Sterlinghillite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Sterlinghillite
Formula:
Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 3H2O
Originally, the mineral was thought to contain four H2O per formula unit.
Colour:
White, pale pinkish white, also very pale pink.
Lustre:
Waxy, Greasy, Silky
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.94
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1981 by Pete J. Dunn after its discovery locality, the Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA.
Occurs as tiny light white to pale pinkish white spherules on fracture surfaces, also irregular acicular crystals. Few verified specimens known from the type locality.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3766
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3766:8
IMA Classification of Sterlinghillite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mn2+3(As5+O4)2·3H2O
Approval year:
1980
First published:
1981
Classification of Sterlinghillite
8.CD.25
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:2
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:2
40.3.5.3
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
20.8.9
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
8 : Arsenates of Mn
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
8 : Arsenates of 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Slg | 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 Sterlinghillite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Sterlinghillite
Waxy, Greasy, Silky
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White, pale pinkish white, also very pale pink.
Comment:
Usually white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
2.94 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sterlinghillite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.656 nγ = 1.671
Birefringence:
0.015
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
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Sterlinghillite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 3H2O
Originally, the mineral was thought to contain four H2O per formula unit.
Originally, the mineral was thought to contain four H2O per formula unit.
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Sterlinghillite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.39(2) Å, b = 11.23(2) Å, c = 11.62(2) Å
α = 90°, β = 98.45(5)°, γ = 90°
α = 90°, β = 98.45(5)°, γ = 90°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.103 : 1 : 1.035
Unit Cell V:
1,599.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Acicular crystals or mound-like botryoids showing a non-radial fibrous texture
Comment:
Space group and crystal structure unknown. Unit cell (tentative) from Matsubara et al. (2000), based on indexed powder diffraction pattern.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 11.12 Å | (100) |
| 6.39 Å | (30) |
| 6.11 Å | (2) |
| 5.50 Å | (2) |
| 5.01 Å | (10) |
| 4.73 Å | (10) |
| 3.960 Å | (2) |
| 3.692 Å | (30) |
| 3.209 Å | (100) |
| 2.880 Å | (40) |
| 2.848 Å | (40) |
| 2.814 Å | (5) |
| 2.751 Å | (60) |
| 2.629 Å | (10) |
| 2.603 Å | (10) |
| 2.553 Å | (2) |
| 2.465 Å | (10) |
| 2.341 Å | (2) |
| 2.298 Å | (2) |
| 2.217 Å | (2) |
| 2.171 Å | (2) |
| 2.049 Å | (2) |
| 1.975 Å | (5) |
| 1.939 Å | (5) |
| 1.855 Å | (5) |
| 1.843 Å | (10) |
| 1.757 Å | (2) |
| 1.714 Å | (5) |
| 1.704 Å | (10) |
| 1.672 Å | (5) |
| 1.662 Å | (5) |
| 1.604 Å | (2) |
| 1.583 Å | (2) |
| 1.553 Å | (2) |
| 1.487 Å | (2) |
| 1.447 Å | (2) |
| 1.412 Å | (10) |
Comments:
Dunn, P. J. (1981) Sterlinghillite a New Hydrated Manganese Arsenate Mineral from Ogdensburg, New Jersey, American Mineralogist, v. 66, pp. 182-184.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] |
Type Occurrence of Sterlinghillite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Tiny pinkish white spherules or white acicular crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington D.C., USA, #NMNH 147269.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
As a secondary mineral on fracture surfaces traversing franklinite-calcite ore in a Precambrian Zn-Mn-Fe orebody.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Sterlinghillite
Other Language Names for Sterlinghillite
Relationship of Sterlinghillite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Ludlamite Group:
| Ludlamite | Fe2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Metaswitzerite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Switzerite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Sterlinghillite associated with Belmonteite | CaMn2(AsO4)2 · 7H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CD. | Castellaroite | Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CD. | Sergeysmirnovite | MgZn2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CD.05 | Phosphosiderite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.05 | Metavariscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.05 | Bonacinaite | Sc(AsO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.05 | Kolbeckite | ScPO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.10 | Yanomamite | InAsO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.10 | Mansfieldite | AlAsO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.10 | Scorodite | Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.10 | Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.10 | Strengite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.15 | Parascorodite | FeAsO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CD.20 | Ludlamite | Fe2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CD.30 | Rollandite | Cu3(AsO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CD.35 | Liversidgeite | Zn6(PO4)4 · 7H2O |
| 8.CD.40 | Thorasphite | Th2H(PO4,AsO4)3 · 6H2O |
Fluorescence of Sterlinghillite
Not known to be fluorescent in UV
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 Sterlinghillite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3766.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Sterlinghillite
Reference List:
Dunn, Pete J. (1981) Sterlinghillite, a new hydrated manganese arsenate mineral from Ogdensburg, New Jersey. American Mineralogist, 66 (1-2) 182-184
Localities for Sterlinghillite
Showing 5 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.
Italy | |
| Natural History Museum of Los Angeles ... |
| analysed by Dr. Anthony Kampf +1 other reference |
| C. Balestra-A.R. Kampf |
Japan | |
| Ryuji Marumoto collection +2 other references |
USA (TL) | |
| Dunn (1981) +1 other reference |
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Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA