Jun 3 2014
Blatterite is an orthorhombic-dipyramidal black mineral, which is composed of oxygen, manganese, magnesium, iron, boron, and antimony. It is a member of the orthopinakiolite group.
The mineral was named after Fritz Blatter, a German mineral collector, who discovered it from the Kittel mine, Varmland, Sweden.
Properties of Blatterite
The following are the key properties of Blatterite:
- Cell Data
- Space Group: Pnnm
- a = 37.654(8)
- b = 12.615(3)
- c = 6.2472(8)
- Z = 2
- Crystal Data
- Orthorhombic
- Point Group: 2/m 2/m 2/m
- Lath-like crystals, to 5mm, elongated and striated parallel [001], showing {110}, poorly terminated, may be slightly curved
- X-ray Powder Pattern: 2.605 (100), 5.243 (45), 2.721 (40), 2.621 (35), 1.564 (35), 2.520 (30), 5.621 (20)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| MnO |
[46.2] |
[38.89] |
| B2O3 |
14.4 |
[14.63] |
| MgO |
13.0 |
14.89 |
| Sb2O5 |
12.65 |
12.80 |
| Fe2O3 |
3.48 |
1.96 |
| Mn2O3 |
[9.9] |
[16.03] |
| TiO2 |
- |
0.19 |
| Al2O3 |
- |
0.33 |
| Total |
[99.63] |
[99.72] |
- Optical Properties
- Optical Class: Biaxial (–)
- Orientation: X = a; Y = c; Z = b
- Anisotropism: Weak to distinct; shades of grayish-brown
- Bireflectance: Buff, creamy buff, pale buff
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 4.42 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Blatterite = 4.70 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEBlatterite = 41.67 barns/electron
U = PEBlatterite x ρElectron density = 184.36 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.01
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
Blatterite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Blatterite
Blatterite is black in color, with a brown streak and sub-metallic luster. It has prismatic crystals, perfect cleavages, and opaque characteristics.
The hardness of the mineral is 6, and its density is 4.7 g/cm3.
Global Distribution
Blatterite is largely distributed at Nordmark, and at Langban, Varmland, Sweden.
Occurrence of Blatterite and Useful Mineral Association
Blatterite occurs in metamorphosed Fe–Mn orebodies.
Calcite, katoptrite, hausmannite, pyrochroite, and manganosite are all closely associated with blatterite.
References