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Clerite

A valid IMA mineral species
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08537290017271928502079.jpg
Onisim Kler
Formula:
MnSb2S4
Colour:
black
Lustre:
Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
4.48 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Onisim Yegorovitch (Egorovich) Kler (Онисим Егорович Клер) (25 February 1845, Switzerland - 18 January 1920, Russia), naturalist and Honorary Member of the Russian Mineralogical Society.
This page provides mineralogical data about Clerite.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
6876
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6876:1

Similar NamesHide

CeriteA synonym
Cerite-(CeCa)A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered(Ce7Ca2)◻Mg(SiO4)3(SiO3OH)4(OH)3
Cerite-(La)A synonym of Ferricerite-(LaCa)
ClairiteA valid IMA mineral species(NH4)2Fe3(SO4)4(OH)3 · 3H2O
ClaraiteA valid IMA mineral species(Cu,Zn)15(CO3)4(AsO4)2(SO4)(OH)14 · 7H2O
Clarite (of Sandberger)A synonym of Enargite
CleviteA synonym of 'Cleveite'
CleîteA synonym of Kaolinite
IleriteA synonym of Hilairite
KahleriteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredFe2+(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O
KelleriteA variety of Pentahydrite(Mg,Cu)SO4 · 5H2O
KolariteA valid IMA mineral speciesPbTeCl2
KolleriteA valid IMA mineral species(NH4)2Fe3+(SO3)2(OH) · H2O
KulariteA variety of Monazite-(Ce)(Ce,Nd,La,Eu)[PO4]

IMA Classification of CleriteHide

Classification of CleriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
2.HA.20

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
H : Sulfosalts of SnS archetype
A : With Cu, Ag, Fe (without Pb)

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

Physical Properties of CleriteHide

Lustre:
Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=224 - 262 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
4.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of CleriteHide

Anisotropism:
strong yellow-brown anisotropy
Bireflectance:
distinct
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)
440nm35.2% 24.5%
480nm35.2% 23.9%
540nm36.0% 23.8%
580nm36.7% 24.6%
660nm36.4% 25.7%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 36.7%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
light grey with pale pink-yellow tint
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of CleriteHide

Mindat Formula:
MnSb2S4
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Sb57.068 %
S30.057 %
Mn12.875 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Mn, S, Sb - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of CleriteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.47(2) Å, b = 14.36(3) Å, c = 3.81(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.799 : 1 : 0.265
Unit Cell V:
627.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Irregular equant grains
Comment:
Space Group: P nam (by analogy to berthierite).

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0010988CleriteBente K, Edenharter A (1989) Rontgenographische strukturanalyse von MnSb2S4 und strukturverfeinerung von berthierit, FeSb2S4 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 185 31-3319890293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.65 Å(100)
3.69 Å(90)
2.90 Å(80)
3.23 Å(70)
1.813 Å(50)
4.46 Å(40)
2.18 Å(40)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])

Type Occurrence of CleriteHide

Synonyms of CleriteHide

Other Language Names for CleriteHide

Relationship of Clerite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Berthierite Group
Other Members of Berthierite Group:
BerthieriteFeSb2S4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
GaravelliteFeSbBiS4Orth.

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

2.HA.05GrundmanniteCuBiSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.HA.05EmplectiteCuBiS2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna
2.HA.05PříbramiteCuSbSe2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
2.HA.05Hansblockite(Cu,Hg)(Bi,Pb)Se2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
2.HA.05ChalcostibiteCuSbS2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.HA.10MiargyriteAgSbS2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.HA.20SunshuiteFeBi2S4Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.HA.20GaravelliteFeSbBiS4Orth.
2.HA.20BerthieriteFeSb2S4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
2.HA.20GraţianiteMnBi2S4Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.HA.25AramayoiteAg3Sb2(Bi,Sb)S6Tric. 1 : P1
2.HA.25BaumstarkiteAg3Sb3S6Tric. 1 : P1
2.HA.30ZhonghongiteCu29(As,Sb)12S33Orth. mm2 : Fmm2

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 CleriteHide

References for CleriteHide

Localities for CleriteHide

Showing 5 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.
Canada
 
  • Ontario
    • Thunder Bay District
      • Bomby Township
Smith et al. (2007)
Japan
 
  • Shimane Prefecture
    • Kanoashi District
      • Tsuwano
Kubozono collection. +1 other reference
Romania
 
  • Maramureș County
    • Târgu Lăpuș
HÎRTOPANU et al. (2025)
  • Sibiu County
    • Lotru-Cibin Mountains
CĂLIN et al. (2019)
Russia (TL)
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Serovsky District
      • Turya river
        • Tur'insk
American Mineralogist +6 other references
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