TORREYITE



Torreyite is a magnesium manganese zinc sulfate hydroxide hydrate mineral and the Mg-analogue of lawsonbauerite; Mn is present in substantial amounts. The only published data are those of Bauer and Berman (1929b).
Torreyite was first described from Sterling Hill as delta-mooreite by Bauer and Berman (1929b, 1929d); it has not been reported from Franklin. It was restudied and given its present name by Prewitt-Hopkins (1949) who introduced incorrect X-ray data, which were corrected by Dunn et al. (1979a) in their description of the Mn-analogue of torreyite, lawsonbauerite. The unit-cell given above was refined from the powder X-ray data of Dunn et al. (1979a) by Dr. J. A. Mandarino (pers. comm.).
Torreyite occurs as 1 mm blocky crystals, commonly in parallel growth and closely resembling the crystals of lawsonbauerite. Torreyite also occurs as massive aggregates, some of which have a saccharoidal texture. Torreyite is light bluish-white or colorless, weakly translucent, with a luster varying from dull to vitreous and a density of 2.665 g/cm3. Cleavage was reported by Bauer and Berman (1929b). It breaks easily into equant fragments. Twin lamellae are abundant and similar to those of plagioclase.
Although its description is incomplete, other aspects of its characterization can be inferred from the isostructural lawsonbauerite.
Torreyite occurred in an assemblage identical to those for lawsonbauerite. It occurs with rhodochrosite, zincite, and altered pyrochroite, which formed in a vein in calcite-franklinite-willemite ore at Sterling Hill. Torreyite occurs in crevices in altered pyrochroite and is associated with, and may be younger than, mooreite. (Dunn, 1995)

 Location Found: Ogdensburg (Type Locality), unique to Franklin/Ogdensburg area
     
 
 Year Discovered: 1949
     
 Formula: (Mg,Mn2+)7☐2Mn22+Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O
 Essential Elements: Hydrogen, Magnesium, Manganese, Oxygen, Sulfur, Zinc
 All Elements in Formula: Hydrogen, Magnesium, Manganese, Oxygen, Sulfur, Zinc
     
 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   Torreyite

     
 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.639

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.80
The Picking Table References
 PT Issue and PageDescription / Comment
View IssueV. 25 No. 1 - Spring 1984, pg. 11Mineral Notes Research Reports, Lawsonbauerite and Torreyite
View IssueV. 17, No. 2 - September 1976, pg. 9The Post Palache Minerals - Torreyite
View IssueV. 15, No. 2 - August 1974, pg. 13Other Mineral Notes - Torreyite
View IssueV. 9, No. 1 - February 1968, pg. 16The Exclusive Minerals of Franklin/Ogdensburg, N.J. (as of January 1968) by Frank Z. Edwards - Torreyite (Short Note)
View IssueV. 7, No. 2 - August 1966, pg. 14The Minerals of Sterling Hill 1962-65 by Frank Z. Edwards - Torreyite (small article)
     
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