Warwickite
Warwickite sample
General
CategoryBorate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		(Mg,Fe2+)3Ti[O,BO3]2
IMA symbolWwk[1]
Strunz classification6.AB.20
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPnam
Identification
Colordark brown, grey to black¨
Cleavageperfect on {100}
Fractureirregular/uneven
Mohs scale hardness3-4
Lustersub-Vitreous, pearly, sub-metallic, dull
Streakbluish black
Specific gravity3.34 - 3.36
References[2]

Warwickite is an iron magnesium titanium borate mineral with the chemical formula (MgFe)3Ti(O, BO3)2 or Mg(Ti,Fe3+, Al)(BO3)O. It occurs as brown to black prismatic orthorhombic crystals which are vitreous and transparent. It has a Mohs hardness of 3 to 4 and a specific gravity of 3.36.[3][4]

Occurrence

It occurs metasomatized limestone skarns and in lamproite and carbonatite veinlets. It was first described in 1838 near Warwick, Orange County, New York. It has also been reported from Bancroft, Ontario; in Murcia Province, Spain; in Siberia and near Pyongyang, North Korea.[5]

References

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Mineralienatlas
  3. ^ http://webmineral.com/data/Warwickite.shtml Webmineral
  4. ^ http://www.mindat.org/min-4245.html Mindat
  5. ^ http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/warwickite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
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