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Sussexite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  Mn²⁺BO₂(OH)  [Manganese Borate Hydroxide]

Discovered in 1868;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Sussexite is named for Sussex County, New Jersey, USA, where the first specimens were collected.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Borates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/H.02-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

6.BA.15

6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B₂(O,OH)₅; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.

Related to:

Szaibelyite Group: Szaibelyite, Sussexite, Sibirskite, Parasibirskite. Sussexite-Szaibelyite Series. The manganese analogue of Szaibelyite.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As bladed acicular crystals, to 7 mm; cross-vein or radial fibrous, in felted or matted aggregates, nodular.

Twinning:

Submicroscopic twinning on [100] which cannot be resolved optically.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

n/a

Fracture:

Sub-Conchoidal, Fibrous

Tenacity:

Brittle, Inflexible

Hardness (Mohs):

3.0 - 3.5

Density:

3.30 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

White to Buff, Straw-Yellow, Pale Pink

Transparency:

Translucent

Luster:

Silky, Dull, Earthy

Refractive Index:

1.670 - 1.732  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0620

Dispersion:

Strong; r > v

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A rare hydrothermal mineral typically in veinlets in boron-bearing metamorphosed Mn–Fe–Zn deposits.

Common Associations:

Alabandite, Alleghanyite, Hauckite, Hausmannite, Leucophoenicite, Pyrochroite, Rhodochrosite, Seamanite, Sonolite, Tephroite, Willemite, Wiserite

Co-Type Localities:

Franklin Mine, Hamburg Mine, Trotter Mine (Lehigh Mine), Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA.

Year Discovered:

1868

View mineral photos:

Sussexite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Sussexite is a rare metamorphic borate mineral. It is an extremely rare gem. The mineral is typically found as translucent nodules or fibrous, matted aggregates, never transparent crystals. The pale pink material is attractive and would be an interesting addition to any rare gem collection.

Sussexite is only found in a few locations worldwide but facetable material is only found at Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA.
 

  
Sussexite gems for sale:

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