Sclarite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Sclarite
Charles B. Sclar
Formula:
Zn7(CO3)2(OH)10
May contain minor Mg and Mn replacing Zn.
Colour:
Colourless, light gray in aggregates
Lustre:
Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.51
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1989 by Joel Denison Grice and Pete J. Dunn in honor of Dr. Charles Bertram Sclar [March 16, 1925 Newark, New Jersey, USA - January 13, 2001 Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA], Professor of Geology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Dr. Sclar was a specialist in high pressure metamorphic petrology, was a chief scientist for researching the lunar petrology specimens collected by the Apollo missions, and was a researcher of the Franklin - Ogdensburg ore deposits.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
A very rare Zn carbonate.
At the type locality, sclarite occurs in small (<1mm) colorless crystals in cloudy grayish white crystal clusters. At low magnification, the sclarite appears smoothly spherical, but the crystals in the clusters distinctly project out of the spherical grouping at varying lengths. Spherical clusters of gray white to pale pink calcite/rhodochrosite are often present as are creamy white spherical clusters of Mineral F (Dunn, 1986). Sclarite has been observed only in the distinctive and essential association with fibrous lilac to purple-brown gageite crystals.
At the type locality, sclarite occurs in small (<1mm) colorless crystals in cloudy grayish white crystal clusters. At low magnification, the sclarite appears smoothly spherical, but the crystals in the clusters distinctly project out of the spherical grouping at varying lengths. Spherical clusters of gray white to pale pink calcite/rhodochrosite are often present as are creamy white spherical clusters of Mineral F (Dunn, 1986). Sclarite has been observed only in the distinctive and essential association with fibrous lilac to purple-brown gageite crystals.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3593
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3593:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
813aa2dc-c6f9-489d-b3cd-1b7f84128b50
IMA Classification of Sclarite
Approved
Approval year:
1988
First published:
1989
Classification of Sclarite
5.BA.30
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
16a.5.3.2
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Miscellaneous
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Miscellaneous
11.6.9
11 : Carbonates
6 : Carbonates of Zn and Cd
11 : Carbonates
6 : Carbonates of Zn and Cd
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sl | 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 Sclarite
Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, light gray in aggregates
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.51 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.55 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sclarite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.648 nβ = 1.664 nγ = 1.702
2V:
Measured: 63° to 67°, Calculated: 68°
Birefringence:
0.054
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.054
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
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Optical Extinction:
Y=b, X^c = 49°
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Sclarite
Mindat Formula:
Zn7(CO3)2(OH)10
May contain minor Mg and Mn replacing Zn.
May contain minor Mg and Mn replacing Zn.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Sclarite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 16.110 Å, b = 5.432 Å, c = 15.041 Å
β = 95.49°
β = 95.49°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.966 : 1 : 2.769
Unit Cell V:
1,310.19 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Flattened on {001}, elongated to {010}; Form {100} is generally small.
Comment:
A2/a
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001284 | Sclarite | Grice J D, Dunn P J (1989) Sclarite, a new mineral from Franklin, New Jersey, with essential octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated zinc: Description and structure refinement American Mineralogist 74 1355-1359 |  | 1989 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.51 Å | (100) |
| 5.23 Å | (20) |
| 3.75 Å | (40) |
| 3.63 Å | (50) |
| 3.53 Å | (40) |
| 3.398 Å | (20) |
| 3.277 Å | (<10) |
| 3.209 Å | (<10) |
| 2.934 Å | (20) |
| 2.807 Å | (<10) |
| 2.711 Å | (<10) |
| 2.671 Å | (<10) |
| 2.621 Å | (50) |
| 2.552 Å | (<10) |
| 2.500 Å | (40) |
| 2.440 Å | (10) |
| 2.334 Å | (20) |
| 2.281 Å | (30) |
| 2.216 Å | (<10) |
| 2.203 Å | (<10) |
| 2.150 Å | (20) |
| 2.119 Å | (20) |
| 2.082 Å | (<10) |
| 1.998 Å | (10) |
| 1.888 Å | (<10) |
| 1.882 Å | (<10) |
| 1.839 Å | (<10) |
| 1.817 Å | (10) |
| 1.790 Å | (<10) |
| 1.764 Å | (<10) |
| 1.744 Å | (<10) |
| 1.712 Å | (<10) |
| 1.697 Å | (<10) |
| 1.688 Å | (<10) |
| 1.659 Å | (<10) |
| 1.607 Å | (<10) |
| 1.597 Å | (<10) |
| 1.566 Å | (<10) |
| 1.549 Å | (<10) |
| 1.522 Å | (<10) |
| 1.494 Å | (<10) |
| 1.481 Å | (<10) |
| 1.468 Å | (<10) |
| 1.447 Å | (<10) |
| 1.442 Å | (<10) |
| 1.421 Å | (<10) |
| 1.384 Å | (<10) |
| 1.378 Å | (<10) |
| 1.359 Å | (<10) |
| 1.328 Å | (<10) |
| 1.312 Å | (<10) |
| 1.275 Å | (<10) |
| 1.269 Å | (<10) |
| 1.258 Å | (<10) |
Comments:
Grice, Joel D. and Dunn, Pete J. (1989) Sclarite, a new mineral from Franklin, New Jersey, with essential octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated zinc: Description and structure refinement, American Mineralogist, v. 74, p. 1355-1359.
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) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Sclarite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Tiny slender bladed crystals or spherules with terminations creating a rough surface.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, number 53777 (holotype).
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number B13671 (holotype).
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number B13671 (holotype).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Etched veinlets in willemite - franklinite ore without calcite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Grice, J.D. and Dunn, P.J. (1989) Sclarite, a new mineral from Franklin, New Jersey, with essential octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated zinc: Description and structure refinement. American Mineralogist: 74: 1355-1359.
Synonyms of Sclarite
Other Language Names for Sclarite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Sclarite associated with Gageite | Mn21(Si4O12)2O3(OH)20 |
| 2 photos of Sclarite associated with Chlorophoenicite | (Mn,Mg)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6 |
| 2 photos of Sclarite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 2 photos of Sclarite associated with UM1986-10-CO:ClHMgMnZn (also called Mineral F, Dunn, 1995) | Mg5(Zn,Mn)3(CO3)2(OH,Cl)12 · H2O |
| 1 photo of Sclarite associated with Leucophoenicite | Mn2+7(SiO4)3(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Sclarite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.BA.05 | Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Georgeite | [Cu(OH)2-x(H2O)x][CO3]x/2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Glaukosphaerite | (Cu,Ni)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Kolwezite | CuCo(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Mcguinnessite | (Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Nullaginite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Pokrovskite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Zincrosasite | (Zn,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Chukanovite | Fe2+2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Parádsasvárite | Zn2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Perchiazziite | Co2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.15 | Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| 5.BA.15 | Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| 5.BA.20 | Holdawayite | Mn6(CO3)2(OH)7(Cl,OH) |
| 5.BA.25 | Defernite | Ca6(CO3)1.58(Si2O7)0.21(OH)7[Cl0.50(OH)0.08(H2O)0.42] |
| 5.BA.25 | UM1977-03-COSiO:CaClH | Ca10-11(CO3)7(SiO4)Cl1-2(OH)1-2 |
| 5.BA.30 | Loseyite | (Mn2+,Zn,Mg)4Zn3(CO3)2(OH)10 |
Fluorescence of Sclarite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Not fluorescent
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 Sclarite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3593.html
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References for Sclarite
Localities for Sclarite
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.
Greece | |
| Schnorrer (2004) |
Poland | |
| Coppola et al. (2009) |
USA (TL) | |
| Dunn (1986) +1 other reference |
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Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA