Caryopilite

Caryopilite (synonymous with ectropite and ektropite)[5] is a brown-colored mineral with formula (Mn2+,Mg)3Si2O5(OH)4. The mineral was discovered in 1889 from a mine in Sweden. It was named for the Greek words for walnut and felt in reference to its appearance.

Caryopilite
Brown crust of caryopilite on rhodochrosite
General
CategoryPhyllosilicate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		(Mn2+,Mg)3Si2O5(OH)4[1]
IMA symbolCpl[2]
Strunz classification9.ED.15
Dana classification71.1.2b.1
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classDomatic (m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupCm
Unit cella = 5.66 Å,
b = 9.81 Å,
c = 7.52 Å,
β = 104.52°; Z = 2[1]
Identification
Formula mass3 to 3.5
ColorReddish brown, tan
Light brown to yellow in thin section[1]
CleavagePerfect on {001}[1]
LusterVitreous[3]
StreakLight Brown[3]
DiaphaneitySemitransparent[1]
Density2.83–2.94 (measured)[1]
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 1.606 to 1.620
nβ = 1.632 to 1.650
nγ = 1.632 to 1.650
Birefringenceδ = 0.026 to 0.030
2V angle~0°[1]
DispersionWeak
References[4][5]

Description

Caryopilite is reddish-brown to tan in color naturally; in thin sections, it is light brown to yellow. The mineral occurs as tabular pseudohexagonal crystals, commonly as rosettes, up to 4 millimeters (0.16 in). It can also be stalactitic, reniform with a concentrically radiating structure, or have massive habit.[1]

The mineral forms as a product of metamorphism in manganese-bearing minerals. Caryopilite has been found in association with brandtite, calcite, gonyerite, jacobsite, lead, manganoan calcite, rhodonite, sarkinite, tirodite.[1]

Structure

Caryopilite consists of triangular islands formed by tetrahedra rings coordinated with sheets containing octahedrally coordinated manganese. The crystal structure shows some short-range order, but linkages between islands are fully disordered. Thus, no unit cell can truly be defined.[6]

History

In 1889, caryopilite was discovered from the Harstigen Mine in Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden.[5] Hamberg identified it as a new mineral and, on the suggestion of Professor Brögger, named it karyopilit. The name is derived from the Greek words κάρυον or "walnut", in reference to the mineral's brown color and crystal habit, and πΐλος or "felt", for its appearance under a microscope.[7]

In 1917, Gust Flink discovered a mineral he named ectropite (also spelled ektropite) that was most closely related to caryopilite.[8] In 1927, after a new specimen of bementite was discovered that appeared almost identical to caryopilite, it was recommended that caryopilite be invalidated as a mineral species.[9] However, a 1964 study determined that what had been known as bementite was actually a mixture of two different minerals. Bementite and caryopilite were redefined as distinct species, and caryopilite was made equivalent to ectropite.[10] These changes were accepted by a large majority of the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names.[11]

In 1980, a study suggested that caryopilite be assigned to the friedelite group rather than the serpentine group.[12]

Distribution

As of 2012, caryopilite has been found in Austria, Canada, China, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, the UK, and the US.[5]

References
  1. "Caryopilite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  2. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  3. "Caryopilite". Webmineral. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  4. Mineralienatlas
  5. "Caryopilite". Mindat. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  6. Guggenheim, p. 163
  7. Hamberg, p. 27.
  8. Chemical Abstracts Service (1917). Chemical abstracts, Volume 11. American Chemical Society. p. 2650.
  9. Pardee, J. T.; Larsen Jr, E. S.; Steiger, George (April 1922). "Discredited Species" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 7 (4): 76.
  10. Kato, Toshio (March–April 1964). "Redefinition of Bementite and Caryopilite" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 49 (3 & 4): 446–447.
  11. Villarroel, H.; Joel, N. (1967). "International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names" (PDF). Mineralogical Magazine. 36 (277): 133 & 135. Bibcode:1967MinM...36..131.. doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
  12. Peacor, Donald R.; Essene, Eric J. (March–April 1980). "Caryopilite—a member of the friedelite rather than the serpentine group" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 65 (3 & 4): 335–339.

Bibliography

Media related to Caryopilite at Wikimedia Commons

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