Zunyite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Zunyite
Formula:
Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl
Colour:
Colourless, grey, white, flesh-red
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
7
Specific Gravity:
2.88
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named after the type locality, the Zuni mine near Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado, USA.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Zunyite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4433
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4433:8
IMA Classification of Zunyite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1885
Classification of Zunyite
9.BJ.55
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
J : Sorosilicates with Si3O10, Si4O11, etc. anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
J : Sorosilicates with Si3O10, Si4O11, etc. anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
57.3.1.1
57 : SOROSILICATES Si3O10 Groups and Larger Noncyclic Groups
3 : Insular Si3O10 and Larger Noncyclic Groups with [Si5O16] groups
57 : SOROSILICATES Si3O10 Groups and Larger Noncyclic Groups
3 : Insular Si3O10 and Larger Noncyclic Groups with [Si5O16] groups
17.3.2
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
3 : Silicates with chloride (including aluminosilicates)
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
3 : Silicates with chloride (including aluminosilicates)
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Zun | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Zun | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Zunyite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, grey, white, flesh-red
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{111}
{111}
Density:
2.88 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Zunyite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.562 - 1.600
Surface Relief:
Moderate (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 Zunyite
Mindat Formula:
Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Zunyite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
43m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
F43m
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.925 Å
Unit Cell V:
2,700.14 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Commonly as modified tetrahedral crystals.
Twinning:
Contact and penetration on {111}.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009753 | Zunyite | Baur W H, Ohta T (1982) The Si5O16 pentamer in zunyite refined and empirical relations for individual silicon-oxygen bonds Acta Crystallographica B38 390-401 |  | 1982 | Zuni Mine, Colorado, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0009752 | Zunyite | Baur W H, Ohta T (1982) The Si5O16 pentamer in zunyite refined and empirical relations for individual silicon-oxygen bonds Acta Crystallographica B38 390-401 | | 1982 | Quartzsite, Arizona, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0000290 | Zunyite | Louisnathan S J, Gibbs G V (1972) Aluminium-silicon distribution in zunyite American Mineralogist 57 1089-1108 |  | 1972 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018116 | Zunyite | Pauling L (1933) The crystal structure of zunyite, Al13 Si5 O20 ((O H), F)18 Cl _cod_database_code 1011254 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 84 442-452 | 1933 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.07 Å | (100) |
| 4.21 Å | (100) |
| 2.679 Å | (90) |
| 1.639 Å | (90) |
| 4.02 Å | (60) |
| 2.840 Å | (50) |
| 2.008 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 16 : Low-? aqueous alteration of Hadean subaerial lithologies (see also #23) | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 22 : Hydration and low-? subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23) |
Type Occurrence of Zunyite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Well formed tetrahedral crystals in sulphide. Tiny crystals are clear, larger crystals, reaching 3 mm, contain black inclusions.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 49082.
Other Language Names for Zunyite
Varieties of Zunyite
| Dillnite | An F-rich zunyite variety. Originally described from Banská Belá (Dilln), Banská Štiavnica Mining District, Štiavnica Mts, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovak Republic. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 77 photos of Zunyite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 20 photos of Zunyite associated with Diaspore | AlO(OH) |
| 15 photos of Zunyite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Zunyite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Zunyite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 2 photos of Zunyite associated with Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Zunyite associated with Ferrokësterite | Cu2FeSnS4 |
| 2 photos of Zunyite associated with 'Andorite' | AgPbSb3S6 |
| 1 photo of Zunyite associated with Feldspar Group | |
| 1 photo of Zunyite associated with Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.BJ. | Arsenmedaite | Mn2+6 As5+Si5O18(OH) |
| 9.BJ.05 | Orientite | Ca8Mn3+10(SiO4)3(Si3O10)3(OH)10 · 4H2O |
| 9.BJ.10 | Rosenhahnite | HCa3[Si3O9(OH)] |
| 9.BJ.15 | Trabzonite | Ca4(Si3O9)(OH)2 |
| 9.BJ.20 | Thalénite-(Y) | Y3Si3O10F |
| 9.BJ.25 | Tiragalloite | Mn2+4As5+Si3O12(OH) |
| 9.BJ.30 | Medaite | Mn2+6V5+Si5O18(OH) |
| 9.BJ.35 | Strontioruizite | Sr2Mn3+2Si4O11(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.35 | Ruizite | Ca2Mn3+2[Si4O11(OH)2](OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.35 | Taniajacoite | SrCaMn3+2Si4O11(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.40 | Ardennite-(As) | Mn2+4Al4(AlMg)(AsO4)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.40 | Kannanite | Ca4Al4(AlMg)(VO4)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.40 | Alpeite | Ca4Mn3+2Al2(Mn3+Mg)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(V5+O4)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.40 | Ardennite-(V) | Mn2+4Al4(AlMg)(VO4)(SiO4)2(Si3O10)(OH)6 |
| 9.BJ.45 | Kilchoanite | Ca6(SiO4)(Si3O10) |
| 9.BJ.50 | Prismatine | (◻,Fe,Mg)(Mg,Al,Fe)5Al4Si2(Si,Al)2(B,Si,Al)(O,OH,F)22 |
| 9.BJ.50 | Kornerupine | Mg3Al6(Si,Al,B)5O21(OH) |
| 9.BJ.60 | Hubeite | Ca2Mn2+Fe3+Si4O12(OH) · 2H2O |
| 9.BJ.65 | Cassagnaite | (Ca,Mn2+)4(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al)4(V3+,Mg,Al)2(Si3O10)(SiO4)2(OH,O)8 |
| 9.BJ.70 | Pavlovskyite | Ca8(SiO4)2(Si3O10) |
Fluorescence of Zunyite
May fluoresce red.
Other Information
Notes:
Unaffected by acids except hydrofluoric, in which the action is slow.
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 Zunyite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4433.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 Zunyite
Reference List:
Nel, Louis T. (1930) A new occurrence of zunyite near Postmasburg, South Africa. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 22 (128) 207-221 doi:10.1180/minmag.1930.022.128.02
Pauling, Linus (1933) The Crystal Structure of Zunyite, Al13Si5O20(OH,F)18Cl. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 84 (1) 442-452 doi:10.1524/zkri.1933.84.1.442
Vermaas, F. H. S. (1952) Zunyite from Postmasburg, South Africa. American Mineralogist, 37 (11-12) 960-965
Kamb, W. B. (1960) Accuracy of atomic positions in the zunyite structure. Acta Crystallographica, 13 (1) 24-27 doi:10.1107/s0365110x60000042
Kamb, W. B. (1960) The crystal structure of zunyite. Acta Crystallographica, 13 (1) 15-24 doi:10.1107/s0365110x60000030
Konta, J., Mraz, L. (1961) Dillnite and its relation to zunyite. American Mineralogist, 46 (5-6) 629-636
Turco, Guy (1962) La zunyite ; recherches expérimentales physico-chimiques en liaison avec l'étude du nouveau gisement de Beni-Embarek. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 85 (4) 407-458 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1962.5596
Louisnathan, S. John, Gibbs, G. V. (1972) Aluminum-silicon distribution in zunyite. American Mineralogist, 57 (7-8) 1089-1108
Baumer, Alain, Gimenez, Hubert, Caruba, Raoul, Turco, Guy (1974) Remplacements de groupements atomiques dans la structure zunyite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 97 (2) 271-277 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1974.6893
Baur, W. H., Ohta, T. (1982) The Si5O16 pentamer in zunyite refined and empirical relations for individual silicon–oxygen bonds. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Crystallography and Crystal Chemistry, 38 (2) 390-401 doi:10.1107/s0567740882003057
Zhou, B., Sherriff, B. L., Taulelle, F., Wu, G. (2003) Nuclear magnetic resonance study of Al:Si and F:OH order in zunyite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 41 (4) 891-903 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.41.4.891
Mavrogonatos, Constantinos, Voudouris, Panagiotis, Spry, Paul G., Melfos, Vasilios, Klemme, Stephan, Berndt, Jasper, Baker, Tim, Moritz, Robert, Bissig, Thomas, Monecke, Thomas, Zaccarini, Federica (2018) Mineralogical Study of the Advanced Argillic Alteration Zone at the Konos Hill Mo–Cu–Re–Au Porphyry Prospect, NE Greece. Minerals, 8 (11) 479 doi:10.3390/min8110479 (with analyses of zunyite)
Localities for Zunyite
Showing 118 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.
Algeria | |
| Turco (1962) |
Antarctica | |
| Goldschmidt Conference: Journal of Conference Abstracts Volume 5 (2) |
Argentina | |
| FRANCHINI (27º26'S-66º16'O) +2 other references |
| Singer et al. (2005) |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
Australia | |
| Ehrig et al. (2012) |
| Ralph Bottrill et al in prep. +1 other reference |
| Bottrill et al. (2008) | |
| AGSO Research Newsletter May 2000 | |
Azerbaijan | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Mansurov et al. (2018) |
Bolivia | |
| Pastor et al. (2015) |
| Sillitoe et al. (1998) |
Brazil | |
| Menezes (n.d.) |
| Barbosa et al. (2000) |
Bulgaria | |
| McCoyd (1995) |
| Hikov et al. (2010) |
| Hikov (2004) |
| Georgieva +2 other references |
Canada | |
| Singer et al. (2005) |
| personal correspondence with Giles Peatfield (see comments in description) | |
Chile | |
| Codelco |
| Thompson et al. (2004) +1 other reference |
| Singer et al. (2008) | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Deyell et al. (2005) +1 other reference | |
China | |
| Zijin Mining Group Company Limited |
| Wenhao Zhao et al. (1987) |
| Wang et al. (2025) |
| Zheng et al. (2025) |
Greece | |
| C. Mavrogonatos et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
| Papoulis et al. (2005) |
Hungary | |
| GEODA |
| Nemecz |
| Szakáll & Jánosi: Minerals of Hungary | |
Indonesia | |
| Bensaman et al. (2015) |
| Etzel et al. (2015) |
Iran | |
| Hossein Basirat specimens. |
| Hairapetian et al. (2020) |
| Hairapetian et al. (2020) | |
Japan | |
| INOUE et al. (1991) |
| Watanabe et al. (1996) |
| Watanabe et al. (1996) | |
| Masui et al. (1944) |
| Morishita et al. (2008) |
| Imai (1978) |
| Fujii et al. (1971) |
| Petrov (n.d.) |
| Alfredo Petrov specimens | |
| Fujii et al. (1971) |
| Masutomi Museum specimen (Kyoto) |
Mongolia | |
| Economic Geology September 2001 v. 96 ... +1 other reference |
| December 2009 +3 other references | |
| [var: Dillnite] Rio Tinto Group | |
Morocco | |
| Weiß (2006) |
| Berrada (2009) |
New Zealand | |
| Martin et al. (2023) |
Nicaragua | |
| Royal Road Minerals |
Panama | |
| Redwood (2020) |
Peru | |
| Dill et al. (1997) |
| Graton +1 other reference |
| Bendezu et al. (2009) |
| Bendezu et al. (2009) +1 other reference | |
Philippines | |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
Romania | |
| Milu et al. (2004) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Spiridonov et al. (2014, September) |
Serbia | |
| RTB Bor |
Slovakia | |
| Jakub Jirasek - ... |
| [var: Dillnite] Koděra et al. (1986) | |
| Rojkovičová |
| Bacsó Z. |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
| Alfredo Petrov collection (ex- Vandall King) | |
| Knoll collection #1720 | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) +1 other reference | |
| Kent et al. (1971) |
Spain | |
| A. Arribas et al. (2005) |
USA | |
| Rob Lavinsky (Ex. Al Ordway specimen) |
| Galbraith. F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959) +3 other references |
| Schwartz (1953) +1 other reference |
| Winant (2010) +2 other references |
| Singer et al. (2008) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Robert Stoufer collection | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Murphy (1979) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Rocks & Minerals 71:2 pp94-101 | |
| Hillebrand (1885) +1 other reference | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| USGS Prof. Paper 750C | |
| Guilbert and Zeihen +1 other reference |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| LaPointe et al. (199) | |
| Riedell et al. (2020) |
| Portela et al. (2026) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
| Singer et al. (2005) | |
| Genth et al. (1881) |
| - (n.d.) | |
| Jason B. Smith collection |
| O'Neill (2014) |
| American Mineralogist +1 other reference |
| various added photos |
| RRUFF project | |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Lovering et al. (1960) |
| Rye et al. (2003) |
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Qalat Payeen Salt Dome, Bandar Abbas County, Hormozgan Province, Iran