Falottaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Falottaite
Formula:
MnC2O4 · 3H2O
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
1.924 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for the type locality, Falotta mine, Switzerland.
Dehydrates slowly (over several months) under ambient conditions to form the dihydrate lindbergite (Gröbner & Nikoleizig, 2009; Graeser & Gabriel, 2016). The originally colourless and transparent crystals turn white and opaque during the dehydration process. Stability studies of synthetic Mn oxalates indicate a dehydration temperature of about 30°C (Huizing et al., 1977).
Can also be created by fungi (A. niger) grown with hausmannite.
Known as a synthetic compound.
Can also be created by fungi (A. niger) grown with hausmannite.
Known as a synthetic compound.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
43915
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:43915:6
IMA Classification of Falottaite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mn2+(C2)6+O4·3H2O
Approval year:
2013
First published:
2016
Classification of Falottaite
10.AB.X
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flt | 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 Falottaite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
1.924 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Falottaite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 1.460 nγ = 1.560
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.100
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:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Falottaite
Mindat Formula:
MnC2O4 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Falottaite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.527(5) Å, b = 6.626(2) Å, c = 9.783(6) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.589 : 1 : 1.476
Unit Cell V:
682.4 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Elongated along c and flattened on b with main forms {010}, {100}, and {101} modified by minor {210} and {10.1.10}.
Twinning:
Common, unknown law.
Comment:
Space Group: Pcaa.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.630 Å | (100) |
| 6.630 Å | (60) |
| 3.801 Å | (90) |
| 3.153 Å | (80) |
| 2.959 Å | (60) |
| 2.697 Å | (60) |
| 2.622 Å | (70) |
| 2.122 Å | (60) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Falottaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Well formed colorless ship-like crystals up to 1 × 0.5 mm, on quartz crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum Basel, Basel, Switzerland, specimen number S69
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alpine metamorphism of manganese ores. Then, presumably reaction of humus and oxalic acids (from plants) with those manganese minerals.
Synonyms of Falottaite
Other Language Names for Falottaite
Dutch:Falottaiet
German:Falottait
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Falottaite associated with Lindbergite | Mn2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 10.AB. | Deveroite-(Ce) | Ce2(C2O4)3 · 10H2O |
| 10.AB. | Edwindavisite | Cu(C2O4)(NH3) |
| 10.AB. | Uroxite | [(UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2] · H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Katsarosite | Zn(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Andreybulakhite | Ni(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.05 | Lindbergite | Mn2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.10 | Glushinskite | Mg(C2O4) · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.15 | Moolooite | Cu(C2O4) · nH2O |
| 10.AB.20 | Stepanovite | NaMgFe3+(C2O4)3 · 8-9H2O |
| 10.AB.25 | Minguzzite | K3Fe3+(C2O4)3 · 3H2O |
| 10.AB.30 | Wheatleyite | Na2Cu(C2O4)2 · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.35 | Zhemchuzhnikovite | NaMgAl(C2O4)3 · 8H2O |
| 10.AB.40 | Weddellite | Ca(C2O4) · (2.5-x)H2O |
| 10.AB.45 | Whewellite | Ca(C2O4) · H2O |
| 10.AB.47 | Fiemmeite | Cu2(C2O4)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 10.AB.50 | Caoxite | Ca(C2O4) · 3H2O |
| 10.AB.50 | Middlebackite | Cu2C2O4(OH)2 |
| 10.AB.52 | Metauroxite | (UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2 |
| 10.AB.55 | Oxammite | (NH4)2(C2O4) · H2O |
| 10.AB.60 | Natroxalate | Na2(C2O4) |
| 10.AB.60 | Phoxite | (NH4)2Mg2(C2O4)(PO3OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 10.AB.60 | Carboferriphoxite | [(NH4)K(H2CO3)][Fe3+(HPO4)(H2PO4)(C2O4)] |
| 10.AB.60 | Ferriphoxite | [(NH4)2K(H2O)][Fe3+(HPO4)2(C2O4)] |
| 10.AB.65 | Coskrenite-(Ce) | Ce2(SO4)2(C2O4) · 8H2O |
| 10.AB.70 | Levinsonite-(Y) | (Y,Nd,La)Al(C2O4)(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 10.AB.75 | Zugshunstite-(Ce) | (Ce,Nd,La)Al(C2O4)(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 10.AB.80 | Novgorodovaite | Ca2(C2O4)Cl2 · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Falottaite
None
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Without protection, crystals become milky white and opaque in a few months, dehydrating into lindbergite.
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 Falottaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-43915.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Falottaite
Reference List:
Huizing, A., van Hal, H.A.M., Kwestroo, W., Langereis, C., van Loosdregt, P.C. (1977) Hydrates of manganese (II) oxalate. Materials Research Bulletin, 12 (6). 605-611 doi:10.1016/0025-5408(77)90069-1
Atencio, Daniel, Coutinho, José M.V., Graeser, Stefan, Matioli, Paulo A., Menezes Filho, Luiz A.D. (2004) Lindbergite, a new Mn oxalate dihydrate from Boca Rica mine, Galiléia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and other occurrences. American Mineralogist, 89 (7) 1087-1091 doi:10.2138/am-2004-0721
Fu, Xucheng; Wang, Chenggang; Li, Mingtian (2005) catena-Poly[[[diaquamanganese(II)]-μ-oxalato] monohydrate]. Acta Crystallographica Section E Structure Reports Online, 61 (7). m1348-m1349 doi:10.1107/s1600536805018805
Wu, Wen-Yuan, Song, You, Li, Yi-Zhi, You, Xiao-Zeng (2005) One-dimensional structure and long-range antiferromagnetic behaviour of manganese (II) oxalate trihydrate: {[Mn(μ-ox)(H2O)2]·H2O}n. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 8 (8). 732-736 doi:10.1016/j.inoche.2005.05.007
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2013) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2013. CNMNC Newsletter No.17. Mineralogical Magazine, 77 (7) 2997-3005 doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.7.09
Piro, Oscar Enrique, Baran, Enrique José (2018) Crystal chemistry of organic minerals – salts of organic acids: the synthetic approach. Crystallography Reviews, 24 (3) 149-175 doi:10.1080/0889311x.2018.1445239
Puzan, Anna N., Baumer, Vyacheslav N., Lisovytskiy, Dmytro V., Mateychenko, Pavel V. (2018) Structure disordering and thermal decomposition of manganese oxalate dihydrate, MnC2O4·2H2O. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 260. 87-94 doi:10.1016/j.jssc.2018.01.022
Localities for Falottaite
Showing 3 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.
Germany | |
| Gröbner et al. (2009) |
Italy | |
| Franco Luca Bonino et al. (2023) |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Atencio et al. (2004) +3 other references |
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Varenche Mine, Saint-Barthélemy, Nus, Aosta Valley, Italy