Richterite

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title: "Richterite" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["sodium-minerals", "calcium-minerals", "magnesium-minerals", "amphibole-group", "monoclinic-minerals", "minerals-in-space-group-12"] description: "Sodium amphibole mineral" topic_path: "general/sodium-minerals" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richterite" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Sodium amphibole mineral ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox mineral"]

Field	Value
name	Richterite
category	Inosilicates
image	Richterite-mrz156a.jpg
caption	Richterite. Wilberforce, Monmouth Township, Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada.
formula	Na(NaCa)Mg5Si8O22(OH)2#
IMAsymbol	Rct
strunz	9.DE.20
system	Monoclinic
class	Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
symmetry	C2/m
color	Brown, yellow, red, or green
habit	Prismatic; acicular or asbestiform
twinning	Simple or multiple parallel to {100}
mohs	5–6
cleavage	Perfect
fracture	Uneven, brittle
luster	Vitreous
streak	Pale yellow
gravity	3.0–3.5
diaphaneity	Transparent to translucent
opticalprop	Biaxial (−)
refractive	nα = 1.615 nβ = 1.629 nγ = 1.636
birefringence	δ = 0.021
pleochroism	Strong: pale yellow, orange, and red
2V	68° measured
references
::

| name = Richterite | category = Inosilicates | image = Richterite-mrz156a.jpg | caption = Richterite. Wilberforce, Monmouth Township, Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada. | formula = Na(NaCa)Mg5Si8O22(OH)2# | IMAsymbol = Rct | strunz = 9.DE.20 | system = Monoclinic | class = Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) | symmetry = C2/m | color = Brown, yellow, red, or green | habit = Prismatic; acicular or asbestiform | twinning = Simple or multiple parallel to {100} | mohs = 5–6 | cleavage = Perfect | fracture = Uneven, brittle | luster = Vitreous | streak = Pale yellow | gravity = 3.0–3.5 | diaphaneity = Transparent to translucent | opticalprop = Biaxial (−) | refractive = nα = 1.615 nβ = 1.629 nγ = 1.636 | birefringence = δ = 0.021 | pleochroism = Strong: pale yellow, orange, and red | 2V = 68° measured | references =

Richterite is a sodium calcium magnesium silicate mineral belonging to the amphibole group. If iron replaces the magnesium within the structure of the mineral, it is called ferrorichterite; if fluorine replaces the hydroxyl, it is called fluororichterite. Richterite crystals are long and prismatic, or prismatic to fibrous aggregate, or rock-bound crystals. Colors of richterite range from brown, grayish-brown, yellow, brownish- to rose-red, or pale to dark green. Richterite occurs in thermally metamorphosed limestones in contact metamorphic zones. It also occurs as a hydrothermal product in mafic igneous rocks, and in manganese-rich ore deposits. Localities include Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, and Wilberforce and Tory Hill, Ontario, Canada; Långban and Pajsberg, Sweden; West Kimberley, Western Australia; Sanka, Myanmar; and, in the US, at Iron Hill, Colorado; Leucite Hills, Wyoming; and Libby, Montana. The mineral was named in 1865 for the German mineralogist Hieronymous Theodor Richter (1824–1898).

References

• Bonewitz, 2008, Smithsonian Rock and Gem

References

1. Warr, L.N.. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine.
2. "Handbook of Mineralogy".
3. [http://www.mindat.org/min-3416.html Richterite on Mindat.org]
4. [http://www.webmineral.com/data/Richterite.shtml#.U2-IFYHMS1U Richterite data on Webmin]
5. "IMA Master List".

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