Cummingtonite

Cummingtonite (/ˈkʌ.miːŋˌtʌn.aɪt/ KUHM-meeng-ton-nyte) is a metamorphic amphibole with the chemical composition (Mg,Fe2+)2(Mg,Fe2+)5Si8O22(OH)2, magnesium iron silicate hydroxide.

Cummingtonite
General
CategoryInosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)		(Mg,Fe2+)2(Mg,Fe2+)5Si8O22(OH)2
Strunz classification9.DE.05
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
H-M symbol: (2/m)
Space groupMonoclinic
Space group: C2/m
Unit cella = 9.53 Å, b = 18.23 Å,
c = 5.32 Å; β = 101.97°; Z = 2
Identification
ColorDark green, brown, gray, beige; colorless to pale green in thin section
Crystal habitRarely as distinct crystals. Columnar to fibrous and granular
TwinningSimple and lamellar – common
CleavageGood on {110} intersecting at 54 and 126°
FractureSplintery
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness5–6
LusterVitreous to silky
DiaphaneityTranslucent, will transmit light on thin edges.
Specific gravity3.1–3.6
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.639–1.671
nβ = 1.647–1.689
nγ = 1.664–1.708
Birefringenceδ = 0.025–0.037
PleochroismWith increasing iron content, weak; X = Y = colorless; Z = pale green
2V angleMeasured: 65° to 90°, Calculated: 70° to 90°
Diagnostic featuresCharacterized by light brown color and needlelike, often radiating habit. Difficult to distinguish from anthophyllite or gedrite without optical and/or X-ray tests.
References[1][2][3][4]

Monoclinic cummingtonite is compositionally similar and polymorphic with orthorhombic anthophyllite, which is a much more common form of magnesium-rich amphibole, the latter being metastable.

Cummingtonite shares few compositional similarities with alkali amphiboles such as arfvedsonite, glaucophane-riebeckite. There is little solubility between these minerals due to different crystal habit and inability of substitution between alkali elements and ferro-magnesian elements within the amphibole structure.

Name and discovery
Fibrous, brownish crystals of cummingtonite - Locality: Dannemora Mine, Uppsala Län, Uppland, Sweden

Cummingtonite was named after the town of Cummington, Massachusetts, where it was discovered in 1824.[5][1][2] It is also found in Sweden, South Africa, Scotland, and New Zealand.[2]

Chemistry

Cummingtonite is a member of the cummingtonite-grunerite solid solution series which ranges from Mg7Si8O22(OH)2 for magnesiocummingtonite to the iron rich grunerite endmember Fe7Si8O22(OH)2. Cummingtonite is used to describe minerals of this formula with between 30 and 70 per cent Fe7Si8O22(OH)2. Thus, cummingtonite is the series intermediate.

Manganese also substitutes for (Fe,Mg) within cummingtonite amphibole, replacing B site atoms. These minerals are found in high-grade metamorphic banded iron formation and form a compositional series between Mn2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2 (tirodite) and Mn2Fe5Si8O22(OH)2 (dannemorite).

Calcium, sodium and potassium concentrations in cummingtonite are low. Cummingtonite tends toward more calcium substitution than related anthophyllite. Similarly, cummingtonite has lower ferric iron and aluminium than anthophyllite.

Amosite is a rare asbestiform variety of grunerite that was mined as asbestos only in the eastern part of the Transvaal Province of South Africa. The origin of the name is Amosa, the acronym for the mining company "Asbestos Mines of South Africa".

Occurrence

Cummingtonite is commonly found in metamorphosed magnesium-rich rocks and occurs in amphibolites. Usually it coexists with hornblende or actinolite, magnesium clinochlore chlorite, talc, serpentine-antigorite minerals or metamorphic pyroxene. Magnesium-rich cummingtonite can also coexist with anthophyllite.

Cummingtonite has also been found in some felsic volcanic rocks such as dacites. Manganese rich species can be found in metamorphosed Mn-rich rock units. The grunerite end member is characteristic of the metamorphosed iron formations of the Lake Superior region and the Labrador Trough. With prograde metamorphism cummingtonite and grunerite morph to members of the olivine and pyroxene series.

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References
  1. Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W. & Nichols, Monte C., eds. (1997). "Cummingtonite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Vol. III (Halides, Hydroxides, Oxides). Chantilly, VA: Mineralogical Society of America. ISBN 0962209724.
  2. "Cummingtonite". Mindat.
  3. "Cummingtonite". Webmineral.
  4. "Cummingtonite". IMA Master List. Archived from the original on 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  5. Chester Dewey, "A Sketch of the Geology and Mineralogy of the Western Part of Massachusetts, and a Small Part of Adjoining States", in American Journal of Science, first series, vol. 8, part 2, 1824, p. 1-60

Further reading
  • Deer, W.A.; Howie, R.A. & Zussman, J. (1997). An Introduction to the Rock Forming Minerals (2nd ed.). pp. 229–247.
  • Hurlbut, Cornelius S. & Klein, Cornelis (1985). Manual of Mineralogy (20th ed.). Wiley. ISBN 0-471-80580-7.
  • Klein, Cornelius (2002). The Manual of Mineral Science (22nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-25177-1.
  • "Cummingtonite". Mineral Galleries. Archived from the original on 2008-11-19.
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