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Sarmientite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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04837550017662782402143.jpg
Sarmientite

Hilarion Mine, Kamariza Mines, Agios Konstantinos, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece
07122980017271926398621.jpg
Sarmientite

Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, USA
05351060017671039918141.jpg
Sarmientite

Hilarion Mine, Kamariza Mines, Agios Konstantinos, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece
07122980017271926398621.jpg
Sarmientite

Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, USA
05351060017671039918141.jpg
Sarmientite

Hilarion Mine, Kamariza Mines, Agios Konstantinos, Lavreotiki, East Attica, Attica, Greece
07122980017271926398621.jpg
Sarmientite

Kotzebue, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, USA
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About SarmientiteHide

09717590017271926448373.jpg
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
Formula:
Fe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O
Colour:
Light yellow-orange
Lustre:
Dull
Specific Gravity:
2.58
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento (15 February 1811, San Juan, Argentina - 11 September 1888, Asunción, Paraguay), educator, writer, and the seventh President of Argentina. He was a founder of the Cordoba Academy of Science.
Sanjuanite-Destinezite Group. Arsenate analogue of Diadochite.

An uncommon secondary mineral occurring in oxidized pyritic veins in diabase.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3536
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3536:7

IMA Classification of SarmientiteHide

IMA status:
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Fe3+2(As5+O4)(S6+O4)(OH)·5H2O
First published:
1941
Type description reference:
Angelelli, V., Gordon, S.G. (1941) Sarmientite, a new mineral from Argentina. Notulae Naturae of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: 92: 1-4.

Classification of SarmientiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
8.DB.35

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4< 1:1
Dana 8th ed.:
43.5.1.1

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:
22.3.26

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
3 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with sulphates

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
SmiIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of SarmientiteHide

Lustre:
Dull
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Light yellow-orange
Density:
2.58 g/cm3 (Measured)    2.58 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of SarmientiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.628 nβ = 1.635 nγ = 1.698
2V:
Measured: 38° , Calculated: 38°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.070
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.

Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).

This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure - the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are isogyres.

Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
weak to distinct

Chemistry of SarmientiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Fe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O49.364 %
Fe24.615 %
As16.511 %
S7.067 %
H2.444 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Fe
As
S
H
Elements listed:
As, Fe, H, O, S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SarmientiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.55 Å, b = 18.55 Å, c = 9.70 Å
β = 97.65°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.353 : 1 : 0.523
Unit Cell V:
1,168.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals prismatic [001] and flattened {010}, exhibiting {010}, {110} and {011}. Microcrystalline (to 20 μm) forming nodular masses as aggregates.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0020437SarmientiteColombo F, Rius J, Vallcorba O, Pannunzio Miner E V (2014) The crystal structure of sarmientite, Fe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH)*5H2O, solved ab initio from laboratory powder diffraction data Mineralogical Magazine 78 347-3602014Santa Elena mine, San Juan Province, Argentina0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
9.29 Å(100)
4.87 Å(38)
4.64 Å(90)
4.26 Å(80)
3.43 Å(40)
3.06 Å(70)
2.60 Å(48)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of SarmientiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Santa Elena Mine, Quebrada Alcaparrosa, Calingasta, Calingasta Department, San Juan Province, Argentina
General Appearance of Type Material:
Pure, irregular nodules made up of minute prismatic crystals to 25 microns in length.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia?
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fe-sulfate gossan over pyrite vein.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
BotryogenCopiapiteEpsomiteFibroferriteGypsum
SlavíkiteSzomolnokite
Reference:
Angelelli, V., Gordon, S.G. (1941) Sarmientite, a new mineral from Argentina. Notulae Naturae of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia: 92: 1-4.

Other Language Names for SarmientiteHide

Relationship of Sarmientite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Sanjuanite-Destinezite Group
Other Members of Sanjuanite-Destinezite Group:
DestineziteFe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
SanjuaniteAl2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 9H2OTric.
ZýkaiteFe3+4(AsO4)3(SO4)(OH) · 15H2OOrth. 222 : P222

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Sarmientite associated with HilarioniteFe3+2(SO4)(AsO4)(OH) · 6H2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.DB.ArangasiteAl2F(PO4)(SO4) · 9H2O Mon. 2/m : P2/b
8.DB.HösliteFe3+3(VO4)2(SO4)(OH)(H2O)4 · 3H2OMon. 2/m : P21/c
8.DB.AgujaiteNa6Al6(H2O)15(OH)3(AsO4)5(AsO3OH)3 · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P3c1
8.DB.Camaronesite[Fe3+(H2O)2(PO3OH)]2(SO4) · 1-2H2OTrig. 32 : R32
8.DB.05DestineziteFe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DB.05Pitticite(Fe, AsO4, H2O) (?)Amor.
8.DB.05DiadochiteFe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2OAmor.
8.DB.07WilhelmgümbeliteZnFe2+Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O)5 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.DB.07Schmidite[Zn2(Fe3+,Mn2+)2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)3(H2O)6] · 2H2OOrth.
8.DB.07WildenaueriteZn(Fe3+,Mn2+)2MnFe3+(PO4)3(OH)3(H2O)6 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbam
8.DB.10VashegyiteAl11(PO4)9(OH)6 · 38H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.DB.15SchooneriteZnMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 · 9H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbam
8.DB.20SinkankasiteMn2+Al(PO3OH)2(OH) · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DB.25MitryaevaiteAl6(PO4)((P,S)O3(OH,O))2F2(OH)2 · 14.5H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DB.30SanjuaniteAl2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 9H2OTric.
8.DB.40BukovskýiteFe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) · 9H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DB.40ManganflurliteZnMn2+3Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2(H2O)7 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.DB.40FlurliteZn3Mn2+Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 · 9H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.DB.42BohuslaviteFe3+4(PO4)3(SO4)(OH) · nH2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DB.45ZýkaiteFe3+4(AsO4)3(SO4)(OH) · 15H2OOrth. 222 : P222
8.DB.47LapeyreiteCu3O[AsO3(OH)]2 · 0.75H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.DB.50RossiantoniteAl3(PO4)(SO4)2(OH)2(H2O)14Tric. 1 : P1
8.DB.50GiniiteFe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
8.DB.52'Arctowskite'Al9(PO4)8(OH)3 · 27H2OOrth.
8.DB.55Sasaite(Al,Fe3+)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7 · 83H2OOrth.
8.DB.60McauslaniteFe3Al2(PO4)3(PO3OH)F · 18H2OTric.
8.DB.65GoldquarryiteCuCd2Al3(PO4)4F2(H2O,F)2 · 10H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.DB.70BirchiteCd2Cu2(PO4)2(SO4) · 5H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.DB.75BraithwaiteiteNaCu5(Ti4+Sb5+)(AsO4)4(HAsO4)2O2 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1

Other InformationHide

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 SarmientiteHide

References for SarmientiteHide

Localities for SarmientiteHide

Showing 10 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina (TL)
 
  • San Juan Province
    • Calingasta Department
      • Calingasta
        • Quebrada Alcaparrosa
Palache et al. (1951)
China
 
  • Guangdong
    • Shaoguan
      • Qujiang District
Liu et al. (2018)
Greece
 
  • Attica
    • East Attica
      • Lavreotiki
        • Agios Konstantinos (Kamariza)
          • Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines)
Rieck et al. (2018)
          • Mercati mines
Rieck et al. (2018)
Morocco
 
  • Drâa-Tafilalet Region
    • Ouarzazate Province
      • Amerzgane Cercle
        • Ouisselsate Caïdat
ONA
Russia
 
  • Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
    • Chukchi Peninsula (Chukotka Peninsula; Chukotski Peninsula)
Alekseev (2025)
South Africa
 
  • KwaZulu-Natal
    • uMgungundlovu District Municipality
Cairncross et al. (1995)
USA
 
  • Alaska
    • Northwest Arctic Borough
Excalibur Mineral Company specimen
  • Nevada
    • Humboldt County
      • Winnemucca Mining District
Castor et al. (2004)
    • Nye County
      • Toquima Range
        • Manhattan Mining District
          • Manhattan
Castor et al. (2004)
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