Esquireite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Esquireite
Bob Walstrom at the Esquire No.1 location
Esquire No. 1 claim, Rush Creek, Big Creek-Rush Creek Mining District, Fresno County, California, USA
Esquire No. 1 claim, Rush Creek, Big Creek-Rush Creek Mining District, Fresno County, California, USA
Formula:
BaSi6O13 · 7H2O
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.18 - 2.237
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after the type locality.
A low-temperature hydrothermal alteration product of sanbornite, found on the surface of sanbornite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46502
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46502:7
IMA Classification of Esquireite
Classification of Esquireite
9.DP.50
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Esq | 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 Esquireite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Comment:
About 2
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
perfect on {001} and fair on {100}.
perfect on {001} and fair on {100}.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.18 - 2.237 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Esquireite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.477(1) nβ = 1.481(1) nγ = 1.492
2V:
Measured: 63.8° (6)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.015
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 (negative)
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
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.
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:
None
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Esquireite
Mindat Formula:
BaSi6O13 · 7H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Esquireite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2 - Sphenoidal
Space Group:
B2
Setting:
C2
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.601(4) Å, b = 4.9222(10) Å, c = 15.092(5) Å
β = 111.578(19)°
β = 111.578(19)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.763 : 1 : 3.066
Unit Cell V:
939.6 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Rectangular blades, elongated and striated parallel to [010] and flattened on {001}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.02 Å | (38) |
| 5.11 Å | (33) |
| 4.649 Å | (66) |
| 4.191 Å | (100) |
| 3.339 Å | (65) |
| 2.967 Å | (32) |
| 2.343 Å | (33) |
| 2.261 Å | (35) |
Comments:
From type description
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Esquireite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Cotype material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA, catalogue numbers 64540, 64541, 64542, 64543 and 64544
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Esquireite
Other Language Names for Esquireite
Dutch:Esquireiet
German:Esquireit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Esquireite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Esquireite associated with Sanbornite | BaSi2O5 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DP.05 | Meliphanite | (Ca,Na)2(Be,Al)[Si2O6(OH,F)] |
| 9.DP.15 | Leucosphenite | BaNa4Ti2B2Si10O30 |
| 9.DP.20 | Ferriprehnite | Ca2Fe3+(Si3AlO10)(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.20 | Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.25 | Amstallite | CaAl[(Al,Si)4O8(OH)2](OH)2 · (H2O,Cl) |
| 9.DP.30 | Kvanefjeldite | Na4(Ca,Mn)(Si3O7)2(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.35 | Lemoynite | (Na,K)2CaZr2Si10O26 · 5H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Hogarthite | (Na,K)2CaTi2Si10O26 · 8H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Natrolemoynite | Na4Zr2Si10O26 · 9H2O |
| 9.DP.40 | Altisite | Na3K6Ti2Al2Si8O26Cl3 |
| 9.DP.45 | Chiappinoite-(Y) | Y2Mn(Si3O7)4 |
| 9.DP.55 | Lavinskyite | K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4 |
| 9.DP.55 | Plancheite | Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O |
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 Esquireite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46502.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 Esquireite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2015) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2014 and 2015. Newsletter No 23. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (1) 51-58 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.1.05
Localities for Esquireite
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.
Canada | |
| Collected and analysed by Gunnar Farber |
USA | |
| Walstrom (n.d.) |
| Reiner Mielke 2016 | |
| Walstrom (n.d.) +3 other references |
| Kampf et al. (2015) |
Quick NavTopAbout EsquireiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Rush Creek, Big Creek-Rush Creek Mining District, Fresno County, California, USA