May 12 2014
Calderite was named after James Calder, an early writer on the geology of India. It belongs to the garnet group.
Properties of Calderite
The following are the key properties of calderite:
- Cell Data
- Space group: Ia3d
- a = 11.81
- Z = 8
- Crystal Data
- Cubic
- Point group: 4/m 3 2/m
- Granular, massive
- X-ray powder pattern: 2.62 (100), 1.574 (100), 2.92 (90), 2.39 (90), 1.632 (90), 0.968 (90), 1.906 (80)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| SiO2 |
35.16 |
32.4 |
| Fe2O3 |
16.27 |
31.4 |
| MnO |
27.38 |
29.0 |
| CaO |
12.12 |
8.5 |
| Al2O3 |
9.04 |
- |
| MgO |
0.50 |
- |
| TiO2 |
0.28 |
- |
| FeO |
0.00 |
- |
| Total |
100.75 |
101.3 |
- Optical Properties
- Anisotropism: Slight
- Optical class: Isotropic
- n = 1.875 - 1.934
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 3.94 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of calderite = 4.08 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PECalderite = 12.20 barns/electron
U=PECalderite x ρ electron density=48.09 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index =0.01
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
Calderite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Calderite
Calderite can be identified in the field by its color variations, such as dark yellow and reddish-yellow. Its transparent to translucent form has no cleavage. This mineral has a vitreous luster, with white streak. The density of calderite is 4.08 g/cm3.
Global Distribution
Calderite is distributed in the following places:
- India - From Katkamsandi, Hazaribagh district, Bihar, and at Netra, Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh
- Namibia - At Otjosondu
- Canada - In the Wabush district, near Labrador City, Labrador, Newfoundland
- Switzerland - From the Fianel mine, Val Ferrera, Graubunden
Occurrence of Calderite and Useful Mineral Association
Calderite occurs in a manganese deposit, and in an iron formation. It is often associated with minerals such as pyrolusite, aegirine, hematite, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, quartz, and kutnohorite.
References