Seamanite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Seamanite
A. E. Seaman 1858 - 1937, Professor of geology 1899 - 1936
Formula:
Mn2+3[B(OH)4](PO4)(OH)2
Colour:
Yellow, pink, yellow-brown; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
3.08
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1930 by Edward Henry Kraus, Arthur Edmund Seaman, and Chester Baker Slawson in honor of Arthur Edmund Seaman [December 29, 1858 Casnovia, Michigan, USA - July 10, 1937 Columbus, Ohio, USA] Professor of Geology and Mineralogy, Michigan College of Mining and Technology, who first drew attention to the mineral.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3599
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3599:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0c356a87-3bff-459f-b9cf-4544a30e6c0d
IMA Classification of Seamanite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Mn2+3B(OH)4(PO4)(OH)2
First published:
1930
Classification of Seamanite
6.AC.65
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
43.4.5.1
43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
4 : Anhydrous Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
4 : Anhydrous Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
10.2.4
10 : Borates with other anions
2 : Borates with phosphate or arsenate
10 : Borates with other anions
2 : Borates with phosphate or arsenate
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sem | 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 Seamanite
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow, pink, yellow-brown; colourless in transmitted light
Comment:
May show the alexandrite effect. May be rosey pink in incandescent light and tan to golden brown in daylight.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {001}.
On {001}.
Density:
3.08 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.13 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Seamanite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.640 nβ = 1.663 nγ = 1.665
2V:
Measured: 40°
Birefringence:
0.025
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.025
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r
Optical Extinction:
Parallel, X = a; Y = b; Z = c.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Seamanite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+3[B(OH)4](PO4)(OH)2
Crystallography of Seamanite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.81 Å, b = 15.11 Å, c = 6.69 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.517 : 1 : 0.443
Unit Cell V:
789.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals rod-like to acicular [001]. Acicular crystals consisting of the prism, m, and the unit bipyramid, o. The prism faces may be rough and rounded and striated along the length.
Comment:
Pbnm
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000258 | Seamanite | Moore P B, Ghose S (1971) A novel face-sharing octahedral trimer in the crystal structure of seamanite American Mineralogist 56 1527-1538 |  | 1971 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005774 | Seamanite | Huminicki D M C, Hawthorne F C (2002) Hydrogen bonding in the crystal structure of seamanite The Canadian Mineralogist 40 923-928 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.55 Å | (60) |
| 6.92 Å | (100) |
| 4.20 Å | (60) |
| 3.78 Å | (70) |
| 3.47 Å | (60) |
| 2.84 Å | (80) |
| 2.50 Å | (70) |
| 2.39 Å | (60) |
Comments:
ICDD 25-536.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] |
Type Occurrence of Seamanite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Small acicular crystals up to 10 x 2 x 1 millimeters in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Michigan Technical University, Houghton, Michigan, USA.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 96282.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 96282.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In crevices of a badly fractured and highly ferruginous siliceous rock.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kraus, E.H., Seaman, A.E., Slawson, C.B. (1930) Seamanite, a new manganese phospho-borate from Iron County, Michigan. American Mineralogist: 15: 220-225.
Other Language Names for Seamanite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 13 photos of Seamanite associated with Shigaite | Mn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 6 photos of Seamanite associated with Triploidite | Mn2+2(PO4)(OH) |
| 5 photos of Seamanite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 3 photos of Seamanite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 1 photo of Seamanite associated with Limonite |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.AC.05 | Sinhalite | MgAl(BO4) |
| 6.AC.10 | Pseudosinhalite | Mg2Al3(BO3)2(OH)O3 |
| 6.AC.15 | Béhierite | (Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4) |
| 6.AC.15 | Schiavinatoite | (Nb,Ta)(BO4) |
| 6.AC.20 | Frolovite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 |
| 6.AC.25 | Hexahydroborite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 · 2H2O or CaB2O4 · 6H2O |
| 6.AC.30 | Henmilite | Ca2Cu[B(OH)4]2(OH)4 |
| 6.AC.35 | Bandylite | Cu[B(OH)4]Cl |
| 6.AC.40 | Teepleite | Na2[B(OH)4]Cl |
| 6.AC.45 | Moydite-(Y) | Y[B(OH)4](CO3) |
| 6.AC.50 | Carboborite | Ca2Mg[B(OH)4]2(CO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 6.AC.55 | Sulfoborite | Mg3[B(OH)4]2(SO4)(OH,F)2 |
| 6.AC.60 | Lüneburgite | Mg3[B2(OH)6](PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 6.AC.70 | Cahnite | Ca2[B(OH)4](AsO4) |
Fluorescence of Seamanite
Not fluorescent in UV.
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Before the blowpipe, fuses easily, after losing its water, to a dark slag.
Notes:
Soluble in cold, dilute acids.
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 Seamanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3599.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Seamanite
Reference List:
Moore, Paul B., Ghose, Subrata (1971) A novel face-sharing octahedral trimer in the crystal structure of seamanite. American Mineralogist, 56 (9-10) 1527-1538
Localities for Seamanite
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.
Australia | |
| Pring et al. (2000) |
USA (TL) | |
| Kraus et al. (1930) +1 other reference |
| Travis Olds collection |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) | |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
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Bengal Mine, Cannon Mine, Stambaugh, Iron County, Michigan, USA