Wiserite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Wiserite
David F. Wiser
Formula:
(Mn2+,Mg)14(B2O5)4(OH)8 · (Si,Mg)(O,OH)4Cl
Colour:
Yellowish white, pink-brown, light red
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
3.54
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named by Haidinger in 1845 for David Friedrich Wiser (1802, Switzerland - 21 March 1878, Zurich, Switzerland), iron trader and mineralogical chemist, who had discovered the mineral in 1842. He was able to retire from his profession at the age of 38 and spent the rest of his life focused on minerals. He built what was likely the finest collection of Swiss minerals in the 19th century, and was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Zurich University.
This page provides mineralogical data about Wiserite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4298
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4298:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
4ee5044f-7699-488d-991e-384354c0a9a8
IMA Classification of Wiserite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Mn2+14(B2O5)4(OH)8 · (Si,Mg)(O,OH)4Cl
Classification of Wiserite
6.BA.20
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
27.1.10.1
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
9.7.5
9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn
9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Wis | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Wiserite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellowish white, pink-brown, light red
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Density:
3.54(8) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.57 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wiserite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.751 - 1.753 nε = 1.700 - 1.715
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.051
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
O = colorless to bright orange-brown; E = bright to dark orange-brown
Chemistry of Wiserite
Mindat Formula:
(Mn2+,Mg)14(B2O5)4(OH)8 · (Si,Mg)(O,OH)4Cl
Common Impurities:
Fe,Ca,H2O
Crystallography of Wiserite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P4/n
Cell Parameters:
a = 20.192(6) Å, c = 3.281(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.162
Unit Cell V:
1,337.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Fibrous, asbestiform masses
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001283 | Wiserite | Pertlik F, Dunn P J (1989) Crystal structure of wiserite American Mineralogist 74 1351-1354 |  | 1989 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.365 Å | (100) |
| 2.854 Å | (90) |
| 6.40 Å | (85) |
| 2.654 Å | (80) |
| 2.753 Å | (70) |
| 2.702 Å | (65) |
| 2.522 Å | (65) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Wiserite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Fibrous masses, intimately intergrown with sussexite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland, 194501; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 126918; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 163804, 163341.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In veins of rhodochrosite-hausmannite ore
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Haidinger, W. (1845) Zweite Klasse: Geogenide. I. Ordnung. Haloide. Wiserit.. in Handbuch der Bestimmenden Mineralogie, Bei Braumüller and Seidel (Wien): 492-498.
Other Language Names for Wiserite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.BA.05 | Suanite | Mg2[B2O5] |
| 6.BA.10 | Clinokurchatovite | Ca(Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)[B2O5] |
| 6.BA.10 | Kurchatovite | Ca(Mg,Mn2+)[B2O5] |
| 6.BA.15 | Sussexite | Mn2+BO2(OH) |
| 6.BA.15 | Szaibélyite | MgBO2(OH) |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Wiserite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4298.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
References for Wiserite
Reference List:
Pertlik, Franz, Dunn, Pete J. (1989) Crystal structure of wiserite. American Mineralogist, 74 (11-12) 1351-1354
Localities for Wiserite
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.
Japan | |
| 加藤昭 (1980) |
| 加藤昭 (1980) |
| 加藤昭 (1980) | |
| 加藤昭 (1980) |
| 加藤昭 (1980) | |
| 加藤昭 (1980) |
| K. Nishikubo et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| Am Min 74: pp 1374-1376 +1 other reference |
| 加藤昭 (1980) +1 other reference |
| 加藤昭 (1980) | |
| Akira Kato (undated manuscript) +1 other reference |
| 加藤昭 (1980) |
| photo in: Koubutsu Doshikai (2017) | |
Namibia | |
| Dunn et al. (1989) +1 other reference |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu et al. (2015) |
Switzerland (TL) | |
| Haidinger (1845) +1 other reference |
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Gonzen Mine, Sargans, Sarganserland, St. Gallen, Switzerland