Carpholite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Carpholite
Formula:
Mn2+Al2(Si2O6)(OH)4
Colour:
Yellow
Lustre:
Silky
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
2.935 - 3.031
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
The name is given to the Greek words for "straw" and "stone", because of the color.
Carpholite-Ferrocarpholite Series.
Structurally related to magbasite.
Pale varieties are visually similar to davreuxite.
Structurally related to magbasite.
Pale varieties are visually similar to davreuxite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
909
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:909:8
Similar Names
| Cryphiolite | A synonym of Wagnerite |
IMA Classification of Carpholite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Mn2+Al2Si2O6(OH)4
First published:
1817
Classification of Carpholite
9.DB.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
B : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; Pyroxene-related minerals
65.1.5.1
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
1 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=2
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
1 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=2
16.16.5
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
16 : Aluminosilicates of Mn
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
16 : Aluminosilicates of Mn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Car | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Cph | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Car | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
Physical Properties of Carpholite
Silky
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Yellow
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{010}
{010}
Density:
2.935 - 3.031 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.07 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Carpholite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.61 nβ = 1.628 nγ = 1.63
2V:
Calculated: 67°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.020
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:
High (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:
relatively strong
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X = Y = pale yellow; Z = colorless.
Chemistry of Carpholite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+Al2(Si2O6)(OH)4
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Ti,Fe,V,Zn,Mg,Ca,Na,K
Crystallography of Carpholite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Ccca
Setting:
Ccca
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.83 Å, b = 20.31 Å, c = 5.13 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.681 : 1 : 0.253
Unit Cell V:
1,440.95 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Twinning:
{100}
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Display Options
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Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
Stop | Start
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Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0007105 | Carpholite | Basso R, Cabella R, Lucchetti G, Martinelli A, Palenzona A (2005) Vanadiocarpholite, Mn2+V3+Al(Si2O6)(OH)4, a new mineral from the Molinello mine, northern Apennines, Italy European Journal of Mineralogy 17 501-507 | 2005 | Molinello mine, northern Apennines, Italy | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001265 | Carpholite | Ghose S, Sen Gupta P K, Boggs R C, Schlemper E O (1989) Crystal chemistry of a nonstoichiometric carpholite, Kx(Mn2-x,Lix)Al4Si4O12(OH)4F4: A chain silicate related to pyroxenes American Mineralogist 74 1084-1090 |  | 1989 | Sawtooth batholith, Idaho, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0014762 | Carpholite | Lindemann W, Wogerbauer R, Berger P (1979) Die kristallstruktur von karpholith (Mn0.97Mg0.08FeII0.07)(Al1.90FeIII0.01)Si2O6(OH)4 Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1979 282-287 | 1979 | Schlaggenwald, Bohemia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0017756 | Carpholite | Naumova I S, Pobedimskaya E A, Belov N V (1974) Crystal structure of carpholite MnAl2(Si2O6)(OH)4 Kristallografiya 19 1155-1160 | 1974 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.73 Å | (100) |
| 5.08 Å | (70) |
| 2.620 Å | (50) |
| 3.46 Å | (30) |
| 3.04 Å | (30) |
| 3.39 Å | (20) |
| 2.761 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 39 : High-? metamorphism (blueschist, eclogite, ultrahigh ? facies) |
Type Occurrence of Carpholite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Technische Universität, Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany, 103027-103038.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In low-grade metamorphosed shales.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Carpholite
Dutch:Carpholiet
German:Karpholith
Strohstein
Strohstein
Russian:Карфолит
Simplified Chinese:纤锰柱石
Traditional Chinese:纖錳柱石
Relationship of Carpholite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Carpholite Group:
| Ferrocarpholite | Fe2+Al2Si2O6(OH)4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
| Magnesiocarpholite | MgAl2Si2O6(OH)4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
| Potassiccarpholite | K(Mn2+,Li)2Al4Si4O12(OH,F)8 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
| Vanadiocarpholite | Mn2+V3+Al(Si2O6)(OH)4 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ccca |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 24 photos of Carpholite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 13 photos of Carpholite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 5 photos of Carpholite associated with Sursassite | Mn2+2Al3(SiO4)(Si2O7)(OH)3 |
| 4 photos of Carpholite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 3 photos of Carpholite associated with Alabandite | MnS |
| 3 photos of Carpholite associated with 'Jasper' | |
| 2 photos of Carpholite associated with Dickite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 2 photos of Carpholite associated with Palenzonaite | (NaCa2)Mn2+2(VO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Carpholite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 1 photo of Carpholite associated with Native Sulphur | S8 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DB.05 | Potassiccarpholite | K(Mn2+,Li)2Al4Si4O12(OH,F)8 |
| 9.DB.05 | Vanadiocarpholite | Mn2+V3+Al(Si2O6)(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Magnesiocarpholite | MgAl2Si2O6(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Ferrocarpholite | Fe2+Al2Si2O6(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.05 | Balipholite | BaLiMg2Al3(Si2O6)2(OH)4 |
| 9.DB.10 | Lorenzenite | Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3 |
| 9.DB.15 | Punkaruaivite | LiTi2(HSi4O12)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.DB.15 | Lintisite | LiNa3Ti2(Si2O6)2O2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DB.17 | Eliseevite | LiNa1.5Ti2(H1.5Si4O12)O2 · 2H2O |
| 9.DB.20 | Kukisvumite | Na6ZnTi4(Si8O24)O4 · 4H2O |
| 9.DB.20 | Manganokukisvumite | Na6MnTi4(Si8O24)O4 · 4H2O |
| 9.DB.25 | Vinogradovite | Na4Ti4(Si2O6)2[(Si,Al)4O10]O4 · (H2O,Na,K)3 |
| 9.DB.25 | Paravinogradovite | Na1-2(Ti,Fe3+)4(Si2O6)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)4 · H2O |
| 9.DB.30 | Nchwaningite | Mn2+2(SiO3)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 9.DB.40 | Shattuckite | Cu5(Si2O6)2(OH)2 |
| 9.DB.40 | 'UM2005-31-SiO:CuH' | Cu11(SiO4)(OH)18 · 9H2O (?) |
| 9.DB.45 | Aerinite | (Ca5.1Na0.5)(Fe3+,Al,Fe2+,Mg)4(Al,Mg)6[HSi12O36(OH)12][(CO3)1.2(H2O)12] |
| 9.DB.50 | Capranicaite | KCaNaAl4B4Si2O18 |
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.
Internet Links for Carpholite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-909.html
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References for Carpholite
Reference List:
Kingsbury, Arthur W. G., Hartley, J. (1957) Carpholite from Cumberland and Cornwall. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 31 (237). 502 doi:10.1180/minmag.1957.031.237.15
Ghose, Subrata, Gupta, P. K. Sen, Boggs, Russell C., Schlemper, E. O. (1989) Crystal chemistry of a nonstoichiometric carpholite, Kx(Mn2-xLix)Al4Si4O12(OH)4F4: A chain silicate related to pyroxenes. American Mineralogist, 74 (9-10) 1084-1090
Localities for Carpholite
Showing 42 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.
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Krásno, Sokolov District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic