Bustamite
The mineral Bustamite is a rarely occurring chain silicate from the wollastonite group. It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system with the chemical composition Ca3 (Mn, Ca) 3 [ Si3O9 ] 2 and usually develops prismatic to tabular crystals or needle-like, but also to massive fibrous mineral aggregates from pink to red-brown color with white stroke color.
Special Features
Under long-wave UV light show some Bustamite a pink to magenta red fluorescence, similar to that of neon-colored highlighters.
Etymology and history
Was first discovered Bustamite in the " Franklin Mine" in Sussex County of the U.S. state of New Jersey and described in 1826 by Alexandre Brongniart, of the minerals by the Mexican General Anastasio Bustamante ( 1780-1853 ) named.
Classification
In the now outdated but still in use 8th edition of the mineral classification by Strunz the Bustamite belonged to the mineral class of " silicates and Germanates " and then to the Department of " chain silicates and phyllosilicates ( inosilicates ) " where he, along with Cascandit, Denisovite, Ferrobustamit Foshagite, Jennit, Pectolite, Serandit, Vistepit, wollastonite 1A and wollastonite -2M formed a distinct group.
The 9th edition valid since 2001 and of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA ) used the Strunz'schen Mineral classification assigns the Bustamite also in the class of " silicates and Germanates " and there in the department of " chains and chain silicates ( inosilicates ) " one. This division, however, is further subdivided according to the type of chain formation, so that the mineral is " with 3- periodic single and multiple chains chains and chain silicates " to find according to its structural design in the subdivision where it together with Cascandit, Ferrobustamit, Pectolite, Serandit, Tanohatait, wollastonite 1A, wollastonite -2M in the " Wollastonitgruppe " with the system no. 9.DG.05 forms.
The mainly common in English-speaking classification of minerals according to Dana assigns the Bustamite in the class of " silicates and Germanates " and there in the department of " chain silicate minerals " one. He is also, together with wollastonite 1A, wollastonite -2M, wollastonite -3A -4A -5A -7A, Ferrobustamit, Pectolite, Serandit, Cascandit, Denisovite and Tanohatait in the " Wollastonitgruppe " with the system no. 65.02.01 within the subdivision " chain silicates: Simple unbranched chains, W = 1 with chains P = 3" to find.
Education and Locations
Bustamite forms in skarn through metamorphosis or manganese-rich hydrothermal solutions. Accompanying minerals include Braunite, calcite, diopside, Glaukochroit, Johannsenite, rhodonite, tephroite, grenade and wollastonite.
Overall, Bustamite so far (as of 2011) are detected in about 75 localities. In addition to the type locality " Franklin Mine" was found the mineral in the U.S. still in the " Sterling Mine" at Ogdensburg (New Jersey); at Agnew Meadows in Madera County and Inyo County, California; Terryall in Park County, Colorado; Hanover in Grant County (New Mexico ) and at Lake Crescent and Mount Jupiter in Jefferson County ( Washington).
In Germany, the mineral found in Mendig and Kruft in the Eifel region ( Rhineland -Palatinate ) and in Elbingerode in the Harz (Saxony -Anhalt).
In Austria Bustamite entered so far only for Mooserboden in the Kaprun valley in Salzburg.
Other localities are Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, China, France, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Spain, South Africa, Turkey and the United Kingdom ( UK).
Crystal structure
Bustamite crystallized in the triclinic space group ( Raumgruppen-Nr. 2) with the lattice parameters a = 7.74 Å; b = 7.16 Å; c = 13.82 Å; α = 90.5 °; β = 94.6 ° and γ = 103.9 ° and two formula units per unit cell.
Use
Although Bustamite contains a proportion of up to 32.4 % relatively much manganese, but occurs rarely to be used as ore can. Occasionally he is but ground for interested collectors to gemstones.