Melanite
A variety of Andradite
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About Melanite
Formula:
Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
Colour:
Black
Name:
Named in 1799 by Abraham Gottlob Werner from the Greek μελανός ("melanos") for "black".
A black Ti-bearing (up to 11.5 mass% TiO2, but usually <~5 mass%) variety of Andradite.
There are probably solid solution series to schorlomite [Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2] and morimotoite [Ca3(TiFe2+)(SiO4)3], but note widely different formulae despite both being similar chemistry! Some Fe2+ may also substitute for Ca.
Note there are also additional substitutions involving Al, Mg, Mn and vacancies in the T-site (with OH for O charge balance).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Melanite.
There are probably solid solution series to schorlomite [Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2] and morimotoite [Ca3(TiFe2+)(SiO4)3], but note widely different formulae despite both being similar chemistry! Some Fe2+ may also substitute for Ca.
Note there are also additional substitutions involving Al, Mg, Mn and vacancies in the T-site (with OH for O charge balance).
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Melanite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7443 (as Melanite)
223 (as Andradite)
223 (as Andradite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7443:4 (as Melanite)
mindat:1:1:223:5 (as Andradite)
mindat:1:1:223:5 (as Andradite)
Similar Names
| Celanite | A synonym of 'Ceraltite' | |
| Malanite | A valid IMA mineral species | Cu+(Ir3+Pt4+)S4 |
| Malinite | A variety of | |
| Melinite | A synonym of 'Bole' | |
| Melliniite | A valid IMA mineral species | (Ni,Fe)4P |
| Mellonite | A synonym of Pseudocotunnite | |
| Melnöite | A rock subtype | |
| Melonite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | NiTe2 |
| Mullanite | A synonym of Boulangerite | |
| Mylonite | A rock classification type |
Pronunciation of Melanite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Melanite
Colour:
Black
Chemistry of Melanite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiO2 | 31.68 % | 34.2 % | 32.5 % | 36.6 % | 34.0 % |
| TiO2 | 9.44 % | 2.5 % | 11.2 % | 2.5 % | 9.7 % |
| Al2O3 | 7.09 % | 0.7 % | 0.7 % | 0.00 % | 0.00 % |
| Fe2O3 | 11.02 % | 29.2 % | 21.4 % | 29.1 % | 21.5 % |
| MnO | 0.12 % | ||||
| MgO | 1.23 % | 0.2 % | 1.0 % | ||
| CaO | 34.66 % | 33.6 % | 33.7 % | 31.3 % | 32.0 % |
| Cr2O3 | 0.57 % | ||||
| ZrO2 | 0.00 % | ||||
| Na2O | 4.15 % | ||||
| K2O | 0.57 % | ||||
| Total: | 100.53 % | 100.4 % | 100.5 % | 99.5 % | 97.2 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Ca3.04,Na0 · 66,K0.06,Mg0.15,Mn0.01)( Ti0.58,Al0.68,Fe3+0.68,Cr0.04)( Si2.59O12) |
| 2 | Ca3.03Fe3+1.84Ti0.18Al0.07Mg0.03Si2.88O12 |
| 3 | Ca2.99Fe3+1.33Ti0.70Al0.07Mg0.12Si2.69O12 |
| 4 | Ca2.81Fe3+1.83Ti0.16Si3.06O12 |
| 5 | Ca2.91Fe3+1.38Ti0.62Si2.89O12 |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flekkeren, Skien, Telemark, Norway | EMPA analysed garnet from a contact metamorphic limestone. | |
| 2 | Santa Rita Peak, San Benito County, California, USA | EMPA analysis of light yellow rims and pink or bluish pink cores from a serpentinite. | |
| 3 | " " | EMPA analysis of light yellow rims and pink or bluish pink cores from a serpentinite. | |
| 4 | California State Gem Mine, Santa Rita Peak, San Benito County, California, USA | EMPA analysis of light yellow rims and pink or bluish pink cores from a serpentinite. | |
| 5 | " " | EMPA analysis of light yellow rims and pink or bluish pink cores from a serpentinite. |
Synonyms of Melanite
Other Language Names for Melanite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 49 photos of Melanite associated with Perovskite | CaTiO3 |
| 28 photos of Melanite associated with Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| 20 photos of Melanite associated with Sanidine | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 19 photos of Melanite associated with Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 16 photos of Melanite associated with 'Cerium-bearing Vesuvianite' | (Ca,Na,◻)19(Al,Mg,Fe3+)13(◻,B,Al,Fe3+)5(Si2O7)4(SiO4)10(OH,F,O)10 |
| 14 photos of Melanite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 13 photos of Melanite associated with Titanite | CaTiO(SiO4) |
| 11 photos of Melanite associated with Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
| 9 photos of Melanite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 9 photos of Melanite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
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.
Melanite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Melanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7443.html
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References for Melanite
Reference List:
Piners, Μ. (1894) Ueber Topazolith und Melanit. Zeitschrift für Krystallographie, 22 (1-6). 479-496 doi:10.1524/zkri.1894.22.1.479
Howie, R. A., Woolley, A. R. (1968) The role of titanium and the effect of TiO2 on the cell-size, refractive index, and specific gravity in the andradite-melanite-schorlomite series. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (282) 775-790 doi:10.1180/minmag.1968.036.282.04
Huggins, Frank E., Virgo, David, Huckenholz, H. Gerhard (1977) Titanium-containing silicate garnets. II. The crystal chemistry of melanites and schorlomites. American Mineralogist, 62 (7-8) 646-665
Schwartz, Kenneth B., Nolet, Daniel A., Burns, Roger G. (1980) Mössbauer spectroscopy and crystal chemistry of natural Fe-Ti garnets. American Mineralogist, 65 (1-2) 142-153
Laverne, Christine (1987) Unusual occurrences of aegirine-augite, fassaite and melanite in oceanic basalts (DSDP Hole 504B) Lithos, 20 (2) 135-151 doi:10.1016/0024-4937(87)90003-x
Kühberger, A., Fehr, T., Huckenholz, H. G., Amthauer, G. (1989) Crystal chemistry of a natural schorlomite and Ti-andradites synthesized at different oxygen fugacities. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 16 (8) 734-740 doi:10.1007/bf00209694
Localities for Melanite
Showing 271 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.
Africa | |
| Dixey et al. (1937) +2 other references | |
Algeria | |
| apports des donnees radiometriques (K/Ar) +6 other references |
| Djeddi et al. (2021) |
Angola | |
| Lapido-Loureiro +1 other reference |
| Rodrigues +1 other reference |
Argentina | |
| Woolley (1987) |
Australia | |
| Brown (1930) +1 other reference |
| Edwards (1947) +3 other references |
| |
| Le Maitre (1975) |
| Jaques et al. (1986) +1 other reference |
Austria | |
| Exel (1993) |
Bolivia | |
| Schultz (2004) |
| Franco (2018) |
Botswana | |
| King (1955) |
Brazil | |
| Traversa et al. (2001) |
| Barbosa et al. (2020) |
| Vlach et al. (2018) |
| Guarino et al. (2021) | |
| Berger et al. (2009) +2 other references | |
| G Traversa et al (1994) +1 other reference |
| www.igc.usp.br (2003) |
Canada | |
| Peterson +7 other references |
| Pell (1994) |
| Nixon et al. (2002) |
| Jennifer Pell (1994) |
| Neill et al. (1983) | |
| Tappe et al. (2005) |
| Davidson (1970) |
| R. P. Sage (1988) |
| Berger et al. (2009) |
| Geological Association of Canada (2014) |
| Watkinson (1972) +1 other reference |
| Heaman et al. (2001) |
| Flanders et al. (eds.) +1 other reference |
Chile | |
| José Carlos Mañuz Sanz specimen |
China | |
| Wang et al. (2005) |
| Zhang Jinmin and Cao Zhengmin (1988) |
| Jiang (2005) |
| Wei et al. (2018) |
| Mu et al. (1988) +4 other references |
| Zhang et al. (2010) |
| Zongyao et al. (2005) |
| - (1978) |
| - (1978) +3 other references | |
| Yang et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
| Zhang et al. (Eds.) |
| Rubo Zhang et al. (2003) |
| Jiang et al. (2025) |
| Baiyou Chen et al. (2002) |
| Xu et al. (2022) | |
Colombia | |
| Arango Mejía et al. (2012) |
Czech Republic | |
| Beran (Ag, Au, Co) +2 other references |
| Ulrych +8 other references |
| Locality description |
| Ulrych (2000) |
DR Congo | |
| Edwards (1917) |
| Woolley et al. (1995) +4 other references |
| Denaeyer (1958) |
| Denaeyer (1958) |
| Denaeyer (1958) +5 other references | |
| Denaeyer (1958) +3 other references |
Egypt | |
| Mogahed (2016) |
Ethiopia | |
| Kabeta et al. (2024) |
France | |
| J. Aubouin |
| |
| Baret (1905) |
Germany | |
| Knop (1877) |
| Fricke (1988) | |
| Keller et al. (1995) |
| Knop (1877) | |
| Aufschluss 1988 (2) | |
| Weiß (1990) | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Fricke (1988) | |
| omnibus.uni-freiburg.de (n.d.) |
| in the collection of Ch.&H. Schäfer |
| in the collection of Christof Schäfer |
Greece | |
| Gilbert Gauthier |
| Tombros et al. (2007) |
Greenland | |
| Brooks et al. (1982, June) |
| www.koeln.netsurf.de (1999) |
Guinea | |
| Gerasimovskii et al. (Guinea) +7 other references |
India | |
| Suresh et al. (2010) |
| Deans et al. (1972) +9 other references |
| R. N. Sukheswala and S. F. Sethna (1967) | |
| Sukheswala et al. (1975) +6 other references | |
| Czygan et al. (Sukheswala Volume) +3 other references |
| Czygan et al. (Sukheswala Volume) +5 other references |
| Sukumaran (1983) +3 other references |
| Krishnamurthy (1985) +1 other reference |
| Mishra (1987) +4 other references |
| Ramasamy et al. (2013) |
Italy | |
| Comodi et al. (1999) |
| Barberi et al. (2001) | |
| Barberi et al. (2001) +1 other reference | |
| Barberi et al. (2001) +1 other reference | |
| Barberi et al. (2001) +1 other reference | |
| Arrigoni (1983) +1 other reference |
| Bortolozzi (n.d.) |
| Rath |
| Carati (1982) |
| M. Carati - Guida alla mineralogia ... | |
| Russo (2003) |
| Hamilton (1776) +28 other references | |
| Stoppani et al. (1982) |
| Fratangeli G. (1996) |
| Stoppani et al. (1982) |
| Della Ventura et al. (2006) |
| Del Caldo et al. (1973) +1 other reference | |
| Del Caldo et al. (1973) +1 other reference | |
| Klaproth (1810) +3 other references | |
| Stoppani et al. (1982) |
| Del Caldo et al. (1973) |
| Zambonini (1898) |
| Del Caldo (1971) +1 other reference | |
| Del Caldo (1971) +2 other references |
| Di Domenico Dario specimen |
| Stoppani et al. (1982) |
| Signoretti et al. (2001) |
| www.mindat.org (n.d.) |
| Cresta et al. (2002) |
| Burli et al. (2007) |
| Maida (2002) |
| Piccoli et al. (2007) |
| Barresi (1996) +1 other reference |
| Maletto et al. (1976) +2 other references |
| Stara (1990) |
| Ferretti et al. (2013) |
| De Michele (1974) |
| Liotti (1991) |
Ivory Coast | |
| Arnould (1961) +3 other references |
Japan | |
| Sawaki (1988) |
| - (n.d.) |
| Yamada (2004) | |
| - (n.d.) |
| - (n.d.) |
| - (n.d.) | |
| - (n.d.) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Kogarko et al. (1995) |
| Yaiba Sakaguchi |
| Richard Dale collection & prior Mindat ... | |
| |
| |
Kenya | |
| Binge (1962) |
| USGS Open-File Report 02–156–A +5 other references |
| Le Bas (1970) +1 other reference | |
| Pulfrey (1949) +4 other references | |
| Williams (1972) |
| Peterson (1989) | |
| Woolley (2001) |
| Rix (1973) +4 other references |
| Binge (1962) +4 other references |
Kosovo | |
| Altherr et al. (2004) +2 other references |
Madagascar | |
| Lacroix (1923) +1 other reference |
Malawi | |
| Garson |
| Garson (1963) +1 other reference |
| Mkango Resources | |
| Garson (1962) +3 other references | |
| Garson et al. (1958) +12 other references |
Mali | |
| |
| Currier et al. (2011) |
| Currier et al. (2011) | |
| Karel Bal Collection |
| Russ Rizzo specimens |
Mauritania | |
| Marsh et al. (2015) |
Mexico | |
| Yves Masson specimen. |
Morocco | |
| Bea et al. (2013) |
| Several analyzed "schorlomite" ... |
| Barral (2015) |
| JÉRÉMINE (1955) +1 other reference |
| Gentil +4 other references |
Namibia | |
| Gunthorpe et al. (1986) |
| Prins +5 other references |
| Jour Pet 39:2123-2136. +7 other references |
Nepal | |
| Lasserre et al. (1977) +2 other references |
Norway | |
| Heldal +29 other references | |
| Årtveit (2014) |
| Mitchell (1980) | |
| Andersen et al. (1993) |
| Jamtveit et al. (1997) |
| Zozulya et al. (2018) |
| Sturt et al. (1965) +1 other reference | |
| Sturt (1961) +12 other references | |
| Larsen (1988) |
Pacific Ocean | |
| Laverne (1983) +1 other reference | |
| Christine Laverne et al. (2006) |
Pakistan | |
| Siddiqui et al. (1968) +2 other references |
| Kempe et al. (1980) |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Smith (1972) |
Paraguay | |
| Woolley (1987) |
Peru | |
| Stewart (1971) |
Russia | |
| Lennikov et al. (2004) |
| Dvorani (2016) |
| Zaitsev et al. (2004) |
| ... |
| Phillip Betancourt |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Okrugin et al. (2023) |
| Sharygin et al. (2010, September) | |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
Solomon Islands | |
| Mineralogical Magazine |
South Africa | |
| USGS Open-File Report 02–156–A |
Spain | |
| Coello et al. (92) +9 other references |
| Barrera J.L. et al. (1981) | |
| Barrera J.L. et al. (1981) +1 other reference | |
| |
| Monchi Mine | |
| Minerales de la Región de Murcia +1 other reference |
| Calvo et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
Sri Lanka | |
| Ceylon Aluvial Mine (Book, Co. 2002) |
Sweden | |
| Kresten et al. (1977) +1 other reference |
| Kresten +40 other references |
| |
Switzerland | |
| Romani (2000) +1 other reference |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| |
| Stalder et al. (1998) | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Bracke (n.d.) |
| Bracke (n.d.) | |
Taiwan | |
| |
| ... | |
Tanzania | |
| |
Turkey | |
| Keller et al. (1972) +11 other references |
| Özkan et al. (Kayseri, Turkey) |
| Otlu et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| Otlu et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Sabine (1952) +2 other references |
| Sabine (1952) +3 other references |
| Shand (1910) +38 other references | |
| Shand (1910) | |
| Livingstone (2002) | |
| Shand (1910) +1 other reference | |
| Phemister (1926) +5 other references | |
| Flett (1900) +7 other references |
USA | |
| - (2008) |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| Eby et al. (2025) |
| Heathcote et al. (1989) +1 other reference | |
| Erickson +2 other references |
| Flohr et al. (1989) | |
| W. S. Wise (2006) |
| McAllister (1955) +2 other references |
| McAllister (1955) +2 other references |
| Betts (n.d.) |
| |
| www.mineralsocal.org (1999) |
| Rob Lavinsky (ex. David Bristol specimen) | |
| Phillip Betancourt | |
| Am Min 51:381-387 | |
| Bolander et al. (1950) +4 other references | |
| www.mineralsocal.org (1999) | |
| Pabst (1951) +6 other references | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Larsen (1942) +1 other reference | |
| Dana (1877) |
| A differentiated alkaline intrusion +1 other reference |
| Phillip Betancourt |
| Milton et al. (1950) |
| Rock Currier |
| Peter Chin | |
| Rock Currier | |
| Rutgers Univ. Bull. #5 |
| Manchester (1931) | |
| joseph Hyde Pratt and Joseph Volney Lewis (1905) |
| Cannon (1975) |
| Cannon (1975) |
Parco Chigi, Ariccia, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio, Italy