SARKINITE



Sarkinite is a manganese arsenate hydroxide mineral. Analyses of the Franklin material by [Dunn] show that the ZnO content varies from 3.4 to 6.3 wt. %; more analyses are given by Dunn (1980).
Sarkinite was first described from Franklin by Palache et al. (1938), and it was verified by [Dunn] from Sterling Hill (Dunn, 1980).
Sarkinite occurs at Franklin as massive pinkish-red material in 5-7 cm samples. Sterling Hill sarkinite occurs in superb crystals, 14 mm in length, and commonly in clusters. The crystal habits are diverse, but no morphological studies have been done. Twinning is common, but the composition plane is unhealed, resulting in a serrated juncture of faces on terminal forms. The color of Sterling Hill sarkinite varies substantially, from orange to orange-brown to brown. X-ray methods are best for verification.
Sarkinite occurs at Franklin as massive, pinkish red material, associated with willemite and yeatmanite in the type yeatmanite assemblage. Another uncommon Franklin assemblage is discussed under manganberzeliite.
Sarkinite crystals are apparently much more abundant at Sterling Hill, occurring as euhedra on fracture surfaces in brown-willemite ore. It is also found as spherules, pink to brown, commonly associated with rhodochrosite and barite. Occurrences are numerous: it was found on the 1000 level with serpierite, on the 1200 level with copper and adamite, on the 1300 level with allactite, and on the 1400 level with brandtite. It also occurs in the assemblage for type parabrandtite. (Dunn, 1995)

 Location Found: Franklin and Ogdensburg
     
 
 Year Discovered: 1885
     
 Formula: Mn22+(AsO4)(OH)
 Essential Elements: Arsenic, Hydrogen, Manganese, Oxygen
 All Elements in Formula: Arsenic, Hydrogen, Manganese, Oxygen
     
 IMA Status: Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
     
     
 To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link   Sarkinite

     
 References:
Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.680

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.75
The Picking Table References
 PT Issue and PageDescription / Comment
View IssueV. 24, No. 1 - Spring 1983, pg. 6Recent Mineral Occurrences at Sterling Hill, Stephen B. Sanford, Sarkinite
View IssueV. 21, No. 2 - September 1980, pg. 9Mineral Notes Research Reports, Sarkinite
View IssueV. 18, No. 1 - March 1977, pg. 5Recent Mineral Occurances at Sterling Hill by Stephen Sanford - Sarkinite and Brandtite
View IssueV. 17, No. 1 - March 1976, pg. 13Post Palache Mineral Review - Sarkinite
     
Images
     
Brown sarkinite crystals with round rhodochrosite crystal sprays.
Brown sarkinite crystals with round rhodochrosite crystal sprays. Non-fluorescent micro mineral, field of view about 5mm. Photo by JVF.






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