Smamite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Smamite
Formula:
Ca2Sb(OH)4[H(AsO4)2] · 6H2O
Colour:
Colorless to white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.72
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
The name is based on the acronym for its type locality, the Ste Marie-aux-Mines ore district, France.
New structure type.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
53573
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53573:3
Similar Names
| Saamite | A valid IMA mineral species | Ba◻Na3Ti2Nb(Si2O7)2O2(OH)F(H2O)2 |
| Saamite (of Volkova & Melentiev) | A variety of Fluorapatite | (Ca,Sr,REE)5(PO4)3(F,O) |
IMA Classification of Smamite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca2Sb5+(OH)4[H(As5+O4)2]·6H2O
Approval year:
2019
First published:
2020
Type description reference:
Classification of Smamite
8.DD.30
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4= 2:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4= 2:1
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smm | 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 Smamite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless to white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.72(3) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.709 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Smamite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.556(1) nβ = 1.581(1) nγ = 1.5881(1)
2V:
Measured: 54° (1), Calculated: 55.1°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.032
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 (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
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:
weak
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Smamite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2Sb(OH)4[H(AsO4)2] · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Smamite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pedial
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.8207(4) Å, b = 8.0959(4) Å, c = 8.2130(6) Å
α = 95.834(7)°, β = 110.762(8)°, γ = 104.012(7)°
α = 95.834(7)°, β = 110.762(8)°, γ = 104.012(7)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.842 : 1 : 1.014
Unit Cell V:
402.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.56 Å | (41) |
| 6.03 Å | (60) |
| 5.66 Å | (47) |
| 5.07 Å | (100) |
| 3.992 Å | (43) |
| 3.783 Å | (36) |
| 2.858 Å | (51) |
| 2.766 Å | (31) |
Reference:
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] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] |
Type Occurrence of Smamite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Lenticular crystals growing to 0.5mm aggregates
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
In the collections of the Musée Cantonal de Géologie,
University of Lausanne, Switzerland, catalogue number MGL 093481 (holotype), 093482 and 093481 (cotypes), and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Los Angeles, USA, catalogue number 67169 (cotype)
University of Lausanne, Switzerland, catalogue number MGL 093481 (holotype), 093482 and 093481 (cotypes), and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Los Angeles, USA, catalogue number 67169 (cotype)
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Smamite
Other Language Names for Smamite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DD. | Penberthycroftite | [Al6(AsO4)3(OH)9(H2O)5] · 8H2O |
| 8.DD. | Bettertonite | [Al6(AsO4)3(OH)9(H2O)5] · 11H2O |
| 8.DD. | Vargite | MnCu2Mn2(AsO4)2(OH)4(H2O)4 |
| 8.DD. | Galeaclolusite | Al6(AsO4)3(OH)9(H2O)4 · 8H2O |
| 8.DD.05 | Luetheite | Cu2Al2(AsO4)2(OH)4 |
| 8.DD.05 | Chenevixite | Cu2Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)4 |
| 8.DD.10 | Akrochordite | MnMn2Mn2(AsO4)2(OH)4(H2O)4 |
| 8.DD.10 | Guanacoite | MgCu2Mg2(AsO4)2(OH)4(H2O)4 |
| 8.DD.15 | 'UM1981-32-PO:FeH' | Fe2+Fe3+6(PO4)4-x[PO3(OH)]x(OH)8 · 4H2O |
| 8.DD.15 | Afmite | Al3(OH)4(H2O)3(PO4)(PO3OH) · H2O |
| 8.DD.15 | Aheylite | (Fe2+,Zn)Al6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O |
| 8.DD.15 | 'Coeruleolactite' | |
| 8.DD.15 | Faustite | ZnAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O |
| 8.DD.15 | Planerite | Al6(PO4)2(PO3OH)2(OH)8 · 4H2O |
| 8.DD.15 | Chalcosiderite | CuFe3+6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O |
| 8.DD.15 | Turquoise | CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O |
| 8.DD.20 | Eosphorite | Mn2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.DD.20 | Ernstite | (Mn2+,Fe3+)Al(PO4)(OH,O)2 · H2O |
| 8.DD.20 | Lefontite | Fe2Al2Be(PO4)2(OH)6 |
| 8.DD.20 | Childrenite | Fe2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.DD.25 | Kobokoboite | Al6(PO4)4(OH)6 · 11H2O |
| 8.DD.35 | 'Gutsevichite' | Al3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 8H2O |
| 8.DD.40 | 'Laubmannite (of Moore)' | (Fe3+,Fe2+,M)8+x(OH,H2O)9(H2O)2(PO4)5, M = Fe3+, Cu2+ or other metal cation, x ~ 0.1. |
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in water, readily soluble in 10% HCl solution.
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 Smamite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-53573.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 Smamite
Reference List:
Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Mills, Stuart J. (2019) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2019. CNMNC Newsletter 49. Mineralogical Magazine, 83 (3) 479-483 doi:10.1180/mgm.2019.35
Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Meisser, Nicolas, Lheur, Cédric, Brunsperger, Thierry, Škoda, Radek (2020) Smamite, Ca2Sb(OH)4[H(AsO4)2]·6H2O, a new mineral and a possible sink for Sb during weathering of fahlore. American Mineralogist, 105 (4) 555-560 doi:10.2138/am-2020-7133
Localities for Smamite
Showing 2 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.
France (TL) | |
| Plášil et al. (2020) +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2022) |
Quick NavTopAbout SmamiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Giftgrube mine, Saint Jacques vein, Neuenberg, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, Colmar-Ribeauvillé, Haut-Rhin, Grand Est, France