Native Silicon
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Si
Colour:
Iridescent (films)
Hardness:
7
Crystal System:
Isometric
This page provides mineralogical data about Native Silicon.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3659
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3659:3
IMA Classification of Native Silicon
Approved
Approval year:
1982
Classification of Native Silicon
1.CB.15
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
B : Carbon-silicon family
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
B : Carbon-silicon family
Dana 7th ed.:
1.3.6.1
1.3.7.1
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals
1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals
1.28
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
1 : Elements and Alloys (including the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Si | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Native Silicon
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Native Silicon
Chemistry of Native Silicon
Mindat Formula:
Si
Element Weights:
| Element | % weight |
|---|---|
| Si | 100.000 % |
Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Native Silicon
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fd3m
Setting:
Fd3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.431 Å
Unit Cell V:
160.19 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Synthetic
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012843 | Native Silicon | Hom T, Kiszenick W, Post B (1975) Accurate lattice constants from multiple reflection mesurements II. lattice constants of germanium, silicon and diamond Journal of Applied Crystallography 8 457-458 | 1975 | synthetic | 0 | 298 | |
| 0015103 | Native Silicon | Dutta B N (1962) Lattice constants and thermal expansion of silicon up to 900 C by X-ray method Physica Status Solidi 2 984-987 | 1962 | synthetic | 0 | 298 | |
| 0009282 | Native Silicon | Kasper J S, Richards S M (1964) The crystal structures of new forms of silicon and germanium Acta Crystallographica 17 752-755 | ![]() | 1964 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0015104 | Native Silicon | Dutta B N (1962) Lattice constants and thermal expansion of silicon up to 900 C by X-ray method Physica Status Solidi 2 984-987 | 1962 | synthetic | 0 | 618 | |
| 0015105 | Native Silicon | Dutta B N (1962) Lattice constants and thermal expansion of silicon up to 900 C by X-ray method Physica Status Solidi 2 984-987 | 1962 | synthetic | 0 | 798 | |
| 0015106 | Native Silicon | Dutta B N (1962) Lattice constants and thermal expansion of silicon up to 900 C by X-ray method Physica Status Solidi 2 984-987 | 1962 | synthetic | 0 | 888 | |
| 0015107 | Native Silicon | Dutta B N (1962) Lattice constants and thermal expansion of silicon up to 900 C by X-ray method Physica Status Solidi 2 984-987 | 1962 | synthetic | 0 | 973 | |
| 0015108 | Native Silicon | Dutta B N (1962) Lattice constants and thermal expansion of silicon up to 900 C by X-ray method Physica Status Solidi 2 984-987 | 1962 | synthetic | 0 | 1058 | |
| 0015109 | Native Silicon | Dutta B N (1962) Lattice constants and thermal expansion of silicon up to 900 C by X-ray method Physica Status Solidi 2 984-987 | 1962 | synthetic | 0 | 1151 | |
| 0015303 | Native Silicon | Olijnyk H, Sikka S K, Holzapfel W B (1984) Structural phase transitions in Si and Ge under pressures up to 50 GPa Physics Letters 103A 137-140 | 1984 | synthetic | 19.5 | 293 | |
| 0015281 | Native Silicon | Hanfland M, Schwarz U, Syassen K, Takemura K (1999) Crystal structure of the high-pressure phase silicon VI Physical Review Letters 82 1197-1200 | 1999 | synthetic | 38.4 | 293 | |
| 0015282 | Native Silicon | Hanfland M, Schwarz U, Syassen K, Takemura K (1999) Crystal structure of the high-pressure phase silicon VI Physical Review Letters 82 1197-1200 | 1999 | synthetic | 42.5 | 293 | |
| 0015304 | Native Silicon | Olijnyk H, Sikka S K, Holzapfel W B (1984) Structural phase transitions in Si and Ge under pressures up to 50 GPa Physics Letters 103A 137-140 | 1984 | synthetic | 43 | 293 | |
| 0015283 | Native Silicon | Hanfland M, Schwarz U, Syassen K, Takemura K (1999) Crystal structure of the high-pressure phase silicon VI Physical Review Letters 82 1197-1200 | 1999 | synthetic | 45.5 | 293 | |
| 0015275 | Native Silicon | Duclos S J, Vohra Y K, Ruoff A L (1987) hcp-to-fcc transition in silicon at 78 GPa and studies to 100 GPa Physical Review Letters 58 775-777 | 1987 | synthetic | 87 | 293 | |
| 0011243 | Native Silicon | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 7-83 | 1963 | 0 | 300 | ||
| 0011244 | Native Silicon | Wyckoff R W G (1963) Second edition. Interscience Publishers, New York, New York Crystal Structures 1 7-83 | 1963 | 0 | 1573 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| 29 : Lightning-generated minerals | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 38 : Ophiolites | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
Type Occurrence of Native Silicon
Synonyms of Native Silicon
Other Language Names for Native Silicon
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.CB. | Tartarosite | C |
| 1.CB.05c | 'Fullerite' | C60 |
| 1.CB.05b | Chaoite | C |
| 1.CB.05a | Graphite | C |
| 1.CB.10a | Diamond | C |
| 1.CB.10b | Lonsdaleite | C |
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 Native Silicon
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3659.html
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References for Native Silicon
Localities for Native Silicon
Showing 34 localities.
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.
Brazil | |
| Kachalovskaja et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
Canada | |
| Newman (2020) |
China | |
| Xu (2008) |
| Zaihuang Zhou et al. (1993) | |
| Qirong Liu et al. (1995) |
| Wenji Bai et al. (2001) |
| Xu et al. (2009) |
| Li et al. (2009) |
| Zhang et al. (2016) | |
Cuba (TL) | |
| Am. Min. 76 (1991) |
Israel | |
| Stan +3 other references |
Italy | |
| Agrosı̀ et al. (2025) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Blyalova et al. (2025) |
Russia | |
| Cherkasova et al. (2015) |
| Kuznetsova O. Yu. (1998) |
| |
| Kaminsky et al. (2016) |
| Kuznetsova O. Yu. (1998) |
| L. N. Novoselova (1986) |
| Gromilov et al. (2018, August) |
| Am. Min. 76 (1991) |
| [AmMin 84:992] |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Marshintsev (1990) +1 other reference | |
| Korzhinsky |
| Rappenglück (2022) |
| 6th orogenic lherzolite conference 2014 ... +2 other references | |
Syria | |
| Moore et al. (2020) |
Tajikistan | |
| Novgorodova M.I. (1996) |
Turkey | |
| Am Min 88:1817-1821 |
Ukraine | |
| Rappenglück (2022) |
USA | |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| Stefano +2 other references |
| ... |
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