Ferrihydrite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Ferrihydrite
Formula:
Fe3+10O14(OH)2
Previously given as Fe3+5O3(OH)9.
Colour:
dark brown, yellow-brown
Specific Gravity:
3.96
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
For the chemical composition (hydrated ferric iron oxide).
Co-Type Localities:
Isostructural with:
The Fe analogue of akdalaite.
A poorly crystalline nanomineral built up of about 20% (FeO4) and 80% (FeO6) polyhedra. It forms by rapid oxidation and hydrolysis, and exists in varying degrees of structure disorder; the two extremes are the so-called 2-line and 6-line ferrihydrites (distinguished by their X-ray powder diffraction patterns). It is a metastable nanomineral precursor to other minerals, e.g. hematite, goethite. There are no known deposits of ferrihydrite before the Pleistocene.
Two structure models have been proposed: the "f-phase" model and the "akdalaite" model; the first one seems to be correct (Paktunc et al., 2013).
Some lichen (e.g., Pertusaria corallina, Stereocaulon vulcani) may induce ferrihydrite formation on lava flows and basalt- and gabbro- hosted olivine and also on augite (see Burford et al., 2003).
The iron bacteria, especially Gallionella ferruginea, Leptothrix ochracea and Toxothrix trichogenes create ferrihydrite as a waste product of their metabolism.
A poorly crystalline nanomineral built up of about 20% (FeO4) and 80% (FeO6) polyhedra. It forms by rapid oxidation and hydrolysis, and exists in varying degrees of structure disorder; the two extremes are the so-called 2-line and 6-line ferrihydrites (distinguished by their X-ray powder diffraction patterns). It is a metastable nanomineral precursor to other minerals, e.g. hematite, goethite. There are no known deposits of ferrihydrite before the Pleistocene.
Two structure models have been proposed: the "f-phase" model and the "akdalaite" model; the first one seems to be correct (Paktunc et al., 2013).
Some lichen (e.g., Pertusaria corallina, Stereocaulon vulcani) may induce ferrihydrite formation on lava flows and basalt- and gabbro- hosted olivine and also on augite (see Burford et al., 2003).
The iron bacteria, especially Gallionella ferruginea, Leptothrix ochracea and Toxothrix trichogenes create ferrihydrite as a waste product of their metabolism.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1493
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1493:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
302b6c6b-9dfa-4294-8b2e-6074a8623f05
IMA Classification of Ferrihydrite
Approved
Approval year:
1971
First published:
1973
Classification of Ferrihydrite
4.FE.35
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
E : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
E : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
4.3.2.2
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
7.20.9
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
20 : Oxides of Fe
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
20 : Oxides of Fe
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fhy | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Fhy | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Ferrihydrite
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
dark brown, yellow-brown
Streak:
yellow-brown
Density:
3.96 g/cm3 (Measured)
Comment:
Synthesized material
Chemistry of Ferrihydrite
Mindat Formula:
Fe3+10O14(OH)2
Previously given as Fe3+5O3(OH)9.
Previously given as Fe3+5O3(OH)9.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Ferrihydrite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.08 Å, c = 9.4 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.85
Unit Cell V:
210.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.
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
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012028 | Ferrihydrite | Jansen E, Kyek A, Schafer W, Schwertmann U (2002) The structure of six-line ferrihydrite Applied Physics A74 S1004-S1006 | 2002 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012029 | Ferrihydrite | Jansen E, Kyek A, Schafer W, Schwertmann U (2002) The structure of six-line ferrihydrite Applied Physics A74 S1004-S1006 | 2002 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.50 Å | (100) |
| 2.21 Å | (80) |
| 1.96 Å | (80) |
| 1.48 Å | (80) |
| 1.51 Å | (70) |
| 1.72 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 14 : Hot springs, geysers, and other subaerial geothermal minerals | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
| 42 : Sea-floor Mn nodules | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] | |
| 47i : [Terrestrial weathering of meteorites] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 48 : Soil leaching zone minerals | <0.6 |
| 49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Geological Setting:
Cold-water springs, Mine workings, warm subsea springs, warm water seabed, thermal springs, thermal water in brooks, rivers and lakes.
Type Occurrence of Ferrihydrite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
As poorly crystalline spheres, to 50 µm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Vernadsky Geological Musem, Moscow, 51508; A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 76642.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Chukhrov, F.V., Zvyagin, B.B., Gorshkov, A.I., Yermilova, L.P., Balashova, V.V. (1973) Ferrihydrite. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geologicheskaya: 1973(4): 23-33.
Synonyms of Ferrihydrite
Other Language Names for Ferrihydrite
Varieties of Ferrihydrite
| Arsenical ferrihydrite | As-bearing variety. Relatively common as a weathering product of arsenopyrite. |
| Melanosiderite | Melanosiderite was described by Cooke (1875) as a hydrated basic ferric silicate. Examination of a specimen from the type locality and corresponding to the original description (BM66908), by energy-dispersive microanalysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ra... |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Ferrihydrite associated with Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| 3 photos of Ferrihydrite associated with Vivianite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 2 photos of Ferrihydrite associated with Millerite | NiS |
| 1 photo of Ferrihydrite associated with Dussertite | BaFe3+3(AsO4)(AsO3OH)(OH)6 |
| 1 photo of Ferrihydrite associated with Fougèrite | Fe2+4Fe3+2(OH)12[CO3] · 3H2O |
| 1 photo of Ferrihydrite associated with Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 1 photo of Ferrihydrite associated with Chalcotrichite | Cu2O |
| 1 photo of Ferrihydrite associated with Brochantite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 |
| 1 photo of Ferrihydrite associated with Feroxyhyte | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Ferrihydrite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.FE.05 | Amakinite | Fe2+(OH)2 |
| 4.FE.05 | Brucite | Mg(OH)2 |
| 4.FE.05 | Portlandite | Ca(OH)2 |
| 4.FE.05 | Pyrochroite | Mn(OH)2 |
| 4.FE.05 | Theophrastite | Ni(OH)2 |
| 4.FE.10 | Bayerite | Al(OH)3 |
| 4.FE.10 | Doyleite | Al(OH)3 |
| 4.FE.10 | Gibbsite | Al(OH)3 |
| 4.FE.10 | Nordstrandite | Al(OH)3 |
| 4.FE.15 | Böhmite | AlO(OH) |
| 4.FE.15 | Lepidocrocite | γ-Fe3+O(OH) |
| 4.FE.20 | Grimaldiite | CrO(OH) |
| 4.FE.20 | Heterogenite | Co3+O(OH) |
| 4.FE.25 | Feitknechtite | Mn3+O(OH) |
| 4.FE.25 | Lithiophorite | (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2 |
| 4.FE.30 | Quenselite | PbMnO2(OH) |
| 4.FE.40 | Feroxyhyte | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 4.FE.40 | Vernadite | (Mn4+,Fe3+,Ca,Na)(O,OH)2 · nH2O |
| 4.FE.45 | Quetzalcoatlite | Zn6Cu3(TeO6)2(OH)6 · AgxPbyClx+2y |
| 4.FE.50 | Fuettererite | Pb3Cu2+6Te6+O6(OH)7Cl5 |
Other Information
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 Ferrihydrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1493.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Ferrihydrite
Reference List:
Localities for Ferrihydrite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Algeria | |
| Greshake (1997) +1 other reference |
Antarctica | |
| Ling et al. (2015) |
| Barczuk A. & Tatur A. 2003: BIOGENIC ... |
| Barczuk et al. (2003) | |
Arctic Ocean | |
| Murdmaa et al. (2000) | |
| Sahlström et al. (2022) |
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Dekov et al. (2010) | |
| Bogdanov et al. (2008) |
| Bogdanov et al. (2008) | |
| Lartaud et al. (2011) |
| Bogdanov et al. (2008) |
| Bogdanov et al. (2008) | |
| Bogdanov et al. (2008) | |
Australia | |
| McQueen +2 other references |
| Parbhakar-Fox (2016) |
| Parbhakar-Fox (2016) | |
| D. J. Barber & R. Hutchinson (1991) |
Austria | |
| Schnorrer et al. (2002) |
Brazil | |
| Spier et al. (2008) |
| Waber (1991) |
Canada | |
| MONCUR et al. (2015) |
| Battler et al. (2013) |
| Izawa et al. (2011) |
China | |
| Zhiwei Bao (2001) |
| Zhian Qin (1999) |
Czech Republic | |
| RÜSENBERG et al. (1996) |
| Matýsek et al. (2023) |
| Jirásek J et al. (2019) |
| Dalibor Matýsek |
Egypt | |
| Treiman et al. (1991) |
| Fleischer M (1973) | |
Finland | |
| Schwertmann |
France | |
| L. P. Keller & Peter R. Buseck (1990) |
| Gautier et al. (2006) |
| Lheur et al. (1998) |
| Kazushige Tomeoka & Peter R. Buseck (1988) |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Nieding (1990) |
| Dill et al. (2008) |
| Gröbner et al. (2011) |
| |
| D. Pawlowski: "Mineralfundstellen im Sauerland" (Munich) |
| Bender et al. (1994) |
| Joan Rosell - RosellMinerals |
| Mineralien Welt 15 Jg Heft 2-2004and 19 ... | |
| Lapis 30 (7/8) |
| Weiß (1990) |
Greece | |
| Schnorrer-Köhler et al. (1988) |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Gelaude et al. (1996) | |
| Kanellopoulos et al. (2018) |
| Altherr et al. (2013) |
| Fleischer M (1973) |
Hungary | |
| Bujtor et al. (2024) |
India | |
| Berlin et al. (2007) |
Indian Ocean | |
| Maciąg et al. (2019) | |
| Linsy et al. (2023) |
Indonesia | |
| Dani Lukman Hakim (2016) |
Italy | |
| Lee et al. (1996) +2 other references |
| E. Dinelli (1998) +2 other references |
| Nevini et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Ko Jansen |
| Muenchener Micromounter-Lithothek |
| Menchetti et al. (2015) |
Japan | |
| Kazue (2000) |
| Kato +6 other references |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Pekov (1998) |
Mexico | |
| Canet et al. (2005) |
Nazca Plate | |
| Zawadzki et al. (2022) | |
New Zealand | |
| Haffert et al. (2010) |
| Haffert et al. (2010) |
| Haffert et al. (2010) | |
| Haffert et al. (2010) |
| Haffert et al. (2010) |
Pacific Ocean | |
| Glasby et al. (2006) |
| Novikov et al. (2006) |
| Schwarz-Schampera et al. (2007) |
| Schwarz-Schampera et al. (2007) | |
| Novikov et al. (2006) |
Papua New Guinea | |
| Moss et al. (2001) |
| R Moss 2000. GEOCHEMISTRY AND ... | |
| Pichler et al. (1999) |
Poland | |
| Musiał J. 1996: Results of preliminary ... |
| Mateusz Dulski et al. (2018) |
| Siuda (2001) |
| Siuda (2004) |
| Nejbert et al. (2013) |
| Cabała +4 other references |
Portugal | |
| De los Ríos et al. (2011) |
Red Sea | |
| Parnell +2 other references | |
Russia | |
| Sharygin +9 other references |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) | |
| Goryunov et al. (2023) |
| Goryunov et al. (2023) | |
| Petrov (2005) |
Saudi Arabia | |
| Surour (2015) |
Slovakia | |
| Majzlan J. |
Spain | |
| Pascual +1 other reference |
Turkey | |
| Goryunov et al. (2023) |
Turkmenistan | |
| Fleischer M (1973) |
| Lebedev et al. (1983) | |
UK | |
| Jarvis |
| Norman Wilson personal collection |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| EDX Analysis (02/12/2022) |
| Treiman et al. (1993) |
| - (n.d.) |
| O.P. Bricker et al. (2004) |
| Cerato |
| Gnanou (2018) |
| Gnanou (2018) | |
| Gnanou (2018) |
| New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook +1 other reference |
| Borden et al. (2008) |
| U.S. Geological Survey/ U.s. Department ... |
| S.G. Gordon |
| William B. White – Cave sediments and ... |
| Hammarstrom et al. (2000) |
162173 Ryugu | |
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Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany