Bixbyite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Bixbyite is named after Maynard Bixby a mineral dealer of Salt Lake City, Utah who provided the first specimens.

Discovered in 1897;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

(Mn³⁺,Fe³⁺)₂O₃

Manganese Iron Oxide

Molecular Weight:

158.33 gm

Composition:

Manganese

52.05 %

Mn

74.78 %

Mn₂O₃

Iron

17.64 %

Fe

25.22 %

Fe₂O₃

Oxygen

30.32 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Oxides

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

4/C.03-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

4.CB.10

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
B : With medium-sized cations

Related to:

None

Varieties:

Manganbixbyite

Synonyms:

Sitaparite

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Isometric - Diploidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals are cubes, commonly striated, to 6 cm; massive.

Twinning:

As penetration twins.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Imperfect/Fair on {111} in traces

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

6.0 - 6.5

Density:

4.945 - 5.0 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Black

Transparency:

Opaque

Luster:

Metallic

Refractive Index:

2.51 - 2.56  Isotropic

Birefringence:

0.00 (Isotropic)

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In lithophysal cavities in rhyolite; in metamorphosed manganese ores.

Common Associations:

Topaz, Spessartine, Beryl, Quartz, Sanidine, Pseudobrookite, Hematite (rhyolites); Braunite (manganese ores).

Common Impurities:

Al, Mg, Si, Ti

Type Locality:

Maynard's Claim (Pismire Knolls), Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah, USA

Year Discovered:

1897

View mineral photos:

Bixbyite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Bixbyite is a rare mineral that is rarely faceted. It forms as well formed isometric crystals, usually highly modified cubes, that are opaque black. Bixbyite was discovered in 1897 by Maynard Bixby, a Salt Lake City, Utah mineral dealer who also discovered Bixbite (Red Beryl). Bixbyite is usually found in association with Bixbite and Topaz which makes it a popular mineral for collectors.

Bixbyite is found in a few locaitons in the USA; from the Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah; at a number of places in the Black Range, Sierra and Catron Counties, New Mexico; and near Saddle Mountain, Pinal County, Arizona. There are also a number of sources worldwide including Mexico, Spain, Germany, Sweden, India, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
 

  
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