Sicklerite Mineral Data

Sicklerite Mineral Data +

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General Sicklerite Information

Chemical Formula:

Li(Mn++,Fe+++)PO4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 157.08 gm

Lithium 4.42 % Li 9.51 % Li₂O

Manganese 26.23 % Mn 33.87 % MnO

Iron 8.89 % Fe 11.43 % FeO

Phosphorus 19.72 % P 45.18 % P₂O₅

Oxygen 40.74 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

LiMn²⁺_0.75Fe²⁺_0.25(PO₄)

Environment:

Granitic pegmatites.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1912

Locality:

Stuart mine, Queen Mountain, Pala, San Diego Co., California. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the discoverer of the Pala pegmatite deposits, Sickler.

Sicklerite Image

Images:

Sicklerite Lithiophilite

Comments: Mottled tan-green-pink massive sicklerite with dark brown lithiophilite on quartz.
Location: Custer Mountain Lode, Custer County, South Dakota, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Sicklerite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5909:1:0.4763

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.9468, b = 10.0631, c = 4.7935, Z = 4; V = 286.86 Den(Calc)= 3.64

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pmnb

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.971(1), 2.495(0.75), 3.497(0.4),

Physical Properties of Sicklerite

Cleavage:

[100] Good

Color:

Dark brown, Yellow.

Density:

3.4 - 3.45, Average = 3.42

Diaphaniety:

Opaque

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Cleaveable - Easily cleaved into fragments.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

4 - Fluorite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Earthy (Dull)

Streak:

light ochre brown

Optical Properties of Sicklerite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.103 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.038 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2076,KPDmeas= 0.2207,KC= 0.2001

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.715-1.74, b=1.735-1.77, g=1.745-1.83, bire=0.0300-0.0900, 2V(Calc)=68-74, 2V(Meas)=60-90. Dispersion relatively strong.

Pleochroism (x):

colorless or deep red.

Pleochroism (y):

colorless or pale red.

Pleochroism (z):

colorless or very pale red.

Calculated Properties of Sicklerite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.49 gm/cc
note: r_Sicklerite=3.64 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00539
Boson Index = 0.99461

Photoelectric:

PE_Sicklerite= 10.44 barns/electron
U=PE_Sicklerite x r_electron= 36.41 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Sicklerite is Not Radioactive

Sicklerite Classification

Dana Class:

38.1.4.2 (38)Anhydrous Phosphates, etc

(38.1)A+ B++ XO4

(38.1.4)Dana Group

38.1.4.1 Ferrisicklerite Li(Fe,Mn)PO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

38.1.4.2 Sicklerite Li(Mn,Fe)PO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

VII/A.02-40 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/A - Waterfree phosphates [PO4]3- without unfamiliar anions. cations of medium size: Mostly Fe, Mn

VII/A.02 - Simferrite - Natrophilite series

VII/A.02-05 Simferite Li(Mg,Fe,Mn)2(PO4)2 Pbnm,Pbn21 Ortho

VII/A.02-10 Triphylite LiFePO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-20 Lithiophilite LiMnPO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-30 Ferrisicklerite Li(Fe,Mn)PO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-40 Sicklerite Li(Mn,Fe)PO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-50 Heterosite FePO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-60 Purpurite MnPO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-70 Maricite NaFePO4 Pmnb 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/A.02-80 Natrophilite NaMnPO4 Pnam 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Sicklerite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Ford32)

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Sicklerite

Li(Mn++,Fe+++)PO4
Dana No: 38.1.4.2 Strunz No: VII/A.02-40
Locality:

Notes: