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Allactite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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09553590017271920753105.jpg
Allactite

Moss mine, Nordmark Odal Field, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden
03917650017271920797595.jpg
Allactite

Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
06532280017271920836392.jpg
Allactite

Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
09553590017271920753105.jpg
Allactite

Moss mine, Nordmark Odal Field, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden
03917650017271920797595.jpg
Allactite

Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
06532280017271920836392.jpg
Allactite

Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
06225110017271920938815.jpg
Allactite

Moss mine, Nordmark Odal Field, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden
03917650017271920797595.jpg
Allactite

Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA
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About AllactiteHide

Formula:
Mn2+7(AsO4)2(OH)8
Colour:
Brown, dark to light purplish red, brownish red, colourless to white
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
3.83
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Allactite Group
Name:
Named by Stens Anders Hjalmar Sjogren in 1884 from the Greek αλλάκτειν ("allaktein"), "to change," alluding to its marked pleochroism.
Isostructural with:
Argandite
The arsenate analogue of argandite and waterhouseite.

In the structure there are 4 fully occupied hydrogen sites and at least 9 energetically favourable mono-, bi- and trifurcated hydrogen bonds (Gatta et al., 2016).


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
122
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:122:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
80bcbc8b-af95-4154-9082-451cfaf2fe3c

IMA Classification of AllactiteHide

Classification of AllactiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2025):
8.BE.30

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
Dana 8th ed.:
41.2.1.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)7(XO4)2Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:
20.8.6

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
8 : Arsenates of Mn

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference
AlaIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
AllThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Pronunciation of AllactiteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of AllactiteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
Lustre somewhat greasy on fracture surfaces.
Colour:
Brown, dark to light purplish red, brownish red, colourless to white
Streak:
Grayish to faint brown
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {001}, distinct.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.83 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.94 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of AllactiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.755 - 1.761 nβ = 1.772 - 1.786 nγ = 1.774 - 1.787
2V:
Calculated: 36°
Birefringence:
0.022
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.019 - 0.026
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
r > v, distinct to strong
Optical Extinction:
X ^ c = 51°, Y = b
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
nX = Blood-red
nY = Light yellow
nZ = Sea-green

Chemistry of AllactiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Mn2+7(AsO4)2(OH)8
Elements listed:
As, H, Mn, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AllactiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.03 Å, b = 12.12 Å, c = 5.5 Å
β = 114.1°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.91 : 1 : 0.454
Unit Cell V:
671.17 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
As terminated prisms elongated on [010] , or bladed and tabular on {100} , with many forms, yielding complex wedgelike terminations. In divergent or subparallel rosette-like aggregates, to 6 mm; may be in druses.
Comment:
P21/c setting (P21/n setting also possible)

Crystallographic forms of AllactiteHide

Crystal Atlas:
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Allactite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

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Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0000169AllactiteMoore P B (1968) Crystal chemistry of the basic manganese arsenate minerals: II. The crystal structure of allactite American Mineralogist 53 733-74119680293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.95 Å(45)
3.71 Å(65)
3.39 Å(45)
3.28 Å(55)
3.23 Å(50)
3.06 Å(100)
2.929 Å(50)
Comments:
ICDD 17-748

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits
Geological Setting:
in a metamorphosed stratiform zinc orebody (Franklin, New Jersey, USA)

Type Occurrence of AllactiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Moss mine, Nordmark Odal Field, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden
General Appearance of Type Material:
Pink bladed crystals in groups
Geological Setting of Type Material:
As a rare secondary mineral in veinlets through metamorphosed manganese deposits
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
FluoriteHausmanniteHematolitePyrochroiteSynadelphite
Reference:
Sjögren, H. (1884) Allaktit, ett nytt manganarseniat från Mossgrufvan å Nordmarksfältet. Geologiska Föreningens I Stockholm Förhandlingar: 7: 109-111

Synonyms of AllactiteHide

Other Language Names for AllactiteHide

Relationship of Allactite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Allactite Group
Other Members of this group:
ArganditeMn7(VO4)2(OH)8Mon. 2/m : P21/m
RaadeiteMg7(PO4)2(OH)8Mon. 2/m

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
17 photos of Allactite associated with LeadPb
16 photos of Allactite associated with PyrochroiteMn(OH)2
15 photos of Allactite associated with CalciteCaCO3
12 photos of Allactite associated with HydrocerussitePb3(CO3)2(OH)2
11 photos of Allactite associated with RoxbyiteCu9S5
7 photos of Allactite associated with Chlorophoenicite(Mn,Mg)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6
5 photos of Allactite associated with Hematolite(Mn,Mg,Al,Fe3+)15(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)23
5 photos of Allactite associated with FrankliniteZn2+Fe3+2O4
4 photos of Allactite associated with WillemiteZn2SiO4
4 photos of Allactite associated with HoldawayiteMn6(CO3)2(OH)7(Cl,OH)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.BE.05AugeliteAl2(PO4)(OH)3Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.BE.10GrattarolaiteFe3+3(PO4)O3Trig. 3m : R3m
8.BE.15CornetiteCu3(PO4)(OH)3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca
8.BE.20ClinoclaseCu3(AsO4)(OH)3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BE.25GilmariteCu3(AsO4)(OH)3Tric. 1 : P1
8.BE.25ArhbariteCu2Mg(AsO4)(OH)3Tric. 1 : P1
8.BE.30FlinkiteMn2+2Mn3+(AsO4)(OH)4Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
8.BE.30ArganditeMn7(VO4)2(OH)8Mon. 2/m : P21/m
8.BE.30RaadeiteMg7(PO4)2(OH)8Mon. 2/m
8.BE.35Mineral E (of Dunn, et. al., 1982)Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
8.BE.35Chlorophoenicite(Mn,Mg)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.BE.35Magnesiochlorophoenicite(Mg,Mn)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.BE.40Gerdtremmelite(Zn,Fe)(Al,Fe)2(AsO4)(OH)5Tric.
8.BE.45DixeniteCuMn2+14Fe2+(SiO4)2(As5+O4)(As3+O3)5(OH)6Trig. 3 : R3
8.BE.45McgoverniteMn19Zn3(AsO4)3(AsO3)(SiO4)3(OH)21Trig. 3m (3 2/m)
8.BE.45Hematolite(Mn,Mg,Al,Fe3+)15(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)23Trig. 3 : R3
8.BE.45Turtmannite(Mn,Mg)22.5Mg3-3x((V5+,As5+)O4)3(As3+O3)x(SiO4)3O5-5x(OH)20+xTrig.
8.BE.45CarlfrancisiteMn2+3(Mn2+,Mg,Fe3+,Al)42[As3+O3]2(As5+O4)4[(Si,As5+)O4]6[(As5+,Si)O4]2(OH)42 Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
8.BE.45Arakiite(Zn,Mn2+)(Mn2+,Mg)12(Fe3+,Al)2(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)23Mon. m : Bb
8.BE.45KraissliteZn3(Mn,Mg)25(Fe3+,Al)(As3+O3)2[(Si,As5+)O4]10(OH)16Orth. 2 2 2 : C2 2 21
8.BE.50SynadelphiteMn2+9(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)9 · 2H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
8.BE.55Holdenite(Mn2+,Mg)6Zn3(AsO4)2(SiO4)(OH)8Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Ccca
8.BE.60KoliciteMn2+7Zn4(AsO4)2(SiO4)2(OH)8Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmca
8.BE.65Sabelliite(Cu,Zn)2Zn(AsO4,SbO4)(OH)3Trig. 3 : P3
8.BE.70JarosewichiteMn2+3Mn3+(AsO4)(OH)6Orth. 2 2 2
8.BE.75TheisiteCu5Zn5(AsO4,SbO4)2(OH)14Orth.
8.BE.80CoparsiteCu4(AsO4,VO4)O2ClOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm
8.BE.85WaterhouseiteMn2+7(PO4)2(OH)8Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BE.90VasilseverginiteCu9O4(AsO4)2(SO4)2Mon. 2/m

Fluorescence of AllactiteHide

In UV light:
Not fluorescent

Other InformationHide

IR Spectrum:
OH stretching bands are present at 3236, 3288, 3387, 3446, 3484, 3562 and 3570 cm-1
Notes:
Readily soluble in HCl.
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 AllactiteHide

References for AllactiteHide

Reference List:
Sjögren, Anton (1884) Mineralogiska notiser VII. Allaktit, ett nytt manganarseniat från Mossgrufvan å Nordmarksfältet. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 7 (2) 109-111 doi:10.1080/11035898409444127
Sjögren, Hj. (1884) Kristallografiska studier: VIII. Allaktit från Nordmarken. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 7 (4) 220-236 doi:10.1080/11035898409443537as Allaktit
Sjögren, H. (1884) Svenska Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm, Öfv.: 41, no. 3: 29. [as Allaktit]
Sjögren, Anton (1884) Mineralogiska notiser VII. Allaktit, ett nytt manganarseniat från Mossgrufvan å Nordmarksfältet. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 7 (2) 109-111 doi:10.1080/11035898409444127
Sjögren, H. (1885) Ueber die Manganarseniate von Nordmarken in Wermland. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 10: 113-155.
Sjögren, H. (1887) Svenska Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm, Öfv.: 44: 109 (Lundström analysis).
Igelström, L.J. (1893): Mineralogiska meddelanden. 20. Nya mineral från Sjögrufvan. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm. Förhandlinger. 15: 471-472. [as Elfstorpite]
Igelström (1893) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 22: 468. [as Elfstorpite]
Goldschmidt, V. (1897): 33.
Aminoff (1921) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 43: 24.
Hintze, C. (1933) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4B]: 1184.
Palache, C., Berman, H. (1933) Kungl. Svenska Vetenskap., Handl.: [3]: 11, no. 4: 32.
Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.pp.785-787
Moore, Paul B. (1968) Crystal chemistry of the basic manganese arsenate minerals: II. The crystal structure of allactite. American Mineralogist, 53 (5-6) 733-741
Fleischer, M. (1973) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 58: 560-562.
Dunn, Pete J. (1983) Allactite from Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey. The Mineralogical Record, 14 (4) 251-252
Gatta, G. Diego, Bosi, Ferdinando, Fernandez Diaz, Maria Teresa, Hålenius, Ulf (2016) H-bonding scheme in allactite: a combined single-crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction, optical absorption spectroscopy, FTIR and EPMA-WDS study. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (5) 719-732 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.020
(2023) Allactite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for AllactiteHide

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.

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.
Australia
 
  • South Australia
    • Pastoral Unincorporated Area
      • Iron Knob
Francis (2010)
Sweden
 
  • Örebro County
    • Hällefors
      • Grythyttan
Fontan +6 other references
  • Värmland County
    • Filipstad
      • Långban Ore District
Sjögren (1886) +2 other references
Sjögren (1886)
Holtstam et al. (1999)
NRM collection # 250111
Gatedal (n.d.) +1 other reference
Magnusson (1929) +2 other references
Nysten (1987)
Holtstam et al. (1998)
Sjögren (1884) +2 other references
      • Persberg ore district
        • Pajsberg
Nysten (2004)
USA
 
  • New Jersey
    • Sussex County
      • Franklin
Palache (1935) +2 other references
      • Ogdensburg
        • Sterling Hill
Palache (1935) +3 other references
Peter Chin
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