May 10 2013
Wagnerite was first discovered in 1821 from the Höllengraben, Werfen, Salzburg, Austria. It was named after F. M. von Wagner, mining official in Munich, Germany.
Properties of Wagnerite
The following are the key properties of Wagnerite:
- Cell Data
- Space Group: P21/a
- a = 11.945–11.985
- b = 12.679–12.738
- c = 9.644–9.70
- β = 108.18°-108.36°
- Z = 16
- Crystal Data
- Monoclinic
- Point Group: 2/m
- Typically in prismatic coarse anhedral crystals, elongated and striated along [001], complex vincinal form development, with more than thirty forms noted, to 20 cm; granular, massive
- X-ray Powder Pattern: 2.985 (100), 3.297 (65), 3.123 (63), 2.854 (59), 2.758 (25), 2.710 (22), 1.584 (15)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
Content 3 |
| MgO |
48.35 |
43.76 |
49.58 |
| P2O5 |
43.45 |
42.68 |
43.65 |
| F |
11.49 |
8.27 |
11.69 |
| OH |
- |
2.82 |
- |
| -O = (F2, OH) |
4.84 |
4.81 |
4.92 |
| FeO |
0.95 |
6.04 |
- |
| MnO |
0.70 |
0.92 |
- |
| Total |
100.10 |
99.68 |
100.00 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical Class: Biaxial (+)
- Orientation: Y = b; Z ^ c = –20° to –21.5°
- Dispersion: r > v, weak, inclined
- α = 1.568–1.588
- β = 1.572–1.589
- γ = 1.582–1.598
- 2V(meas.) = 25°–35°
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density)=3.07 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Wagnerite =3.11 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEWagnerite = 2.57 barns/electron
U= PEWagnerite x ρElectron density= 7.88 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.02
Boson index = 0.98 |
Radioactivity
|
Wagnerite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Wagnerite
Wagnerite occurs in reddish brown, yellow, gray, gray white, or green color. The mineral is non-fluorescent with a white streak, vitreous luster, translucent appearance and imperfect cleavage. It has thin, elongated fractures produced by intersecting cleavages. It can be formed as massive uniformly indistinguishable crystals or as parallel lines on crystal surface. The average density of wagnerite is 3.1 g/cm3, and its relative hardness ranges from 5 to 5.5.
Global Distribution
Wagnerite is distributed in the following places:
- Hollgraben, F¨arbergraben, Radelgraben, and Schladming-graben, near Werfen, and Bischofshofen, and from Webing, near Abtenau, Salzburg, Austria
- Silberberg mine, Bodenmais, Bavaria, Germany
- Nickenicher Sattel and Bellerberg volcanoes, Eifel district
- Zechstein salt deposit, Hannover, Lower Saxony
- Val d’Ambra, Tessin, Switzerland
- Skriarov, near Velka Bites, and Dolni Bory, near Velke, Mezirici, Czech Republic
- Porsgrunn and Havredal, Bamble, Norway
- Halsjoberget, Varmland, Sweden
- Kyakhta sillimanite deposit, Buryatia
- Santa Fe Mountain, near Idaho Springs, Clear Creek Co., Colorado
- Dome Rock Mountains, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA
- Star Lake area, near Sherridon, Manitoba, Canada
- Bimbowrie, near Olary, South Australia
- Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica.
Occurrence of Wagnerite and Useful Mineral Association
Wagnerite is a rare accessory mineral in metamorphic rocks of moderate to high grade. It is closely associated with cordierite, chrysoberyl, sapphirine, garnet, musgravite, surinamite, tourmaline, andalusite, apatite, monazite-(Ce), biotite, plagioclase, sillimanite, corundum, chlorite, ferroan magnesite and lazulite.
References