Sussexite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Sussexite
Formula:
Mn2+BO2(OH)
Colour:
White, lilac / lavender, black (perhaps due to alteration or inclusions), also golden-brown; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Silky, Dull, Earthy
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.30
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1868 by George Jarvis Brush after the type localities in Sussex County, New Jersey, USA (location of the Franklin and Sterling Hill orebodies). The name was not explicitly stated to be for "Sussex County" in print, but the understanding was probally known informally and for obvious reasons.
Often fibrous to acicular. At the type localities, often found in fine-grained cherty masses varying in color from pale purple, lilac, lavender, or rose pink or in white to tan fibrous veins. Sussexite-Szaibélyite Series. The manganese analogue of Szaibélyite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Sussexite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3834
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3834:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
2d549a9e-204e-4cf8-9d65-7c804cf2e4ac
IMA Classification of Sussexite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1868
Classification of Sussexite
6.BA.15
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
25.2.1.1
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : Diborates
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : Diborates
9.7.4
9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn
9 : Borates
7 : Borates 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.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Ssx | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Sussexite
Silky, Dull, Earthy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White, lilac / lavender, black (perhaps due to alteration or inclusions), also golden-brown; colourless in transmitted light
Comment:
May be orange due to zincite inclusions
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal, Fibrous
Density:
3.30 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.43 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sussexite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.670 nβ = 1.728 nγ = 1.732
2V:
Measured: 25°
Birefringence:
0.062
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.062
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Chemistry of Sussexite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+BO2(OH)
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Mg
Crystallography of Sussexite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
2 2 2 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
P21 21 2
Setting:
P21 21 2
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.70 Å, b = 12.77 Å, c = 3.25 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.838 : 1 : 0.255
Unit Cell V:
444.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Veinlets and masses with a felted or matted fibrous structure; also parallel-fibrous or transverse-fibrous veinlets. Chert-like masses. Microscopically observed as minute laths or flattened fibers.
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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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0015408 | Sussexite | Hoffmann C, Armbruster T (1995) Crystal structure of a (001) twinned sussexite Mn2B2O4(OH)2 from the Kalahari Manganese Field South Africa Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 75 123-133 | 1995 | Nchwaning II Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
6.32 Å | (100) |
5.33 Å | (20) |
4.14 Å | (30) |
3.95 Å | (30) |
3.43 Å | (40) |
3.32 Å | (40) |
3.11 Å | (40) |
3.01 Å | (10) |
2.889 Å | (20) |
2.744 Å | (80) |
2.672 Å | (40) |
2.616 Å | (40) |
2.478 Å | (80) |
2.404 Å | (40) |
2.257 Å | (40) |
2.129 Å | (40) |
2.050 Å | (30) |
1.973 Å | (20) |
1.912 Å | (10) |
1.861 Å | (30) |
1.832 Å | (30) |
1.788 Å | (60) |
1.742 Å | (40) |
1.695 Å | (30) |
1.649 Å | (30) |
1.629 Å | (30) |
1.614 Å | (10) |
1.563 Å | (30) |
1.543 Å | (30) |
1.517 Å | (30) |
1.506 Å | (20) |
1.489 Å | (10) |
1.457 Å | (10) |
1.438 Å | (20) |
1.408 Å | (20) |
1.388 Å | (20) |
1.369 Å | (40) |
1.332 Å | (20) |
1.313 Å | (20) |
Comments:
ICDD 13-599 (Gonzen, Switzerland); series with szaibelyite
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) |
Type Occurrence of Sussexite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Fibrous, sometimes asbestiform.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, 3.1072.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 124356.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 124356.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal veinlets traversing Precambrian metamorphosed Zn-Mn-Fe orebody (Franklin, NJ).
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Brush, G.J. (1868) On sussexite, a new borate from Mine Hill, Franklin Furnace, Sussex Co., New Jersey. American Journal of Science and Arts: 96: 240-243.
Other Language Names for Sussexite
Relationship of Sussexite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
58 photos of Sussexite associated with Zincite | ZnO |
39 photos of Sussexite associated with Willemite | Zn2SiO4 |
35 photos of Sussexite associated with Franklinite | Zn2+Fe3+2O4 |
28 photos of Sussexite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
21 photos of Sussexite associated with Pyrochroite | Mn(OH)2 |
8 photos of Sussexite associated with Hetaerolite | ZnMn2O4 |
7 photos of Sussexite associated with Alleghanyite | Mn2+5(SiO4)2(OH)2 |
7 photos of Sussexite associated with Mooreite | Mg9◻2Mn2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)26 · 8H2O |
6 photos of Sussexite associated with Sarkinite | Mn2+2(AsO4)(OH) |
5 photos of Sussexite associated with Fluoborite | Mg3(BO3)(F,OH)3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
6.BA.05 | Suanite | Mg2[B2O5] |
6.BA.10 | Clinokurchatovite | Ca(Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)[B2O5] |
6.BA.10 | Kurchatovite | Ca(Mg,Mn2+)[B2O5] |
6.BA.15 | Szaibélyite | MgBO2(OH) |
6.BA.20 | Wiserite | (Mn2+,Mg)14(B2O5)4(OH)8 · (Si,Mg)(O,OH)4Cl |
Fluorescence of Sussexite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Franklin material (Mg-rich variety) [cm-1]: 3560, 3515, 2890w, 2770w, 2585w, 2490, 2355sh, 2015w, 1895w, 1461sh, 1443s, 1361s, 1275sh, 1261s, 1225s, 993, 967, 826, 702s, 688, 674, 620s, 530, 514, 467w, 441, 401, 380
Notes:
Slowly soluble in acids.
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 Sussexite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3834.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Sussexite
Reference List:
Palache, C. (1928) Mineralogical notes on Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey. American Mineralogist, 13 (7) 297-329 (Bauer analysis)
Frondel, Clifford, Ito, Jun (1965) Sussexite from Sterling Hill, New Jersey. American Mineralogist, 50 (3-4) 502-503
Localities for Sussexite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Pring et al. (1992) +1 other reference |
Austria | |
| Postl (2000) |
France | |
| Le Règne Minéral 47: 5-21 |
| De Ascenção Guedes et al. (2002) |
Italy | |
| Pipino (1984) |
Japan | |
| 加藤昭 (1980) +1 other reference |
| Dr. Matsuo Nambu collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan) |
| Masutomi Museum specimen (Kyoto) +1 other reference |
| 加藤昭 (1980) +1 other reference |
加藤昭 (1980) | |
| Akira Kato (undated manuscript) |
| 加藤昭 (1980) |
Namibia | |
| Dunn (1991) |
North Korea | |
| Dana 7:II::323 |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu et al. (2015) |
Russia | |
| Старикова (2011) |
South Africa | |
| Von Bezing (1991) +1 other reference |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
USA | |
| Rocks & Minerals: 58: 111 & 62: 166. +1 other reference |
| Morris Jr. (1983) |
| Palache (1935) +2 other references |
Palache (1930) | |
Palache (1935) | |
| Palache (1935) |
| Frondel et al. (1965) +1 other reference |
Peter Chin | |
| Bullock (1981) |
Bullock (1981) | |
| Kearns et al. (2004) |
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