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Yang, Hexiong, Gu, Xiangping, Downs, Robert T., Evans, Stanley H., Van Nieuwenhuizen, Jaco J., Lavinsky, Robert M., Xie, Xiande (2019) Meieranite, Na2Sr3MgSi6O17, a New Mineral from the Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa. The Canadian Mineralogist, 57 (4) 457-466 doi:10.3749/canmin.1800067

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Reference TypeJournal (article/letter/editorial)
TitleMeieranite, Na2Sr3MgSi6O17, a New Mineral from the Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa
JournalThe Canadian Mineralogist
AuthorsYang, HexiongAuthor
Gu, XiangpingAuthor
Downs, Robert T.Author
Evans, Stanley H.Author
Van Nieuwenhuizen, Jaco J.Author
Lavinsky, Robert M.Author
Xie, XiandeAuthor
Year2019 (July 15)Volume57
Issue4
PublisherMineralogical Association of Canada
Download URLhttps://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/CM57_457.pdf+
DOIdoi:10.3749/canmin.1800067Search in ResearchGate
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Mindat Ref. ID65576Long-form Identifiermindat:1:5:65576:1
GUID0
Full ReferenceYang, Hexiong, Gu, Xiangping, Downs, Robert T., Evans, Stanley H., Van Nieuwenhuizen, Jaco J., Lavinsky, Robert M., Xie, Xiande (2019) Meieranite, Na2Sr3MgSi6O17, a New Mineral from the Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa. The Canadian Mineralogist, 57 (4) 457-466 doi:10.3749/canmin.1800067
Plain TextYang, Hexiong, Gu, Xiangping, Downs, Robert T., Evans, Stanley H., Van Nieuwenhuizen, Jaco J., Lavinsky, Robert M., Xie, Xiande (2019) Meieranite, Na2Sr3MgSi6O17, a New Mineral from the Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa. The Canadian Mineralogist, 57 (4) 457-466 doi:10.3749/canmin.1800067
In(2019, July) The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 57 (4) Mineralogical Association of Canada
Abstract/NotesA new mineral species, meieranite, ideally Na2Sr3MgSi6O17, has been found in the Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. It occurs in isolated aggregates embedded in a matrix mainly of sugilite, along with minor aegirine and pectolite. Crystals of meieranite are up to 0.5 × 0.5 × 0.4 mm in size. No twinning is observed. The mineral is light blue to blue in transmitted and under incident lights, transparent with white streak, and has vitreous luster. It is brittle and has a Mohs hardness of 5.5; cleavage is good on {010} and no parting was observed. The measured and calculated densities are 3.41(3) and 3.410 g/cm3, respectively. Optically, meieranite is biaxial (–), with α = 1.610(1), β = 1.623(1), γ = 1.630(1) (white light), 2V (meas.) = 70(1)°, 2V (calc.) = 72°. The calculated compatibility index based on the empirical formula is –0.007 (superior). An electron microprobe analysis yields an empirical formula (based on 17 O apfu) of Na1.96(Sr2.91Ba0.03Ca0.03Pb0.02)Σ2.99(Mg0.62Mn0.28Co0.07Fe0.01)Σ0.98Si6.03O17, which can be simplified to Na2Sr3MgSi6O17.
Meieranite is orthorhombic, with space group P21nb and unit-cell parameters a 7.9380(2), b 10.4923(3), c 18.2560(6) Å, and V 1520.50(8) Å3. Its crystal structure is characterized by two kinds of layers that alternate along [010]: layers of corner-sharing SiO4 and M2+O4 tetrahedra (M2+ = Mg, Mn, Co, Fe) and layers of NaO6 and SrO8 polyhedra. The tetrahedral layers consist of eight-, five-, and four-membered rings and are composed of [Si6O17] ribbons (parallel to [101]) linked together by MO4 tetrahedra. Most remarkably, the structure of meieranite is topologically identical to that of the nordite group of minerals, which has the general chemical formula Na3SrR3+M2+Si6O17, where R = Ce and La and M = Zn, Fe, and Mn. Accordingly, chemically, meieranite may be obtained through the coupled substitution of 2Sr2+ for (Na+ + R3+) in nordite.

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Wessels Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa

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Meieranite

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LocalityMineral(s)
Wessels Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa Meieranite


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