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Surinamite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About SurinamiteHide

05912700017271927058910.jpg
Flag of Surinam
Formula:
(Mg,Fe)3Al4BeSi3O16
Colour:
Blue-green, dark blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
3.3
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Surinam where the mineral was discovered in the Bakhuis Mountains.
An unassigned member of the Sapphirine Supergroup (Grew et al. 2008, Mills et al. 2009).

Only the 1M-polytype is known in nature. A Be-free analogue is known as 'UM1988-26-SiO:AlMg'.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3830
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3830:6

IMA Classification of SurinamiteHide

Classification of SurinamiteHide

9.DH.55

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
H : Inosilicates with 4-periodic single chains, Si4O12
69.2.1b.2

69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
2 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with P>2
16.6.7

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
6 : Aluminosilicates of Be

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

Physical Properties of SurinamiteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Blue-green, dark blue
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
One well-developed perpendicular to {010}.
Density:
3.3 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.58 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of SurinamiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.738 nβ = 1.743 nγ = 1.746
2V:
Measured: 67° to 68°, Calculated: 74°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.008
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:
Very High (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 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.
Dispersion:
r > v moderate
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
: Y = violet; parallel to cleavage = bright blue-green; perpendicular to cleavage = very light greenish brown to colorless.

Chemistry of SurinamiteHide

Mindat Formula:
(Mg,Fe)3Al4BeSi3O16
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O48.291 %
Al20.360 %
Si15.894 %
Mg13.755 %
Be1.700 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Al
Si
Mg
Be
Common Impurities:
Ti,Mn,Zn,Ca,F

Crystallography of SurinamiteHide

Polytype:
Formula:
Crystal System:
Class (H-M)
Space Group:
Space Group Setting:
Cell Parameters:
Ratio:
Unit Cell Volume (calc):
Z:
Comment:
Surinamite-1M
(Mg,Fe)3Al4BeSi3O16
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0002765SurinamiteBarbier J, Grew E S, Halenius E, Halenius U, Yates M G (2002) The role of iron and cation order in the crystal chemistry of surinamite, (Mg,Fe)3(Al,Fe)3O[AlBeSi3O15]: A crystal structure, Mossbauer spectroscopic, and optical spectroscopic study American Mineralogist 87 501-51320020293
0006762SurinamiteBarbier J (1998) Crystal structures of sapphirine and surinamite analogues in the MgO-Ga2O3-GeO2 system European Journal of Mineralogy 10 1283-129319980293
0000907SurinamiteMoore P B, Araki T (1983) Surinamite, ca. Mg3Al4Si3BeO16: its crystal structure and relation to sapphirine, ca. Mg2.8Al7.2Si1.2O16 American Mineralogist 68 804-81019830293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics<3.5-2.5
40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies)

Type Occurrence of SurinamiteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
platy crystals to 0.2mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Geological and Mining Service, Paramaribo, Surinam, EW1115.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
mylonitic mesoperthite gneiss
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of SurinamiteHide

Other Language Names for SurinamiteHide

Relationship of Surinamite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Sapphirine Supergroup:
Aenigmatite GroupA subgroup of the Sapphirine Supergroup.
BeckettiteCa2V6Al6O20Tric. 1 : P1
DevilliersiteCa4Ca2Fe3+10O4[(Fe3+10Si2)O36]Tric. 1 : P1
KhesiniteCa4(Mg3Fe3+9)O4(Fe3+9Si3)O36Tric. 1 : P1
Rhönite GroupSubgroup of the Sapphirine Supergroup.
Sapphirine GroupSubgroup of the Sapphirine Supergroup.
'UM1988-26-SiO:AlMg'Mg4Al2O[Si3Al2O15]

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Surinamite associated with Khmaralite(Mg,Al,Fe)16[(Al,Si,Be)12O36]O4
2 photos of Surinamite associated with QuartzSiO2
1 photo of Surinamite associated with KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
1 photo of Surinamite associated with SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.DH.DevilliersiteCa4Ca2Fe3+10O4[(Fe3+10Si2)O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.'Gageite-2M'(Mn,Mg,Zn)42Si16O54(OH)40Mon. 2/m
9.DH.BavsiiteBa2V2O2[Si4O12]Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.DH.YuzuxiangiteSr3Fe3+(Si2O6)2(OH) · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
9.DH.LouisfuchsiteCa2(Mg4Ti2)(Al4Si2)O20Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.05LeucophaniteNaCaBeSi2O6FOrth. 222 : P212121
9.DH.10OhmiliteSr3(Ti,Fe3+)(Si4O12)(O,OH) · 2-3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
9.DH.15HaradaiteSrVSi2O7Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.DH.15SuzukiiteBaVSi2O7Orth.
9.DH.20Shcherbakovite(K,Ba)KNa(Ti,Nb)2(Si4O12)O2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
9.DH.20BatisiteBaNaNaTi2(Si4O12)O2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
9.DH.20NoonkanbahiteBaKNaTi2(Si4O12)O2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
9.DH.25TaikaniteSr3BaMn2+2(Si4O12)O2Mon. 2 : B2
9.DH.30KrauskopfiteBaSi2O5 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.35GageiteMn21(Si4O12)2O3(OH)20Mon. 2/m
9.DH.35Balangeroite(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Mn2+)42Si16O54(OH)40Mon. 2/m
9.DH.40KuratiteCa2(Fe2+5Ti)O2[Si4Al2O18]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40AenigmatiteNa4[Fe2+10Ti2]O4[Si12O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40DorriteCa4(Mg3Fe3+9)O4(Si3Al8Fe3+O36)Tric.
9.DH.40SerendibiteCa4[Mg6Al6]O4[Si6B3Al3O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40KhesiniteCa4(Mg3Fe3+9)O4(Fe3+9Si3)O36Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40'UM1991-29-SiO:FeMgNa'Na4(Mg5Fe3+7)O4[Si9Fe3+3O36]
9.DH.40HøgtuvaiteCa4[Fe2+6Fe3+6]O4[Si8Be2Al2O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40'Leucorhönite'Ca2(Mg,Fe3+,Al)6(Si,Al)6O20Tric.
9.DH.40WelshiteCa4Mg9Sb3O4[Si6Be3AlFe2O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40WilkinsoniteNa2Fe2+4Fe3+2(Si6O18)O2Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40KrinoviteNa2Mg4Cr3+2(Si6O18)O2Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.40Makarochkinite(Ca,Na)4[Fe2+8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si8Be2Al2O36]Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.45SapphirineMg4(Mg3Al9)O4[Si3Al9O36]Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.50Khmaralite(Mg,Al,Fe)16[(Al,Si,Be)12O36]O4Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.55'UM1988-26-SiO:AlMg'Mg4Al2O[Si3Al2O15]
9.DH.60DeeriteFe2+6Fe3+3(Si6O17)O3(OH)5Mon. 2/m : P21/b
9.DH.65Taneyamalite(Na,Ca)Mn2+12(Si,Al)12(O,OH)44Tric.
9.DH.65HowieiteNa(Fe2+,Fe3+,Al,Mg)12(Si6O17)2(O,OH)10Tric. 1 : P1
9.DH.70JohninnesiteNa2Mn2+9Mg7(OH)8[AsO4]2[Si6O17]2Tric.
9.DH.75AgrelliteNaCa2Si4O10FTric. 1 : P1

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 SurinamiteHide

References for SurinamiteHide

Reference List:

Localities for SurinamiteHide

Showing 16 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.
Antarctica
 
  • East Antarctica
    • Enderby Land
gsa.confex.com (n.d.)
Grew (1981) +1 other reference
          • Khmara Bay
Grew (1981) +1 other reference
Grew (1981) +2 other references
        • Tula Mountains
          • Amundsen Bay
            • Mount Pardoe
Baba et al. (2000) +1 other reference
Australia
 
  • Northern Territory
    • Central Desert Region
- (1976)
India
 
  • Andhra Pradesh
    • Srikakulam District
Kumar et al. (1995) +1 other reference
    • Vizianagaram District
Kumar et al. (1995) +1 other reference
Kumar et al. (1995) +1 other reference
Kumar et al. (1995) +1 other reference
Kumar et al. (1995) +1 other reference
Kumar et al. (1995) +1 other reference
Kumar et al. (1995) +1 other reference
Suriname (TL)
 
  • Sipaliwini District
De Roever et al. (1976)
UK
 
  • Scotland
    • Outer Hebrides
      • Isle of Lewis and Harris
        • Harris
Baba et al. (2000)
Zambia
 
  • Eastern Province
    • Chipangali District
de Roever et al. (1985)
 
and/or  
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