Sinoite
title: "Sinoite" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["native-element-minerals", "orthorhombic-minerals", "minerals-in-space-group-36"] topic_path: "general/native-element-minerals" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinoite" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox mineral"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Sinoite |
| category | Silicate mineral |
| image | Sinoite.png |
| caption | Crystal structure of sinoite. Atoms: red – O, blue – N, gray – Si. |
| formula | Si2N2O |
| IMAsymbol | Sno |
| strunz | 1.DB.10 |
| dana | 1.3.9.1 |
| system | Orthorhombic |
| class | Pyramidal (mm2) |
| H-M symbol: (mm2) | |
| symmetry | Cmc21 |
| unit cell | a = 8.84 Å, b = 5.47 Å |
| c = 4.83 Å, Z = 4 | |
| color | From colorless to light gray |
| cleavage | None |
| luster | Vitreous |
| refractive | nα = 1.740 |
| nβ = 1.855 | |
| nγ = 1.855 | |
| opticalprop | Biaxial (-) |
| birefringence | δ = 0.115 |
| streak | White |
| gravity | 2.83 |
| diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
| references | |
| :: |
| name = Sinoite | category = Silicate mineral | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Sinoite.png | caption = Crystal structure of sinoite. Atoms: red – O, blue – N, gray – Si. | formula = Si2N2O | IMAsymbol = Sno | molweight = | strunz = 1.DB.10 | dana = 1.3.9.1 | system = Orthorhombic | class = Pyramidal (mm2) H-M symbol: (mm2) | symmetry = Cmc21 | unit cell = a = 8.84 Å, b = 5.47 Å c = 4.83 Å, Z = 4 | color = From colorless to light gray | twinning = | cleavage = None | fracture = | tenacity = | mohs = | luster = Vitreous | refractive = nα = 1.740 nβ = 1.855 nγ = 1.855 | opticalprop = Biaxial (-) | birefringence = δ = 0.115 | pleochroism = | streak = White | gravity = 2.83 | diaphaneity = Transparent to translucent | references =
Sinoite is a rare mineral with the chemical formula Si2N2O. It was first found in 1905 in chondrite meteorites and identified as a distinct mineral in 1965. Sinoite crystallizes upon meteorite impact as grains smaller than 0.2 mm surrounded by Fe-Ni alloys and the mineral enstatite. It is named after its SiNO composition and can be prepared in the laboratory as a silicon oxynitride ceramic.
The crystalline structure of silicon oxynitride is built by SiN3O tetrahedra connected through oxygen atoms along the c axis and through nitrogen atoms perpendicular to it. The strong covalent bonding of this structure results in high flexural strength and resistance to heating and oxidation up to temperatures of about 1600 °C.
References
References
- Warr, L.N.. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine.
- [http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/sinoite.pdf Sinoite]. Handbook of Mineralogy
- [http://www.mindat.org/min-3676.html Sinoite]. Mindat.org
- [http://webmineral.com/data/Sinoite.shtml Sinoite]. Webmineral
- Ralf Riedel. (18 April 2008). "Ceramics science and technology: Structures". Wiley-VCH.
- A. E. Rubin. (1997). "Sinoite (Si2N2O): Crystallization from EL chondrite impact melts". American Mineralogist.
- Ohashi, Masayoshi. (1993). "Solid Solubility of Aluminum in O'-SiAlON". J. Am. Ceram. Soc..
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