Falottaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Falottaite
Formula:
MnC2O4 · 3H2O
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
1.924 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named for the type locality, Falotta mine, Switzerland.
Dehydrates slowly (over several months) under ambient conditions to form the dihydrate lindbergite (Gröbner & Nikoleizig, 2009; Graeser & Gabriel, 2016). The originally colourless and transparent crystals turn white and opaque during the dehydration process. Stability studies of synthetic Mn oxalates indicate a dehydration temperature of about 30°C (Huizing et al., 1977).
Can also be created by fungi (A. niger) grown with hausmannite.
Known as a synthetic compound.
Can also be created by fungi (A. niger) grown with hausmannite.
Known as a synthetic compound.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
43915
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:43915:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
e7c60b11-9882-4c1a-84e7-a7be69ea5912
IMA Classification of Falottaite
Approved
Approval year:
2013
First published:
2016
Classification of Falottaite
10.AB.X
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
A : Salts of organic acids
B : Oxalates
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 |
---|---|---|
Flt | 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 Falottaite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
1.924 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Falottaite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 1.460 nγ = 1.560
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Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.100
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:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Falottaite
Mindat Formula:
MnC2O4 · 3H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Falottaite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.527(5) Å, b = 6.626(2) Å, c = 9.783(6) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.589 : 1 : 1.476
Unit Cell V:
682.4 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Elongated along c and flattened on b with main forms {010}, {100}, and {101} modified by minor {210} and {10.1.10}.
Twinning:
Common, unknown law.
Comment:
Space Group: Pcaa.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
6.630 Å | (100) |
6.630 Å | (60) |
3.801 Å | (90) |
3.153 Å | (80) |
2.959 Å | (60) |
2.697 Å | (60) |
2.622 Å | (70) |
2.122 Å | (60) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Falottaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Well formed colorless ship-like crystals up to 1 × 0.5 mm, on quartz crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum Basel, Basel, Switzerland, specimen number S69
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alpine metamorphism of manganese ores. Then, presumably reaction of humus and oxalic acids (from plants) with those manganese minerals.
Reference:
Graeser, G., Gabriel, W. (2016) Falottait (MnC2O4)·3H2O) - ein neues Oxalat-Mineral aus den Schweizer Alpen. Schweizer Strahler: 50(3): 20-27.
Synonyms of Falottaite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Falottaite associated with Lindbergite | Mn2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
10.AB. | Deveroite-(Ce) | Ce2(C2O4)3 · 10H2O |
10.AB. | Uroxite | [(UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2] · H2O |
10.AB. | Andreybulakhite | Ni(C2O4) · 2H2O |
10.AB. | Edwindavisite | Cu(C2O4)(NH3) |
10.AB.05 | Humboldtine | Fe2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
10.AB.05 | Lindbergite | Mn2+(C2O4) · 2H2O |
10.AB.05 | Katsarosite | Zn(C2O4) · 2H2O |
10.AB.10 | Glushinskite | Mg(C2O4) · 2H2O |
10.AB.15 | Moolooite | Cu(C2O4) · nH2O |
10.AB.20 | Stepanovite | NaMgFe3+(C2O4)3 · 8-9H2O |
10.AB.25 | Minguzzite | K3Fe3+(C2O4)3 · 3H2O |
10.AB.30 | Wheatleyite | Na2Cu(C2O4)2 · 2H2O |
10.AB.35 | Zhemchuzhnikovite | NaMgAl(C2O4)3 · 8H2O |
10.AB.40 | Weddellite | Ca(C2O4) · (2.5-x)H2O |
10.AB.45 | Whewellite | Ca(C2O4) · H2O |
10.AB.47 | Fiemmeite | Cu2(C2O4)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
10.AB.50 | Caoxite | Ca(C2O4) · 3H2O |
10.AB.50 | Middlebackite | Cu2C2O4(OH)2 |
10.AB.52 | Metauroxite | (UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2 |
10.AB.55 | Oxammite | (NH4)2(C2O4) · H2O |
10.AB.60 | Natroxalate | Na2(C2O4) |
10.AB.60 | Phoxite | (NH4)2Mg2(C2O4)(PO3OH)2(H2O)4 |
10.AB.60 | Carboferriphoxite | [(NH4)K(H2CO3)][Fe3+(HPO4)(H2PO4)(C2O4)] |
10.AB.60 | Ferriphoxite | [(NH4)2K(H2O)][Fe3+(HPO4)2(C2O4)] |
10.AB.65 | Coskrenite-(Ce) | (Ce,Nd,La)2(C2O4)(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
10.AB.70 | Levinsonite-(Y) | (Y,Nd,La)Al(C2O4)(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
10.AB.75 | Zugshunstite-(Ce) | (Ce,Nd,La)Al(C2O4)(SO4)2 · 12H2O |
10.AB.80 | Novgorodovaite | Ca2(C2O4)Cl2 · 2H2O |
Fluorescence of Falottaite
None
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Without protection, crystals become milky white and opaque in a few months, dehydrating into lindbergite.
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 Falottaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-43915.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Falottaite
Reference List:
Atencio, Daniel, Coutinho, José M.V., Graeser, Stefan, Matioli, Paulo A., Menezes Filho, Luiz A.D. (2004) Lindbergite, a new Mn oxalate dihydrate from Boca Rica mine, Galiléia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and other occurrences. American Mineralogist, 89 (7) 1087-1091 doi:10.2138/am-2004-0721
Localities for Falottaite
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.
Germany | |
| Gröbner et al. (2009) |
Italy | |
| Franco Luca Bonino et al. (2023) |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Atencio et al. (2004) +3 other references |
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Varenche Mine, Saint-Barthélemy, Nus, Aosta Valley, Italy