Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Aegirine
View on Wikipedia
| Aegirine | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Silicate mineral, pyroxene |
| Formula | NaFe3+[Si2O6] |
| IMA symbol | Aeg[1] |
| Strunz classification | 9.DA.25 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | C2/c |
| Unit cell | a = 9.658, b = 8.795 c = 5.294 [Å], β = 107.42°; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Formula mass | 231.00 g/mol |
| Color | Dark Green, Greenish Black |
| Crystal habit | Prismatic crystals may be in sprays of acicular crystals, fibrous, in radial concretions |
| Twinning | Simple and lamellar twinning common on {100} |
| Cleavage | Good on {110}, (110) ^ (110) ≈87°; parting on {100} |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | 6 |
| Luster | Vitreous to slightly resinous |
| Streak | Yellowish-grey |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent to opaque |
| Specific gravity | 3.50–3.60 |
| Optical properties | Biaxial (−) |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.720 – 1.778 nβ = 1.740 – 1.819 nγ = 1.757 – 1.839 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.037 – 0.061 |
| Pleochroism | X = emerald green, deep green; Y = grass-green, deep green, yellow; Z = brownish green, green, yellowish brown, yellow |
| 2V angle | Measured: 60° to 90°, Calculated: 68° to 84° |
| Dispersion | moderate to strong r > v |
| References | [2][3][4][5] |
Aegirine is a mineral. It is a member of the clinopyroxene group of inosilicate minerals. Acmite is a fibrous green-colored variety of aegirine, with the name also used as a synonym. It was first described in 1821, in Kongsberg, Norway.
Etymology
[edit]The name aegirine is derived from Ægir , a Norse mythological figure (god of the sea), as the mineral was first described from Norway.[2][3]
A synonym for the mineral is acmite (from Greek ἀκμή "point, edge") in reference to the typical pointed crystals.[6]
Chemistry and description
[edit]
Aegirine is the sodium endmember of the aegirine–augite series.[citation needed]
It has the chemical formula NaFeSi2O6, in which the iron is present as the ion Fe3+. In the aegirine–augite series, the sodium is variably replaced by calcium with iron(II) and magnesium replacing the iron(III) to balance the charge. Aluminum also substitutes for the iron(III). Acmite is a fibrous green-colored variety.[citation needed]
Aegirine occurs as dark green monoclinic prismatic crystals.[3] It has a glassy luster and perfect cleavage, "in two directions at near 90 degree angles".[7] It is described on Mindat.org as "slightly resinous", with its colour "dark green to greenish black, reddish brown, [or] black" Its Mohs hardness is 6 and its specific gravity is between 3.5 and 3.6.[3][4]
Associated minerals include augite, nepheline, andradite, baryte, quartz, spessartine, riebeckite, biotite, sodalite, and albite.[7]
Occurrence
[edit]The acmite variety was first described in 1821, at Kongsberg, Norway,[8] and the aegirine variety in 1835 for an occurrence in Rundemyr, Øvre Eiker, Buskerud, Norway.[3]
This mineral commonly occurs in alkalic igneous rocks, nepheline syenites, carbonatites, and pegmatites. It also appears in regionally metamorphosed schists, gneisses, and iron formations; in blueschist facies rocks, and from sodium metasomatism in granulites. It may occur as an authigenic mineral in shales and marls. It occurs in association with potassic feldspar, nepheline, riebeckite, arfvedsonite, aenigmatite, astrophyllite, catapleiite, eudialyte, serandite, and apophyllite.[2]
Major localities include Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada; Kongsberg, Norway; Narsarssuk, Greenland; Kola Peninsula, Russia; Magnet Cove, Arkansas, US; Kenya; Scotland, and Nigeria.[7]
Aegirine also occurs in the syenite at the Bowral quarries in New South Wales, Australia, as described in a 1906 paper by geologist and later Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson.[9][10]
Uses
[edit]Aegirine is sometimes used as a gemstone.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b c "Aegirine". Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF) (version 1.2 ed.). Mineral Data Publishing. 2001.
- ^ a b c d e "Aegirine". Mindat.org. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Aegirine Mineral Data". Mineralogy Database. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ Hurlbut, Cornelius S.; Klein, Cornelis, 1985, Manual of Mineralogy, 20th ed., ISBN 0-471-80580-7 (via Internet Archive
- ^ . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 149.
- ^ a b c "AEGIRINE (Sodium Iron Silicate)". mineral.galleries.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2005. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ Dana, James Dwight (1855) [1837]. Manual of Mineralogy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Durrie & Peck.
- ^ Jago, James B.; Pharaoh, Mark D. (2 January 2016). "Pre-Antarctic Mawson in South Australia and western New South Wales". Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. 140 (1). Informa UK: 107–128. Bibcode:2016TRSAu.140..107J. doi:10.1080/03721426.2016.1149323. ISSN 0372-1426.
- ^ "The Minerals and Genesis of the Veins and Schlieren Traversing the Aegirine-Syenite in the Bowral Quarries". Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 381, pp. 580-607.
- ^ Manutchehr-Danai, Mohsen (9 March 2013). Dictionary of Gems and Gemology. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 5. ISBN 978-3-662-04288-5.
External links
[edit]Aegirine
View on GrokipediaEtymology and History
Etymology
The name aegirine derives from Ægir, the Norse god of the sea in Scandinavian mythology, reflecting the mineral's initial discovery along the Norwegian coastline.[1] This naming was proposed in 1834 by Norwegian mineralogist and priest Hans Morten Thrane Esmark, who identified specimens from the seaside locality of Låven in the Langesundsfjord area, and it was formally described under this name by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1835.[1] A historical synonym for aegirine is acmite, coined earlier in 1821 by Berzelius for material from Rundemyr, Norway; the term originates from the Greek word akmē (ἀκμή), meaning "point" or "edge," in reference to the mineral's characteristic sharp, pointed crystal terminations.[1] In 19th-century mineralogy, acmite was initially classified as an amphibole distinct from the pyroxene-group aegirine, but by 1871, Austrian mineralogist Gustav Tschermak had recognized them as the same species, leading to the eventual prioritization of aegirine as the valid name.[1] The acmite name was formally discredited as a separate species in 1988 by the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names of the International Mineralogical Association.[1]Discovery and Naming
Aegirine was first described as a new mineral in 1821 by Norwegian mineralogist Petter Herman Ström based on specimens from the Rundemyr pegmatite near Kongsberg, Norway. Ström initially proposed the name "wernerin" to honor the German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner, but after chemical analysis by Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius, it was renamed "acmite," derived from the Greek word akmē meaning "point" or "edge," alluding to the mineral's characteristic acicular crystal form.[1][4] In 1834, Norwegian clergyman and amateur mineralogist Hans Morten Thrane Esmark identified a closely related mineral on Låven Island in the Langesundsfjorden complex, Norway, and suggested the name "aegirine" after Ægir, the Norse god of the sea, reflecting its coastal discovery site. Berzelius adopted and formalized this name in 1835, establishing "aegirine" for the species while retaining "acmite" for a fibrous variety.[1][5] Rundemyr and Låven are now recognized as co-type localities for aegirine. Early mineralogists initially regarded acmite as an amphibole and aegirine as a distinct pyroxene, leading to confusion with other silicates like augite due to compositional similarities. This was resolved in 1871 when Austrian mineralogist Gustav Tschermak unified them as a single species, confirming aegirine as a sodium-iron end-member of the clinopyroxene group. Its identification significantly advanced 19th-century understanding of sodium-rich silicates in alkaline rocks.[1]Chemical Composition and Crystal Structure
Chemical Formula
Aegirine is defined by its ideal chemical formula , which represents a sodium-iron silicate composition characteristic of sodic pyroxenes.[6] This formula indicates the presence of sodium (Na) in the larger cation site, trivalent iron (Fe³⁺) in the octahedral site, and two silicon (Si) atoms forming the tetrahedral framework with six oxygen (O) atoms.[7] As a member of the pyroxene group, aegirine belongs specifically to the clinopyroxene subgroup, distinguished by its monoclinic crystal symmetry and structural arrangement.[8] Within this classification, aegirine serves as the principal endmember of the sodic pyroxene series, where it anchors the compositional extreme dominated by sodium and ferric iron.[9] The fundamental structure of aegirine, like other pyroxenes, is based on infinite single chains of tetrahedra linked by shared oxygen atoms, forming a repeating backbone parallel to the crystal's c-axis.[10] These chains are cross-linked by octahedral sites occupied by Fe³⁺ and other cations, with sodium coordinating in the larger interstitial positions to stabilize the framework.[11]Solid Solution and Substitutions
Aegirine is a key member of the aegirine-augite solid solution series within the clinopyroxene group, characterized by coupled substitutions at the M2 and M1 sites that enable compositional variability. The primary substitution involves Na⁺ at the M2 site replacing Ca²⁺, coupled with Fe³⁺ at the M1 site replacing Fe²⁺ or Mg²⁺, expressed as Na⁺ + Fe³⁺ ↔ Ca²⁺ + (Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺). This exchange allows aegirine, with its ideal endmember formula NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆, to form continuous solid solutions toward augite, (Ca,Mg,Fe)Si₂O₆, though the series is often restricted by low Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratios in alkaline environments, which limit the hedenbergite (CaFe²⁺Si₂O₆) component relative to more reducing settings.[12][13] Additional substitutions further diversify aegirine's composition, particularly in evolved magmatic systems. At the M1 site, higher-valence cations such as Ti⁴⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ commonly substitute for Fe³⁺, while rare earth elements (REE) can incorporate via mechanisms like Na⁺ + REE³⁺ ↔ Ca²⁺ + (Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺) or coupled with Fe³⁺ exchange. These features are evident in aegirines from fractionated alkaline melts, such as those at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, where zoning shows Ca- and Zr-rich cores transitioning to Na- and Ti-rich rims, with REE patterns displaying enrichment relative to chondrites and negative Eu anomalies. Minor Al³⁺ may enter the tetrahedral T site, but Si remains dominant at 1.96–1.99 atoms per formula unit.[12][14] These solid solutions and substitutions confer stability to aegirine in peralkaline and alkaline environments, where high Na/(Na+K) ratios and oxidizing conditions favor the Na-Fe³⁺ endmember over Ca-rich pyroxenes. The incorporation of incompatible elements like Ti⁴⁺, Zr⁴⁺, and REE during late-stage fractionation enhances this adaptability, allowing aegirine to crystallize in Na-rich, low-Ca melts typical of such settings, as seen in titanian-aegirines. This compositional flexibility underscores aegirine's role as an indicator of alkaline magmatic evolution.[15][12]Physical and Optical Properties
Crystal Habit and Appearance
Aegirine belongs to the monoclinic crystal system and typically exhibits a prismatic crystal habit, with crystals often appearing elongated or stubby in form.[1] These prisms are characteristically striated lengthwise and may terminate in steep or blunt pyramidal faces, aligning with common habits observed in the pyroxene group of minerals.[16] In some occurrences, aegirine forms acicular (needle-like) crystals, contributing to its distinctive silhouette in rock matrices.[6] The mineral's color ranges from dark green to greenish-black, with occasional reddish-brown or brownish hues, though black specimens are also prevalent.[1] Color zoning is common, often displaying hourglass patterns where the crystal edges appear darker than the core.[17] Aegirine possesses a vitreous luster, which can appear silky in certain fibrous aggregates, enhancing its visual appeal in polished sections or hand samples.[18] Aegirine's cleavage is perfect along two directions, specifically on the {110} planes, occurring at angles of approximately 87° and 93°, nearly at right angles.[19] This pronounced cleavage results in well-defined, blade-like fragments when the mineral is broken. In its acmite variety, aegirine adopts a fibrous appearance, forming radiating or felted masses that contrast with the more discrete prismatic crystals of the typical form.[20]Mechanical and Optical Characteristics
Aegirine possesses a Mohs hardness of 6, consistent with other clinopyroxenes.[4] Its specific gravity ranges from 3.50 to 3.60, reflecting its dense silicate structure.[4] The mineral produces a pale yellowish gray streak and displays translucency to opacity depending on crystal quality and thickness.[4] Optically, aegirine is biaxial negative, with refractive indices of , , and , yielding a birefringence of .[4] These values highlight its high relief in thin sections, distinguishing it from lower-index pyroxenes. It exhibits distinct pleochroism, appearing emerald green to deep green along the X axis, grass green to yellow along Y, and pale green to yellowish brown along Z.[4]| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Refractive indices | |
| Birefringence () | ≈ 0.040–0.080 |
| Pleochroism | Distinct: X = emerald green to deep green, Y = grass green to yellow, Z = pale green to yellowish brown |