Turtmannite Mineral Data
General Turtmannite Information
Chemical Formula:
(Mn,Mg)25.5[(V,As)O4]3(SiO4)3[AsO3]xO5-5x(OH)20+x
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 2,396.92 gm
Magnesium 2.54 % Mg 4.20 % MgO
Manganese 52.72 % Mn 68.07 % MnO
Vanadium 4.78 % V 8.54 % V2 O5
Silicon 3.52 % Si 7.52 % SiO2
Arsenic 3.28 % As 1.24 % As2 O3 / 3.60 % As2 O5
Hydrogen 0.84 % H 7.53 % H2 O
Oxygen 32.33 % O
______ ______
100.00 % 100.69 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:
Mn2+ 23 Mg2.5 (VO4 )2.25 (AsO4 )0.75 (SiO4 )3 (AsO3 )0.3 O3.5 (OH)20.03
Environment:
Manganoan paleokarst lenses in Triassic marbles metamorphosed to upper greenshist facies. Similar to mcgovernite; structure
IMA Status:
Approved IMA 2000 (Dana # Added)
Locality:
Barrhorn Unit (Central Alps) in the Triassic marbles near Turtmanntal, Valais, Switzerland. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
Named after the locality.
Turtmannite Image
Images:
Turtmannite
Comments: Orange-brownish grains of turtmannite in matrix.
Location: Pipji Glacier, Turtmanntal (Turtmann Valley), Wallis (Valais), Switzerland.
Scale: Picture size 4 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag
Turtmannite Crystallography
Axial Ratios:
a:c = 1:2.47003
Cell Dimensions:
a = 8.259, c = 20.4, Z = 1; V = 1,205.08 Den(Calc)= 3.30
Crystal System:
Trigonal - Hexagonal Scalenohedral H-M Symbol (3 2/m) Space Group: R 3 c
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 2.86(1), 1.559(0.9), 3.26(0.8), 4.13(0.7), 2.38(0.6), 3.46(0.6), 2.35(0.5),
Physical Properties of Turtmannite
Cleavage:
{0001} Perfect
Color:
Bright yellow, Orange.
Density:
3.6 - 4, Average = 3.8
Diaphaneity:
Transparent
Fracture:
Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.
Habit:
Anhedral Grains - Granular minerals without the expression of crystal shapes
Habit:
Micaceous - Platy texture with "flexible" plates.
Habit:
Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline).
Luster:
Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak:
colorless
Optical Properties of Turtmannite
Gladstone-Dale:
CI meas = 0.065 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas /KC ) CI calc = -0.077 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc /KC )
KPDcalc = 0.2385,KPDmeas = 0.2071,KC = 0.2215 Ncalc = 1.73 - 1.89
Optical Data:
Uniaxial (-), e=1.787.
Calculated Properties of Turtmannite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.62 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Turtmannite =3.80 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0044526019 Boson Index = 0.9955473981
Photoelectric:
PETurtmannite = 17.04 barns/electronU=PETurtmannite x r Electron Density= 61.62 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Turtmannite is Not Radioactive
Turtmannite Classification
Dana Class:
43.04.09.02 (43) Compound Phosphates, etc.
(43.04) (Anhydrous Compound Anions With Hydroxyl or Halogen)
(43.04.09) Mcgovernite Group
43.04.09.01 Mcgovernite Mn9Mg4Zn2As2Si2O17(OH)14 R 3 c 3 2/m
43.04.09.02 Turtmannite ! (Mn,Mg)25.5[(V,As)O4]3(SiO4)3[AsO3]xO5-5x(OH)20x R 3 c 3 2/m
Strunz Class:
08.BE.45 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
08.B - Phosphates, etc. with Additional Anions, without H2O
08.BE -With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
08.BE.45 Dixenite CuMn14Fe(AsO3)5(SiO4)2(AsO4)(OH)6 R 3 3
08.BE.45 Hematolite (Mn,Mg,Al)15(AsO3)(AsO4)2(OH)23 R 3 3
08.BE.45 Kraisslite (Mn,Mg)24Zn3Fe(AsO3)2(AsO4)3(SiO4)6(OH)18 P 63 22 6 2 2
08.BE.45 Mcgovernite Mn9Mg4Zn2As2Si2O17(OH)14 R 3 c 3 2/m
08.BE.45 Turtmannite ! (Mn,Mg)25.5[(V,As)O4]3(SiO4)3[AsO3]xO5-5x(OH)20x R 3 c 3 2/m
08.BE.45 Arakiite ! (Zn,Mn)(Mn,Mg)12(Fe,Al)2(AsO3)(AsO4)2(OH)23 Cc m
Other Turtmannite Information
References:
NAME( AmMin, Vol 86, p 1494-1505) PHYS. PROP.(AmMin, Vol 86, p 1494-1505) OPTIC PROP.(AmMin, Vol 86, p 1494-1505)
See Also:
Links to other databases for Turtmannite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - GeoScienceWorld
4 - Google Images
5 - Google Scholar
6 - MinDAT
7 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
8 - Online Mineral Museum
9 - QUT Mineral Atlas
10 - Ruff.Info
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Turtmannite
(Mn,Mg)25.5[(V,As)O4]3(SiO4)3[AsO3]xO5-5x(OH)20+x
Dana No: 43.04.09.02 Strunz No: 08.BE.45
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