Schwertmannite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Schwertmannite
Udo Schwertmann
Formula:
Fe3+16(OH,SO4)12-13O16 · 10-12H2O
Colour:
Brownish yellow
Lustre:
Earthy
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
3.88 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Originally named glockerite in 1855 by Karl Friedrich Naumann in honour of Ernst Friedrich Glocker (1 May 1783 Stuttgart, Germany - 18 July 1858), professor of mineralogy at University of Breslau (University of Vratislav; Wroclaw, Poland) and author of numerous systematic mineralogical works. Renamed by J.M. Bigham, L. Carlson, E. Murad, in 1994 in honour of Udo Schwertmann (25 November 1927,Stade/Elbe, Germany - 20 January 2016), soil scientist at the University of München (Munich), Germany. He made "numerous contributions to the crystal chemistry of iron oxides and oxyhydroxides and has greatly advanced our knowledge of poorly crystalline phases that are common to weathering environments."
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Schwertmannite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7281
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7281:2
IMA Classification of Schwertmannite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Fe3+16O16(OH)9.6(S6+O4)3.2·10H2O
Approval year:
1990
First published:
1994
Classification of Schwertmannite
7.DE.15
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations; unclassified
6.4.10.1
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
4 : Miscellaneous
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
4 : Miscellaneous
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Swm | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Sch | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
| Swm | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Schwertmannite
Earthy
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Brownish yellow
Streak:
Yellow
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.88(11) g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Schwertmannite
Mindat Formula:
Fe3+16(OH,SO4)12-13O16 · 10-12H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Schwertmannite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.66 Å, c = 6.04 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.567
Unit Cell V:
686.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Tiny (2-4 nm thick, 60-90 nm long), fibrous crystals arranged in the form of pin-cushion-like aggregates.
Comment:
Poorly crystalline
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018671 | Schwertmannite | Fernandez-Martinez A, Timon V, Roman-Ross G, Cuello G J, Daniels J E, Ayora C (2010) The structure of schwertmannite, a nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxysulfate American Mineralogist 95 1312-1322 |  | 2010 | Monte Romero mine (Iberian Pyrite Belt), Spain | 0 | 293 |
| 0018670 | Schwertmannite | Fernandez-Martinez A, Timon V, Roman-Ross G, Cuello G J, Daniels J E, Ayora C (2010) The structure of schwertmannite, a nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxysulfate American Mineralogist 95 1312-1322 | | 2010 | Monte Romero mine (Iberian Pyrite Belt), Spain | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.86 Å | (37) |
| 3.39 Å | (46) |
| 2.55 Å | (100) |
| 2.28 Å | (23) |
| 1.66 Å | (21) |
| 1.51 Å | (24) |
| 1.46 Å | (18) |
Comments:
Broad peaks
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
Type Occurrence of Schwertmannite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Ochreous. Poorly crystalline, yellowish brown, with a fibrous morphology under the electron microscope.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, B8659.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Precipitate from acid, sulphate-rich waters.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Schwertmannite
Other Language Names for Schwertmannite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Schwertmannite associated with Hydroniumjarosite | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DE. | Magnesioalterite | Mg2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O |
| 7.DE. | Fabritzite | Zn9(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DE. | Cossaite | (Mg0.5,◻)Al6(SO4)6(HSO4)F6 · 36H2O |
| 7.DE. | Downsite | K2(MoO3)3(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 7.DE. | Liangjunite | K2(Mo2O5)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.DE.05 | Mangazeite | Al2(SO4)(OH)4 · 3H2O |
| 7.DE.10 | 'UKI-1975-(SO:AlCu)' | (Cu, Al, SO4, H2O) |
| 7.DE.10 | Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.10 | Cyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.20 | Tlalocite | Cu10Zn6(Te6+O4)2(Te4+O3)(OH)25Cl · 27H2O |
| 7.DE.25 | Utahite | MgCu4Zn2Te6+3O14(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 7.DE.35 | Coquandite | Sb6+xO8+x(SO4)(OH)x(H2O)1- x (x = 0.3) |
| 7.DE.40 | Osakaite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 5H2O |
| 7.DE.42 | Alterite | Zn2Fe3+4(SO4)4(C2O4)2(OH)4 · 17H2O |
| 7.DE.45 | Barrotite | Cu9Al(HSiO4)2[(SO4)(HAsO4)0.5](OH)12 · 8H2O |
| 7.DE.45 | Wilcoxite | MgAl(SO4)2F · 17H2O |
| 7.DE.47 | Tiberiobardiite | {Cu9Al[SiO3(OH)]2(OH)12(H2O)6}(SO4)1.5 · 10H2O |
| 7.DE.50 | Bouškaite | (MoO2)2O(SO3OH)2(H2O)4 |
| 7.DE.50 | Stanleyite | (V4+O)(SO4) · 6H2O |
| 7.DE.57 | 'Khangalasite' | Fe(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.60 | Hydrobasaluminite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 12-36H2O |
| 7.DE.62 | Volaschioite | Fe4(SO4)O2(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 7.DE.65 | Zaherite | Al12(SO4)5(OH)26 · 20H2O |
| 7.DE.75 | Camérolaite | Cu6Al3(OH)18(H2O)2[Sb(OH)6](SO4) |
Other Information
Notes:
Rapid dissolution in cold, 5 M HCl or in ammonium oxalate at pH 3.
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 Schwertmannite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7281.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Schwertmannite
Reference List:
Jambor, John L., Pertsev, Nikolai N., Roberts, Andrew C. (1995) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 80 (7-8). 845-850
Mazzetti, L., Thistlethwaite, P. J. (2002) Raman spectra and thermal transformations of ferrihydrite and schwertmannite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 33 (2). 104-111 doi:10.1002/jrs.830
Frankel, R. B. (2003) Biologically Induced Mineralization by Bacteria. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 54 (1). 95-114 doi:10.2113/0540095
Fernandez-Martinez, A., Timon, V., Roman-Ross, G., Cuello, G. J., Daniels, J. E., Ayora, C. (2010) The structure of schwertmannite, a nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxysulfate. American Mineralogist, 95 (8) 1312-1322 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3446
Sánchez-España, Javier, Yusta, Iñaki, Diez-Ercilla, Marta (2011) Schwertmannite and hydrobasaluminite: A re-evaluation of their solubility and control on the iron and aluminium concentration in acidic pit lakes. Applied Geochemistry, 26 (9) 1752-1774 doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2011.06.020
French, R. A., Caraballo, M. A., Kim, B., Rimstidt, J. D., Murayama, M., Hochella, M. F. (2012) The enigmatic iron oxyhydroxysulfate nanomineral schwertmannite: Morphology, structure, and composition. American Mineralogist, 97 (8) 1469-1482 doi:10.2138/am.2012.4032
French, Rebecca A., Monsegue, Niven, Murayama, Mitsuhiro, Hochella, Michael F. (2014) The structure and transformation of the nanomineral schwertmannite: a synthetic analog representative of field samples. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 41 (4) 237-246 doi:10.1007/s00269-013-0641-1
Bishop, J. L., Murad, E., Dyar, M. D. (2015) Akaganeite and schwertmannite: Spectral properties and geochemical implications of their possible presence on Mars. American Mineralogist, 100 (4) 738-746 doi:10.2138/am-2015-5016
Santofimia, E., López-Pamo, E., Montero, E. (2015) Selective precipitation of schwertmannite in a stratified acidic pit lake of Iberian Pyrite Belt. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (2) 497-513 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.2.23
Sestu, M., Navarra, G., Carrero, S., Valvidares, S. M., Aquilanti, G., Pérez-Lopez, R., Fernandez-Martinez, A. (2017) Whole-nanoparticle atomistic modeling of the schwertmannite structure from total scattering data. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 50 (6). 1617-1626 doi:10.1107/s160057671701336x
Localities for Schwertmannite
Showing 56 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.
Australia | |
| Harris et al. (2003) |
| Rob Fitzpatrick et al. (2010) |
Austria | |
| Schwertmann et al. (1996) |
Brazil | |
| Silva et al. (2021) |
Canada | |
| Färber (n.d.) |
| Moncur et al. (2015) |
China | |
| Liu et al. (2018) |
Czech Republic | |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
| Matýsek et al. (2023) |
| Jirásek et al. (2019) |
| Matýsek et al. (2022) |
| Kuttna +1 other reference |
| Pauliš | |
| Matýsek et al. (2024) |
Finland (TL) | |
| Bigham et al. (1994) |
Germany | |
| XRD analysis (T. Witzke) |
| Ullrich et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
Greenland | |
| T. P. Pedersen |
Hungary | |
| Király +1 other reference |
| Király |
| Collection of NHM |
Indian Ocean | |
| Hou et al. (2024) |
Italy | |
| Carbone (2005) +1 other reference |
| Galliano et al. (2022) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Nakamura & Akai (1999) |
| Kato +6 other references |
New Zealand | |
| Rodgers et al. (2000) |
Peru | |
| Smuda +4 other references |
| Diaby et al. (2006) |
Poland | |
| Siuda (2004) +1 other reference |
| Siuda (2001) | |
| Mochnacka et al. (2012) +1 other reference |
| Mochnacka et al. (2015) |
| Siuda (2014) |
Portugal | |
| Bobos +2 other references |
Romania | |
| Łukasz Kruszewski PXRD & pXRF analysis ... |
| Ł. Kruszewski & M. Cegiełka PXRD data +1 other reference | |
| Ł. Kruszewski visual identification |
Slovakia | |
| Pauliš et al. (2002) |
| Ďuďa R. et al. (1993) | |
| Ďuďa (1993) |
| Trtíková S. et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| Ďuda et al. (1996) |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Duda et. all. |
Spain | |
| Shuster et al. (2017) |
Taiwan | |
| James Huang |
USA | |
| T. P. Pedersen |
| Walder et al. (2004) |
| Desborough et al. (2010) |
| Cerato (2003) |
| Hammarstrom et al. (2003) |
| Hammarstrum et al. (2003) |
| U.S. Geological Survey/ U.s. Department ... |
| Coskren et al. (2000) |
| Hammarstrom et al. (1999) |
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