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Ferro-holmquistite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
◻Li2(Fe2+3Al2)(Si8O22)(OH)2
The holmquistite group comprises orthorhombic amphiboles in the lithium amphibole subgroup.

Holmquistite is defined with Fe2+>Mg and Al>Fe3+ in the C position.
The type material is Mg-rich.
Colour:
Black, dark-violet, light sky-blue.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5 - 6
Specific Gravity:
3.145 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For its relationship to holmquistite.
Ferro-holmquistite forms a series with holmquistite. Like holmquistite, ferro-holmquistite is almost exclusively formed in the reaction zone between Li-pegmatites and their host rock, predominantly as a metasomatic alteration product of pre-existing amphiboles. Quéméneur and Lagache(1994) show a significant variation of Fe content in holmquistite from different localities and they suggest that the holmquistite minerals retain their Fe/Mg ratio from the original amphibole.

Ferro-holmquistite is under-reported in the literature, as both ferro-holmquistite and holmquistite are often referred to as holmquistite.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
8957
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:8957:5

Similar NamesHide

Ferri-holmquistite◻{Li2}{Mg3Fe23+}(Si8O22)(OH)2

IMA Classification of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

IMA status:
Approved
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
IMA Formula:
◻Li2(Fe2+3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2
Approval year:
2004
First published:
2005
Approval history:
Redefined IMA 2012 s.p.

Classification of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
9.DD.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
D : Inosilicates with 2-periodic double chains, Si4O11; Orthoamphiboles

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

Physical Properties of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Black, dark-violet, light sky-blue.
Streak:
Light bluish-violet. White with a sky-blue tinge (?)
Hardness:
5 - 6 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.145 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.628 nβ = 1.646 nγ = 1.651
2V:
Calculated: 55.1°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.023
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
c = X, with the optic axial plane coinciding with (010).
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
α = colorless, β = pale violet-blue, γ = blue to deep violet.

Chemistry of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Mindat Formula:
◻Li2(Fe2+3Al2)(Si8O22)(OH)2

The holmquistite group comprises orthorhombic amphiboles in the lithium amphibole subgroup.

Holmquistite is defined with Fe2+>Mg and Al>Fe3+ in the C position.
The type material is Mg-rich.
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O45.385 %
Si26.556 %
Fe19.802 %
Al6.378 %
Li1.641 %
H0.238 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Al, Fe, H, Li, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Setting:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 18.287 Å, b = 17.68 Å, c = 5.278 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.034 : 1 : 0.299
Unit Cell V:
1706.45 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Prismatic crystals.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0003812Ferro-holmquistiteCamara F, Oberti R (2005) The crystal-chemistry of holmquistites: Ferroholmquistite from Greenbushes (Western Australia) and hints for compositional constraints in B-Li amphiboles American Mineralogist 90 1167-117620050293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
8.1128 Å(100)
3.0047 Å(10)
1.5818 Å(7)
2.7095 Å(5)
Comments:
Greenbushes Mine, Western Australia, Australia. The data are from Camara and Oberti (2005).

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
34 : Complex granite pegmatites

Type Occurrence of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Greenbushes Mine, Greenbushes tinfield, Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire, Western Australia, Australia
General Appearance of Type Material:
Elongated black to bluish-violet prismatic crystals, typically in the range 0.2–0.5 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum of the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universita di Pavia #2004-01
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
A(K0.01Na0.01)B(Li1.88Mg0.08Na0.03Fe2+ 0.01) C(Al1.89Fe2+ 1.70Mg1.39Mn2+ 0.02) TSi8.00O22(OH1.97F0.03)
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
SiO259.37 %
TiO20.03 %
Al2O311.86 %
Cr2O30 %
MgO7.32 %
CaO0.03 %
MnO0.18 %
Fe2O30 %
FeO15.14 %
ZnO0.02 %
Na2O0.17 %
K2O0.03 %
F0.07 %
Cl0.01 %
Li2O3.46 %
H2O2.19 %
Total:99.88 %
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Lithium-rich granite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AlbiteBiotiteGarnet GroupNative TinQuartz
'Scapolite'TourmalineZircon

Synonyms of Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Other Language Names for Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Relationship of Ferro-holmquistite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Holmquistite Root Name Group > Lithium Amphibole Subgroup > w(OH,F,Cl)-dominant Amphibole Group > Amphibole Supergroup
Other Members of Holmquistite Root Name Group:
Ferro-ferri-holmquistite◻Li2(Fe2+3Fe3+2)(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmma
Holmquistite◻Li2(Mg3Al2)(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.DD.05Suenoite◻Mn2+2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.DD.05Proto-ferro-anthophyllite◻Fe2+2Fe2+5(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.DD.05Proto-ferro-suenoite◻Mn2+2(Fe2+5)(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.DD.05PapikeiteNaMg2(Mg3Al2}(Al3Si5O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.DD.05Gedrite◻Mg2(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.DD.05Holmquistite◻Li2(Mg3Al2)(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.DD.05'Sodic-anthophyllite'{Na}{Mg2}{Mg5}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2Orth.
9.DD.05'Sodic-ferro-anthophyllite'NaFe2+2Fe2+5(AlSi7O22)(OH)2Orth.
9.DD.05Ferro-papikeiteNaFe2+2(Fe2+3Al2)(Si5Al3O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.DD.05Ferro-anthophyllite◻Fe2+2Fe2+5(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.DD.05Proto-anthophyllite◻Mg2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
9.DD.05Ferro-gedrite◻Fe2+2(Fe2+3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.DD.05'Ferri-holmquistite'◻{Li2}{Mg3Fe3+2}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DD.05Ferro-ferri-holmquistite◻Li2(Fe2+3Fe3+2)(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmma
9.DD.05Anthophyllite◻Mg2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma

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 Ferro-holmquistiteHide

References for Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Localities for Ferro-holmquistiteHide

Showing 2 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.
Australia (TL)
 
  • Western Australia
    • Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire
      • Greenbushes tinfield
Camara et al. (2005)
Brazil
 
  • Minas Gerais
    • Nazareno
Quéméneur et al. (1994)
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