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Formula: Ca2Mn3+2Si4O11(OH)4.2H2O
Sorosilicate (Si2O7 groups), ruizite group,
manganese-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.9 measured, 2.997 calculated
Hardness: 5
Streak: Apricot-yellow
Colour: Orange, red-brown
Solubility: Readily soluble in hot 1:1 nitric and hydrochloric acids (Dana)
Environments:
Localities
At the Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari manganese field, Northern Cape, South Africa, ruizite is associated with
apophyllite, pectolite,
datolite, inesite,
orientite and quartz
(HOM).
At the N'Chwaning II Mine, N'Chwaning Mines, Kuruman, Kalahari manganese field, Northern Cape, South Africa, ruizite is
associated with inesite, orientite,
quartz and datolite
(Dana).
At the type locality, the Christmas mine, Christmas, Banner Mining District, Gila county, Arizona, USA, ruizite occurs
in veinlets and on fracture surfaces in metalimestones, formed during cooling
of a high-temperature calc-silicate assemblage under oxidising conditions.
Associated minerals include apophyllite,
kinoite, junitoite,
wollastonite, grossular,
diopside, vesuvianite,
calcite, chalcopyrite,
bornite, sphalerite,
xonotlite and sepiolite
(AM 63.794-795, HOM, Mindat).
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