Bustamite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Bustamite

Entry/Object ID

2009.62.9

Description

Chemical Composition: (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)5(SiO3)5 Crystal System: Triclinic System Description: Common Name: Bustamite Chemistry: (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)5(SiO3)5 Manganese calcium silicate Group: Silicates Location: Central Mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia Description: Very thing, amost sheet like. Very spiny with tiny crystals, a dark salmon color PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color: Pink. Some specimens tarnish black or brown upon exposure to air. Luster is vitreous. Transparency: Translucent. Crystal System: Triclinic; bar 1 Crystal Habits: Crystals which are very rare, are similar to those of Rhodonite. Usually occurs massive, grainy, and fibrous Cleavage: 2,2 - forming at an angle near 90º. Fracture: Uneven, splintery Hardness: 5 - 6. Specific Gravity: 3 - 3.4+ Streak: White. Associated Minerals: Calcite, Rhodonite, Tephroite, Franklinite, Willemite. Other Characteristics: May tarnish to a brown or black color upon exposure to air. Best Field Indicators are color, black inclusions, lack of reaction to acid and hardness Fracture: conchoidal Hardness: 6 Orthoclase Luster: Vitreous Occurrence: In manganese ores formed by metamorphism of manganese-bearing sediments with attendant metasomatism. Rock Type: Sedimentary Specific Gravity: 3.4-3.7 Streak: white Texture: Crystaline Variety: Bustamite is usually classified as a calcium-rich variety of Rhodonite (or manganese-rich variety of Wollastonite), but scientifically it is an individual mineral, not a variety.

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2009.62

Source or Donor

Museum Collection of Minerals

Acquisition Method

Donation

Dimensions

Width

2-1/2 in

Depth

2 in

Length

5 in

Weight

0.71 oz

Dimension Notes

Dimension taken at widest points

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-9

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Permanent