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Formula:Fe2Si2O5(OH)4.2H2O
Phyllosilicate (sheet silicate), generally amorphous, forms a series with
neotocite.
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.43 to 2.67 measured, 3.23 calculated
Hardness: 2½ to 3
Streak: Yellowish brown, green
Colour: Black, brownish-black, dark brown, dark green
Common impurities: Al,Mg,Ca
Environments
Plutonic igneous environments
Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments
Hisingerite is a secondary mineral formed from weathering or alteration of
iron-bearing silicates or sulphides by late-stage hydrothermal activity during sulphide ore deposition (Webmin, HOM). It is
frequently found veining
fayalite, enstatite or
amphiboles, and sometimes siderite or
wollastonite; it alters from pyrrhotite
and possibly
from chalcopyrite, and occurs as
pseudomorphs after
hedenbergite. It alters to nontronite
(Dana).
Associated minerals include olivine, pyroxene,
pyrite, chalcopyrite and
pyrrhotite (HOM).
At Llallagua, Bustillo Province, Potosi, Bolivia, hisingerite is common as amorphous masses, sometimes associated
with cronstedtite
(MinRec 37.2.140).
At the Wilcox Mine, Cowper Township, Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, hisingeriteis intimately associated
with pyrite and chalcopyrite.
The ore occurs in
garnet-biotite
schist, and the hisingerite was formed mostly by the alteration of
enstatite-ferrosilite
(AM 46.1412-1423).
At the Montauban deposit, Mékinac RCM, Mauricie, Québec, Canada, the zinc and
lead ores occur in
limestone in a diopside and
tremolite gangue. The
hisingerite is largely a replacement of
diopside.
Complete pseudomorphs after diopside
have been found here. Some of the hisingerite
apparently formed as
a replacement os calcic plagioclase and of
siderite. The hisingerite
is cut by veinlets of pyrite and of calcite
(AM 46.1412-1423).
At the type locality, Riddarhyttan, Skinnskatteberg, Västmanland County, Sweden, hisingerite was found in the
weathered zone of
a cobalt and
rare-earth-element polymetallic deposit, associated with pyrrhotite and
pyrite (Mindat).
At the Manila mine, Cochise county, Arizona, USA, hisingerite is observed as fibrous spherules associated with
vanadinite, jarosite and
wulfenite (R&M 90.4.343).
At the North Belmont mine, Santa Cruz county, Arizona, USA, fine pseudomorphs
of hisingerite after
pyrite have been found (R&M 94.2.162).
In the vicinity of Beaver Bay, Lake county, Minnesota, USA, hisingerite is a common alteration product in
gabbro (AM 46.1412-1423).
At Babbitt, Mesabi Range, St. Louis county, Minnesota, USA, hisingerite is a common and locally abundant mineral
in veinlets in the iron formation
(AM 46.1412-1423).
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