SIDERITE

    Class : Carbonates, nitrates, borates
    Subclass : Anhydrous carbonates
    Crystal System : Trigonal
    Chemistry : FeCO3
    Rarity : Very common

Siderite (or siderosis) has the same structure as calcite but only a limited solid solution exists between the two species. On the other hand, siderite forms complete series with magnesite (Mg) and rhodochrosite (Mn), two other members of the calcite group, the intermediate term between magnesite and siderite is called mesitine. It owes its name to the Greek sideros (iron) because of its chemical composition. Siderite is essentially a mineral of hydrothermal origin. It is a frequent matrix of thick copper-nickel-bismuth hydrothermal veins (Siegen type, Germany) or rare copper (Allevard type, Isère, France) which were actively exploited for iron. Siderite can also constitute considerable clusters by replacing limestones (French Pyrenees, Austrian Styria, North Africa, Slovakia, etc...). It is also common in coal fields where it is decomposed into layers rich in phosphorus (the "blackbands" of the English), or pyritic nodular aggregates (England, USA). Siderite is colorless to blonde, frequently pinkish for manganiferous varieties, but susceptible to weathering ; it becomes more or less dark brown by superficial transformation into limonite and really black when the manganese content is important. Siderite is generally massive, in blades of varying sizes, shiny on the cleavage planes. It can take concretionary or stalactitic aspects, whereas flattened nodular aggregates are typical of coal mines. The crystals are most often rhombohedral, rarely hexagonal or scalenohedral. It is an iron ore of poor quality that was however actively exploited in the past, especially in Germany, England and Austria.

Siderite and quartz from St-Pierre-de-Mésage, Isère, France
Siderite from Vizille, Isère, France
Siderite from La Mure, Isère, France
Siderite and quartz from Allevard, Isère, France

Siderite in the World

The Panasqueira mine in Portugal yielded lenticular crystals exceeding 10 cm, while magnificent 8 cm rhombohedral crystals were extracted from the Erzberg deposit (Carinthia, Austria). In Brazil, the "Alpine fissures" of Ibituruna (Minas Gerais) yielded magnificent 15 cm crystals and the gold mine of Morro Velho (Minas Gerais) transparent yellow-honey crystals larger than 5 cm on quartz. Many other localities around the world have produced magnificent samples (English Cornwall, Italian Piedmont, etc...).

Siderite in France

The most beautiful specimens in the world come from the French Alps (Allevard type) with crystals larger than 7 cm associated with hyaline quartz, plates of rhombohedral crystals at the Taillat, La Mure, and St-Pierre-de-Mésage (Isère).

Twinning

The twinning is uncommon on {01-12}, lamellar with translation on {0001} or {10-11} and hardly observable. They are much rarer on {0001}. The photos above show {01-12} twinned siderite crystals from St-Hilaire Mount (Canada), a deposit on which it is relatively present on floating crystals.

Twinned siderite from Poudrette Quarry, Mont St-Hilaire, Canada
Twinned siderite from Poudrette Quarry, Mont St-Hilaire, Canada
Twinned siderite from Poudrette Quarry, Mont St-Hilaire, Canada
Twinned siderite from Poudrette Quarry, Mont St-Hilaire, Canada

Fakes and scams

No fake inventories for this species.



Hardness : 3.5 to 4.5
Density : 3.96
Fracture : Uneven to conchoidal

Trace : White



TP : Translucent to transparent
IR : 1.633 to 1.875
Biréfringence : 0.242
Caractère optique : Uniaxial -
Pléochroïsme : Weak
Fluorescence : None


Solubilité : Acids

Magnétisme : Paramagnetic
Radioactivité : None