Named in honor of Dr. Irmgard Abs-Wurmbach (19 December 1938 - 8 April 2020), Institut für Mineralogie, Ruhr Universität, Bochum, Germany, in recognition of her research on braunite.

Co-Type Localities:

ⓘ Mili, Dirfys-Messapia, Euboea, Central Greece, Greece
ⓘ Apikia, Vasiliko Mountain, Andros, South Aegean, Greece

Forms a series with braunite. The third approved Cu-Mn silicate mineral, as such somewhat similar to dixenite and stavelotite-(La).

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:9:7

GUID
(UUID V4):

befbce36-2949-4a16-a3df-07b5844bb1e2

IMA Classification of AbswurmbachiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

Cu²⁺Mn³⁺₆O₈(SiO₄)

Approval year:

1990

First published:

1991

Type description reference:

Reinecke T, Tillmanns E, Bernhardt H J (1991) Abswurmbachite, Cu2+Mn3+6[O8/SiO4], a new mineral of the braunite group: natural occurrence, synthesis, and crystal structure. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 163, 117-143

Classification of AbswurmbachiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

9.AG.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
G : Nesosilicates with additional anions; cations in > [6] +- [6] coordination

Dana 8th ed.:

7.5.1.4

7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
5 : (AB)₂X₃

Hey's CIM Ref.:

14.18.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
18 : Silicates of Mn and Na, K, Mg, Ca or Fe

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Abs	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 AbswurmbachiteHide

Lustre:

Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Black

Streak:

Brownish black

Hardness:

6½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₂₅=870 - 950 kg/mm² - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

None Observed

Density:

4.96 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of AbswurmbachiteHide

Anisotropism:

Weak

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁	R₂	^imR₁	^imR₂
470nm	20.8%	21.2%	7.54%	7.88%
546nm	19.6%	20.0%	6.87%	7.16%
589nm	19.2%	19.7%	6.56%	6.92%
650nm	18.7%	19.2%	6.24%	6.58%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 21.2%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red, ^imR₁ shown in green, ^imR₂ shown in blue

Colour in reflected light:

Gray

Internal Reflections:

None

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of AbswurmbachiteHide

Mindat Formula:

CuMn³⁺₆(SiO₄)O₈

Elements listed:

Cu, Mn, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Fe,(Al,Ti,Cu,Mg,Ca)

Crystallography of AbswurmbachiteHide

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal

Space Group:

I4₁/acd

Cell Parameters:

a = 9.406 Å, c = 18.546 Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 1.972

Unit Cell V:

1640.82 Å³

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0014719	Abswurmbachite	Reinecke T, Tillmanns E, Bernhardt H J (1991) Abswurmbachite, CuMn6[O8/SiO4], a new mineral of the braunite group: natural occurrence, synthesis, and crystal structure Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 163 117-143		1991		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Abswurmbachite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Reinecke T'
'Tillmanns E'
'Bernhardt H J'
_journal_name_full 'Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen'
_journal_volume 163 
_journal_year 1991
_journal_page_first 117
_journal_page_last 143
_publ_section_title
;
 Abswurmbachite, CuMn6[O8/SiO4], a new mineral of the braunite
 group: natural occurrence, synthesis, and crystal structure
;
_database_code_amcsd 0014719
_chemical_formula_sum '(Mn6.44 Cu.56) Si O12'
_cell_length_a 9.406
_cell_length_b 9.406
_cell_length_c 18.546
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 1640.817
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      4.934
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'I 41/a c d'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/4-y,3/4-x,3/4+z'
  '3/4-y,1/4-x,1/4+z'
  '1/4+y,3/4+x,3/4-z'
  '3/4+y,1/4+x,1/4-z'
  '1/4+y,3/4-x,1/4-z'
  '3/4+y,1/4-x,3/4-z'
  '1/4-y,3/4+x,1/4+z'
  '3/4-y,1/4+x,3/4+z'
  '1/2+x,-y,z'
  '+x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,y,-z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2-z'
  '+x,1/2+y,-z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,1/2-y,+z'
  '1/4+y,1/4+x,1/4+z'
  '3/4+y,3/4+x,3/4+z'
  '1/4-y,1/4-x,1/4-z'
  '3/4-y,3/4-x,3/4-z'
  '1/4-y,1/4+x,3/4-z'
  '3/4-y,3/4+x,1/4-z'
  '1/4+y,1/4-x,3/4+z'
  '3/4+y,3/4-x,1/4+z'
  '-x,y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,+z'
  'x,-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Mn1   0.00000   0.25000   0.12500   0.84000   0.01659
Cu1   0.00000   0.25000   0.12500   0.16000   0.01659
Mn2   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.94000   0.00646
Cu2   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.06000   0.00646
Mn3   0.25000   0.21001   0.00000   0.92000   0.00608
Cu3   0.25000   0.21001   0.00000   0.08000   0.00608
Mn4   0.22789   0.02210   0.62500   0.94000   0.00633
Cu4   0.22789   0.02210   0.62500   0.06000   0.00633
Si   0.00000   0.25000   0.37500   1.00000   0.00507
O1   0.14360   0.84700   0.94400   1.00000   0.01165
O2   0.14810   0.06650   0.05660   1.00000   0.00861
O3   0.07630   0.13240   0.92530   1.00000   0.00861

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.475 Å	(10)
2.702 Å	(100)
2.350 Å	(15)
1.663 Å	(10)
1.416 Å	(10)
1.402 Å	(10)

Comments:

Synthetic compound lines: 1.651 instead of 1.663 (30); additional: 2.13 (15), 1.459 (14); not present or intensity-low: 3.475, 1.416

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits

Geological Setting:

In very low-grade, high-pressure metamorphic Mn, Al-rich quartzites.

Type Occurrence of AbswurmbachiteHide

Co-Type Localities:

ⓘ Mili, Dirfys-Messapia, Euboea, Central Greece, Greece
ⓘ Apikia, Vasiliko Mountain, Andros, South Aegean, Greece

General Appearance of Type Material:

Anhedral grains to 50 microns.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Institute for Mineralogy, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA

Geological Setting of Type Material:

In very low-grade, high pressure metamorphic quartzites

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Tenorite	Sursassite	Shattuckite	Rutile	Quartz
Piemontite	Hollandite	Clinochlore	Ardennite

Reference:

Synonyms of AbswurmbachiteHide

IMA1990-007

Other Language Names for AbswurmbachiteHide

Czech:Abswurmbachit

Dutch:Abswurmbachiet

German:Abswurmbachit

Italian:Abswurmbachite

Latvian:Absvurmbahīts

Russian:Абсвюрмбахит

Spanish:Abswurmbachita

Relationship of Abswurmbachite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Braunite Group

Other Members of this group:

Braunite	Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₆(SiO₄)O₈	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
Braunite-II	CaMn³⁺₁₄(SiO₄)O₂₀	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
Gatedalite	ZrMn²⁺₂Mn³⁺₄SiO₁₂	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
Neltnerite	CaMn³⁺₆(SiO₄)O₈	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.AG.	Ivanyukite-Na-T	Na₂Ti₄(SiO₄)₃(OH)O₃ · 7H₂O	Trig. 3m : R3m
9.AG.	Ivanyukite-Na-C	Na₂Ti₄(SiO₄)₃(OH)₂O₂ · 6H₂O	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
9.AG.	Edgrewite	Ca₉(SiO₄)₄F₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AG.	Aluminotaipingite-(CeCa)	(Ce₆Ca₃)◻Al(SiO₄)₃[SiO₃(OH)]₄F₃	Trig. 3m : R3c
9.AG.02	Gatedalite	ZrMn²⁺₂Mn³⁺₄SiO₁₂	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
9.AG.2	Skogbyite	Zr(Mg₂Mn³⁺₄)SiO₁₂	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
9.AG.05	Braunite	Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₆(SiO₄)O₈	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
9.AG.05	Neltnerite	CaMn³⁺₆(SiO₄)O₈	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
9.AG.05	Braunite-II	CaMn³⁺₁₄(SiO₄)O₂₀	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
9.AG.10	Långbanite	Mn²⁺₄Mn³⁺₉Sb⁵⁺O₁₆(SiO₄)₂	Trig. 3m : P3m1
9.AG.12	Taipingite-(CeCa)	(Ce₇Ca₂)◻Mg(SiO₄)₃[SiO₃(OH)]₄F₃	Trig. 3m : R3c
9.AG.15	Malayaite	CaSn(SiO₄)O	Mon. 2/m
9.AG.15	Titanite	CaTi(SiO₄)O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AG.15	Vanadomalayaite	CaV⁴⁺(SiO₄)O	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.AG.15	Natrotitanite	(Na_0.5Y_0.5)Ti(SiO₄)O	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.AG.15	Żabińskiite	Ca[Al_0.5(Ta,Nb)_0.5)](SiO₄)O	Tric. 1
9.AG.20	Cerite-(CeCa)	(Ce₇Ca₂)◻Mg(SiO₄)₃(SiO₃OH)₄(OH)₃	Trig. 3m : R3c
9.AG.20	Ferricerite-(LaCa)	(La₆Ca₃)◻Fe³⁺(SiO₄)₃(SiO₃OH)₄(OH)₃	Trig. 3m : R3c
9.AG.20	Aluminocerite-(CeCa)	(Ce₆Ca₃)◻Al(SiO₄)₃[SiO₃(OH)]₄(OH)₃	Trig. 3m : R3c
9.AG.20	Nipeiite-(Ce)	Ce₉Fe³⁺(SiO₄)₆[SiO₃(OH)](OH)₃	Trig. 3m : R3c
9.AG.25	Trimounsite-(Y)	Y₂Ti₂(SiO₄)O₅	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AG.25	Yftisite-(Y)	(Y,Dy,Er)₄(Ti,Sn)(SiO₄)₂O(F,OH)₆
9.AG.25	Mieite-(Y)	Y₄Ti(SiO₄)₂O[F,(OH)]₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
9.AG.30	Sitinakite	KNa₂Ti₄(SiO₄)₂O₅(OH) · 4H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4₂/mcm
9.AG.35	Kittatinnyite	Ca₂Mn₂Mn(SiO₄)₂(OH)₄ · 9H₂O	Hex.
9.AG.40a	Natisite	Na₂Ti(SiO₄)O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m)
9.AG.40b	Paranatisite	Na₂Ti(SiO₄)O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmma
9.AG.45	Törnebohmite-(Ce)	Ce₂Al(SiO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AG.45	Törnebohmite-(La)	La₂Al(SiO₄)₂(OH)
9.AG.50	Kuliokite-(Y)	Y₄Al(SiO₄)₂(OH)₂F₅	Tric. 1 : P1
9.AG.50	Ivanyukite-Na	Na₂Ti₄(SiO₄)₃(OH)₂O₂ · 6H₂O	Trig. 3m : R3m
9.AG.50	Ivanyukite-K	K₂Ti₄(SiO₄)₃(OH)₂O₂ · 9H₂O	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
9.AG.50	Ivanyukite-Cu	CuTi₄(SiO₄)₃(OH)₂O₂ · 7H₂O	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
9.AG.50	Hydroxyledgrewite	Ca₉(SiO₄)₄(OH)₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.AG.52	Ulfanderssonite-(Ce)	(Ce₁₅Ca)_Σ16Mg₂(SiO₄)₁₀(SiO₃OH)(OH,F)₅Cl₃	Mon. m : Bm
9.AG.55	Chantalite	CaAl₂(SiO₄)(OH)₄	Tet. 4/m : I4₁/a
9.AG.60	Mozartite	CaMn³⁺(SiO₄)(OH)	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
9.AG.60	Vuagnatite	CaAl(SiO₄)(OH)	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
9.AG.65	Hatrurite	Ca₃(SiO₄)O	Trig.
9.AG.70	Jasmundite	Ca₁₁(SiO₄)₄O₂S	Tet. 4 2m : I4m2
9.AG.75	Afwillite	Ca₃(HSiO₄)₂ · 2H₂O	Mon. m : Bb
9.AG.80	Bultfonteinite	Ca₂(HSiO₄)F · H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
9.AG.85	Zoltaiite	BaV⁴⁺₂V³⁺₁₂(SiO₄)₂O₁₉	Trig. 3 : P3
9.AG.90	Tranquillityite	(Fe²⁺,Ca)₈(Zr,Y)₂Ti₃(SiO₄)₃O₁₂	Hex.

Other InformationHide

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 AbswurmbachiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-9.html
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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for AbswurmbachiteHide

Reference List:

Reinecke, T., Tillmanns, E., Bernhardt, H.J. (1991) Abswurmbachite, Cu²⁺Mn³⁺₆[O₈/SiO₄], a new mineral of the braunite group: natural occurrence, synthesis, and crystal structure. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 163: 117-143.

Jambor, John L. (1992) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 77 (5-6) 670-675

Mandarino, Joseph A. (1997) New Minerals 1990-1994. The Mineralogical Record Inc., Tuscon, Arizona. 220pp.

Anthony, John W., Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. - Eds. (2016) Handbook of Mineralogy. https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/

(2023) Abswurmbachite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for AbswurmbachiteHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- 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.


Greece (TL)
Central Greece Euboea Dirfys-Messapia ⓘ Mili (TL)	Reinecke et al. (1991)
South Aegean Andros Vasiliko Mountain ⓘ Apikia (TL)	Reinecke et al. (1991)

Japan
Ehime Prefecture Shikokuchuo City ⓘ Iyomishima	The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed)
ⓘ Sanbagawa metamorphic belt	... +1 other reference

Abswurmbachite