Vonsenite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Vonsenite
Magnus Vonsen
Formula:
Fe2+2Fe3+(BO3)O2
Colour:
Black, greenish black
Lustre:
Silky, Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
4.21
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1920 by Arthur S. Eakle in honour of Magnus Vonsen (17 April 1880 {erroneously 1879}, Vallejo near Petaluma, California, USA - 16 June 1954), mineral collector of Petaluma, California who donated his extensive collection to the California Academy of Sciences.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Ludwigite Group. Ludwigite-Vonsenite Series. The Fe2+ analogue of Ludwigite.
A high-temperature mineral occurring in contact metamorphic deposits.
A high-temperature mineral occurring in contact metamorphic deposits.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4207
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4207:5
IMA Classification of Vonsenite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Fe2+2Fe3+O2(BO3)
First published:
1920
Type description reference:
Classification of Vonsenite
6.AB.30
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
24.2.1.2
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
2 : A2BO2[XO3]
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
2 : A2BO2[XO3]
9.8.1
9 : Borates
8 : Borates of Fe
9 : Borates
8 : Borates 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Von | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Von | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Vonsenite
Silky, Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Comment:
silky if fibrous.
Colour:
Black, greenish black
Streak:
Brownish black
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Comment:
tough if fibrous.
Density:
4.21 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.80 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vonsenite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 14.2% | 14.9% |
| 420nm | 13.8% | 14.7% |
| 440nm | 13.4% | 14.6% |
| 460nm | 13.1% | 14.4% |
| 480nm | 12.9% | 14.4% |
| 500nm | 12.6% | 14.2% |
| 520nm | 12.4% | 14.3% |
| 540nm | 12.2% | 14.5% |
| 560nm | 12.0% | 14.5% |
| 580nm | 11.9% | 14.6% |
| 600nm | 11.4% | 14.6% |
| 620nm | 11.3% | 14.7% |
| 640nm | 10.7% | 14.5% |
| 660nm | 10.4% | 14.3% |
| 680nm | 9.66% | 14.1% |
| 700nm | 9.71% | 14.4% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 14.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Chemistry of Vonsenite
Mindat Formula:
Fe2+2Fe3+(BO3)O2
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Mg,Al
Crystallography of Vonsenite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbam
Setting:
Pbam
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.463(1) Å, b = 12.305(1) Å, c = 3.0727(6) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.769 : 1 : 0.25
Unit Cell V:
357.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Single crystals prismatic [001], rare. Radiating to matted fibrous masses.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000909 | Vonsenite | Swinnea J S, Steinfink H (1983) Crystal structure and Mossbauer spectrum of vonsenite, 2FeO*FeBO3 American Mineralogist 68 827-832 |  | 1983 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.575 Å | (100) |
| 5.152 Å | (30) |
| 1.536 Å | (17) |
| 1.042 Å | (15) |
| 1.937 Å | (12) |
| 2.842 Å | (9) |
| 4.725 Å | (8) |
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) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Vonsenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Coal-black, lustrous boulder-sized mass.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type specimen.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Directly on a contact between limestone and granite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Vonsenite
Other Language Names for Vonsenite
Varieties of Vonsenite
| Breislakite | A fibrous variety of vonsenite. It was originally named by Brocchi in 1817 for a mineral high in iron and containing manganese, occurring in wool-like forms from Vesuvius and Capo di Bove. It was referred to at various times as pyroxene, amphibole, fayal... |
Relationship of Vonsenite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Ludwigite Group:
| Azoproite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Fe3+,Ti,Mg)(BO3)O2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
| Bonaccordite | Ni2Fe3+(BO3)O2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
| Fredrikssonite | Mg2(Mn3+,Fe3+)(BO3)O2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
| Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
| Marinaite | Cu2Fe3+O2(BO3) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Savelievaite | Mg2Cr3+O2(BO3) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 13 photos of Vonsenite associated with Phillipsite-K | K6(Si10Al6)O32 · 12H2O |
| 11 photos of Vonsenite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 11 photos of Vonsenite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 9 photos of Vonsenite associated with Sanidine | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 6 photos of Vonsenite associated with Chabazite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 5 photos of Vonsenite associated with Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
| 5 photos of Vonsenite associated with Cristobalite | SiO2 |
| 5 photos of Vonsenite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| 5 photos of Vonsenite associated with Cahnite | Ca2[B(OH)4](AsO4) |
| 4 photos of Vonsenite associated with Tridymite | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.AB. | Chubarovite | KZn2(BO3)Cl2 |
| 6.AB. | Rhabdoborite-(Mo) | Mg12Mo6+1.33O6(BO3)6F2 |
| 6.AB.05 | Hambergite | Be2(BO3)(OH) |
| 6.AB.10 | Berborite | Be2(BO3)(OH,F) · H2O |
| 6.AB.15 | Jeremejevite | Al6(BO3)5(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.20 | Yuanfuliite | Mg(Fe3+,Al)O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.20 | Warwickite | (Mg,Ti,Fe,Al)2O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.25 | Karlite | (Mg,Al)6.5(BO3)3(OH)4(◻,Cl)0.5 |
| 6.AB.30 | Marinaite | Cu2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Savelievaite | Mg2Cr3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Fredrikssonite | Mg2(Mn3+,Fe3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Azoproite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Fe3+,Ti,Mg)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Bonaccordite | Ni2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.35 | Folvikite | Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4 |
| 6.AB.35 | Pinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Takéuchiite | (Mg,Mn2+)2(Mn3+,Fe3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Blatterite | Sb5+3(Mn3+,Fe3+)9(Mn2+,Mg)35(BO3)16O32 |
| 6.AB.40 | Orthopinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Chestermanite | Mg2(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al,Sb3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Aluminomagnesiohulsite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Al,Mg,Sn)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Hulsite | Fe2+2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.45 | Magnesiohulsite | Mg2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.50 | Fluoborite | Mg3(BO3)(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.50 | Hydroxylborite | Mg3(BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.55 | Shabynite | Mg5(BO3)(OH)5(Cl,OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 6.AB.55 | Wightmanite | Mg5(BO3)O(OH)5 · 2H2O |
| 6.AB.60 | Gaudefroyite | Ca4Mn3+2-3(BO3)3(CO3)(O,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.65 | Sakhaite | Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 6.AB.70 | Harkerite | Ca48Mg16[AlSi4O15(OH)]4(BO3)16(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(F) | Mg2(BO3)(F,OH) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(OH) | Mg2(BO3)(OH) |
| 6.AB.80 | Jacquesdietrichite | Cu2(H2BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(V) | Mg12(V5+,Mo6+,W6+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} (x < 1) |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(W) | Mg12(W6+,V5+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} |
| 6.AB.85 | Painite | CaZrAl9(BO3)O15 |
| 6.AB.90 | Mengxianminite | (Ca,Na)2Sn2(Mg,Fe)3Al8[(BO3)(BeO4)O6]2 |
Other Information
Magnetism:
Non-Magnetic
Thermal Behaviour:
Fuses at 3 to a black magnetic globule.
Notes:
Slowly and completely soluble in HCl and H2SO4. No reaction to HNO3, FeCl3, KOH, HgCl2, H2O2. The HCl solution gives a strong borate reaction with tumeric paper.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
None
Internet Links for Vonsenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4207.html
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External Links:
References for Vonsenite
Reference List:
Butler, B. S.; Schaller, W. T. (1917) Magnesioludwigite, a new mineral. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 7. 29-31as Ferroludwigite
Eakle, Arthur S. (1920) Vonsenite. A preliminary note on a new mineral. American Mineralogist, 5 (8) 141-143
Bertaut, E. F. (1950) Structures des boroferrites. Acta Crystallographica, 3 (6) 473-474 doi:10.1107/s0365110x50001312
Leonard, B. F., Vlisidis, Angelina C. (1960) Vonsenite from St. Lawrence County, northwest Adirondacks, New York. American Mineralogist, 45 (3-4) 439-442
Leonard, B. F., Viisidis, A. C. (1961) Vonsenite at the Jayville magnetite deposit, Saint Lawrence County, New York. American Mineralogist, 46 (7-8) 786-811
Lopez-Ruiz, J., Salvador, P. Salvador (1971) Chemical and crystallographic data for vonsenite from Burgillos del Cerro, Badajoz, Spain. American Mineralogist, 56 (11-12) 2149-2151
Vlisidis, Angelina C.; Schaller, Waldemar T. (1974) The identity of paigeite with vonsenite, and chemical analyses of vonsenite, ludwigite, and hulsite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte, 1974 (3-4). 95-105 doi:10.1127/njmm/1974/1974/95
Swinnea, J. S.; Steinfrnk, Hugo (1983) Crystal structure and Mössbauer spectrum of vonsenite, 2FeO·FeBO3. American Mineralogist, 68 (7-8). 827-832
Biryukov, Yaroslav P., Zinnatullin, Almaz L., Cherosov, Mikhail A., Shablinskii, Andrey P., Yusupov, Roman V., Bubnova, Rimma S., Vagizov, Farit G., Filatov, Stanislav K., Avdontceva, M. S., Pekov, Igor V. (2021) Low-temperature investigation of natural iron-rich oxoborates vonsenite and hulsite: thermal deformations of crystal structure, strong negative thermal expansion and cascades of magnetic transitions. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 77 (6). 1021-1034 doi:10.1107/s2052520621010866
Localities for Vonsenite
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.
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Tre Croci, Vetralla, Viterbo Province, Lazio, Italy