SIDERITE [ Carbonates : Calcite ]

FeCO₃, iron Carbonate

A minor ore of iron and as mineral specimens

Siderite is named for the Greek word for iron, sideros. The word siderite is used in a number of rarer minerals and except in the fact that they all contain iron, they are otherwise unrelated to siderite. They include: Alumopharmacosiderite, arseniosiderite, barium-alumopharmacosiderite, barium-pharmacosiderite, chalcosiderite, erythrosiderite, pharmacosiderite, phosphosiderite and sodiumpharmacosiderite. A variety of siderite forming sphericules is known as sphaerosiderite.

Siderite forms series with the closely related minerals rhodochrosite, MnCO₃ and magnesite, MgCO₃. These minerals can have some substitution of their metal ions and the cutoff between them and siderite is at 50% iron. Sometimes variety names are given to intermediate members of these minerals such as mangansiderite for an iron rich rhodochrosite or magniosiderite for a magnesium rich siderite. But this can be confusing.

Siderite is roughly the equivalent of calcite but with iron replacing the calcium. The iron has little effect on most structural properties such as cleavage and crystal form; but does effect properties such as density, colour, hardness and electro-chemical properties. Siderite is fairly easy to distinguish from calcite by its higher specific gravity and hardness and less vigorous reaction to acids. It can be difficult to distinguish from dolomite however.

Siderite and calcite can form similar crystal habits, although siderite is far less diverse. The typical habit for siderite is the rhombohedron. Most of the time crystals are found in the standard rhomb shape but noticeably flattened rhombs and rhombs with curved surfaces are also well known. Other typical habits include the scalahedron, crusts, sphericules, concretions and complicated botyroidal masses. Siderite forms mostly in sedimentary and hydrothermal environments, although it is also found in some igneous pegmatites.

Siderite is a common mineral although excellent, attractive crystal specimens are sometimes hard to find. But many crystals, when colourfully iridescent, make a wonderful, colourful, satiny, shimmering mineral specimen. The iridescence is probably caused by a surface alteration to the iron oxide, goethite. Further alteration of siderite crystals can result in pseudomorphs. The amorphous iron oxide limonite, forms pseudomorphs that are complete replacements of siderite crystals. Siderite can be a nice collection mineral. It comes in just enough of a variety of crystal forms and colours that make collecting this mineral very interesting.

Physical Characteristics

Colour: gray, yellow, yellowish brown, greenish-brown, reddish brown and brown. Some specimens show an iridescence probably caused by surface alteration to goethite

Luster: vitreous to pearly or silky in some specimens

Transparency: Crystals are usually translucent or virtually opaque

Crystal System: trigonal; bar 3 2/m

Crystal Habits: commonly curved rhombohedrons that are sometimes flattened to appear bladed, rarely scalahedral. Many aggregate forms are also found such as botryoidal, sphericules (sphaerosiderite), concretionary, stalactitic, vein-filling and earthy

Cleavage: perfect in 3 directions forming rhombs

Fracture: conchoidal to uneven

Hardness: fairly variable going from 3.5 - 4.5

Specific Gravity: 3.9+ (relatively heavy)

Streak: white

Other: Becomes magnetic when heated, effervesces slightly in contact with strong acids or with warm acids

Associated Minerals: include iron sulfides and quartz, cerussite, ankerite, dolomite, goethite, cryolite, limonite, barite, pyrite and sphalerite

Major Occurrences: numerous and include the Harz Mountains, Germany; several mines in Cornwall, England as well as Peru; Biera Baixa, Portugal; Tatasi, Bolivia; Minas Gerais, Brazil; Lorraine, France; Bohemia, Czech Republic; Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia; Tsumeb, Otavi, Namibia; the mines of Franklin, New Jersey; San Bernardino County, California; Flambeau Mine, Ladysmith, Wisconsin, Antler Mine, Arizona and Connecticut, USA and Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory; Francon Quarry, Montreal and Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

Best Indicators: crystal habit, slight reaction to acids, cleavage, colour and higher than average density

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