |
| 8.BC.10 | Frondelite | (Mn2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5 |
| 8.BC.10 | Rockbridgeite | (Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5 |
| 8.BC.10 | Ferrirockbridgeite | (Fe3+0.67◻0.33)2(Fe3+)3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O) |
| 8.BC.10 | Ferrorockbridgeite | (Fe2+,Mn2+)2(Fe3+)3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O) |
| 8.BC.15 | Aerugite | Ni8.5(AsO4)2As5+O8 |
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 Plimerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-36041.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Plimerite
Reference List:
Fisher, D. Jerome (1958) Pegmatite phosphates and their problems. American Mineralogist, 43 (3-4) 181-207
Elliott, P., Kolitsch, U., Giester, G., Libowitzky, E., McCammon, C., Pring, A., Birch, W. D., Brugger, J. (2009) Description and crystal structure of a new mineral – plimerite, ZnFe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 – the Zn-analogue of rockbridgeite and frondelite, from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. Mineralogical Magazine, 73 (1) 131-148 doi:10.1180/minmag.2009.073.1.131
Piilonen, P. C., Poirier, G. (2010) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 95 (1) 204-208 doi:10.2138/am.2010.553
Sejkora, J., Plášil, J., Filip, J. (2011) Plimerite from Krásno near Horní Slavkov ore district, Czech Republic. Journal of GEOsciences, 56 (2) 215-229
Grey, Ian E., Kampf, Anthony R., Keck, Erich, Cashion, John D., MacRae, Colin M., Gozukara, Yesim, Peterson, Vanessa K., Shanks, Finlay L. (2019) The rockbridgeite group approved and a new member, ferrorockbridgeite, (Fe2+,Mn2+)2(Fe3+)3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O), described from the Hagendorf Süd pegmatite, Oberpfalz, Bavaria. European Journal of Mineralogy, 31 (2) 389-397 doi:10.1127/ejm/2019/0031-2823
Localities for Plimerite
Showing 14 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 (TL) | |
| Elliott et al. (2009) |
| Elliott et al. (2009) |
Czech Republic | |
| Sejkora et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
Europe | |
| Berbain et al. (2012) | |
France | |
| Berbain et al. (2012) |
Germany | |
| Grey et al. (2015) |
Norway | |
| Larsen (2019) |
Portugal | |
| DGEG et al. (Alves et al., 2010) +1 other reference |
| Artur Neves collection. Pedro Alves ... |
| Alves et al. (2012) |
| Pedro Alves analytical data and ... |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2024) |
| Calvo et al. (2011) |
USA | |
| Paul M. Adams Collection |
Quick NavTopAbout PlimeriteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Block 14 opencut, Broken Hill, Broken Hill district, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia