Cenite	A synonym of Kainite
Kinoite	A valid IMA mineral species	Ca₂Cu₂(H₂O)₂[Si₃O₁₀]
Sainit	A synonym of Polydymite	Ni²⁺Ni₂³⁺S₄
Sannaite	A rock classification type
Senaite	A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered	Pb(Mn,Y,U)(Fe,Zn)₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH)₃₈
Suanite	A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered	Mg₂[B₂O₅]
Suenoite	A valid IMA mineral species	◻Mn₂Mg₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Sínít	A synonym of 'Syenite'
Zonite	A rock subtype

IMA Classification of SinoiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

First published:

1964

Type description reference:

Andersen, C. A., Keil, K., Mason, B. (1964) Silicon Oxynitride: A Meteoritic Mineral. Science, 146 (3641). 256-257 doi:10.1126/science.146.3641.256

Classification of SinoiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

1.DB.10

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
D : Nonmetallic Carbides and Nitrides
B : Nonmetallic nitrides

Dana 7th ed.:

1.3.8.1

Dana 8th ed.:

1.3.9.1

1 : NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS
3 : Semi-metals and non-metals

Hey's CIM Ref.:

2.2

2 : Carbides, Nitrides, Silicides and Phosphides

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference for Standard
Sno	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of SinoiteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colourless

Density:

2.80 - 2.85 g/cm³ (Measured) 2.84 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of SinoiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.740 n_β = 1.855 n_γ = 1.855

Birefringence:

High; a distinguishing feature in thin section.

Max. Birefringence:

δ = 0.115
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars.

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Dispersion:

r > v moderate

Colour in reflected light:

Light gray

Chemistry of SinoiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Si₂N₂O

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Si	56.068 %
N	27.962 %
O	15.970 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

N, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of SinoiteHide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

mm2 - Pyramidal

Space Group:

Cmc2₁

Cell Parameters:

a = 8.843(5) Å, b = 5.473(5) Å, c = 4.835(5) Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.616 : 1 : 0.883

Unit Cell V:

234.00 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Crystal StructureHide

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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)
0011899	Sinoite	Idrestedt I, Brosset C (1964) Structure of Si2N2O Acta Chemica Scandinavica 18 1879-1886	1964	synthetic	0	293
0014335	Sinoite	Baraton M, Billy M, Labbe J, Quintard P, Roult G (1988) L'Oxynitrure de Silicium : Si2 N2 O II. Evolution Structurale et Endommagement par Irradiation aux Neutrons Rapides _cod_database_code 1001786 Materials Research Bulletin 23 1087-1099	1988	0	293
0014334	Sinoite	Baraton M, Billy M, Labbe J, Quintard P, Roult G (1988) L'Oxynitrure de Silicium : Si2 N2 O II. Evolution Structurale et Endommagement par Irradiation aux Neutrons Rapides _cod_database_code 1001785 Materials Research Bulletin 23 1087-1099	1988	0	293
0014289	Sinoite	Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1980) Modifications structurales de l'oxynitrure de silicium sous contraintes thermiques _cod_database_code 1001781 Materials Research Bulletin 15 1207-1213	1980	0	293
0014288	Sinoite	Billy M, Labbe J, Selvaraj A, Roult G (1980) Modifications structurales de l'oxynitrure de silicium sous contraintes thermiques _cod_database_code 1001780 Materials Research Bulletin 15 1207-1213	1980	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
4.43 Å	(10)
3.36 Å	(10)
4.66 Å	(8)
2.61 Å	(5)
2.42 Å	(5)
2.39 Å	(4)
4.13 Å	(3)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 1: Primary nebular phases	4.567-4.561
4 : Primary chondrule phases	4.566–4.561
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration	4.566-4.550
5 : Primary asteroid phases	4.566–4.560

Type Occurrence of SinoiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Jajh deh Kot Lalu meteorite, Khairpur District, Sindh Province, Pakistan

General Appearance of Type Material:

Irregular grains and occasional lath-like crystals up to 0.2 mm long, the individual grains frequently being aggregated into larger patches.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA, 3954.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Enstatite chondrite meteorite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Alabandite	Daubréelite	Enstatite	Graphite	'Nickel-iron'
Oldhamite	Pigeonite	Plagioclase	Tridymite	Troilite

Reference:

Andersen, C. A., Keil, K., Mason, B. (1964) Silicon Oxynitride: A Meteoritic Mineral. Science, 146 (3641). 256-257 doi:10.1126/science.146.3641.256

Other Language Names for SinoiteHide

Dutch:Sinoiet

German:Sinoit

Russian:Синоит

Simplified Chinese:氮氧硅石

Spanish:Sinoita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

1.DB.05

Nierite

Si₃N₄

Trig. 3m : P31c

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Bright greenish yellow cathodoluminescence.

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for SinoiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-3676.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

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Look for Sinoite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Sinoite on Webmineral

Look for Sinoite on Wikipedia

Look for Sinoite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from McDougall Minerals

The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for SinoiteHide

Reference List:

Andersen, C. A., Keil, K., Mason, B. (1964) Silicon Oxynitride: A Meteoritic Mineral. Science, 146 (3641). 256-257 doi:10.1126/science.146.3641.256

Idrestedt, Ingvar, Brosset, Cyrill, Ledaal, Tore, Seip, Hans M. (1964) Structure of Si2N2O. Acta Chemica Scandinavica, 18. 1879-1886 doi:10.3891/acta.chem.scand.18-1879

BROSSET, CYRILL, IDRESTEDT, INGVAR (1964) Crystal Structure of Silicon Oxynitride, Si2N2O. Nature, 201 (4925). 1211 doi:10.1038/2011211a0

Andersen, C. A., Keil, K., Mason, B. (1964) Silicon Oxynitride: A Meteoritic Mineral. Science, 146 (3641). 256-257 doi:10.1126/science.146.3641.256

American Mineralogist (1965): 50: 521.

KEIL, KLAUS, ANDERSEN, CHRISTIAN A. (1965) Occurrences of Sinoite, Si2N2O, in Meteorites. Nature, 207 (4998). 745 doi:10.1038/207745a0

Keil, Klaus, Andersen, Christian A (1965) Electron microprobe study of the Jajh deh Kot Lalu enstatite chondrite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 29 (6) 621-632 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(65)90059-1

Srinivasa, S. R., Cartz, L., Jorgensen, J. D., Worlton, T. G., Beyerlein, R. A., Billy, M. (1977) High-pressure neutron diffraction study of Si2N2O. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 10 (3) 167-171 doi:10.1107/s002188987701317x

Khodakovsky, I.L. and Petaev, M.I. (1981) Thermodinamicheskie svoict va I usloviya obrazovaniya osbornita, sinoita i karlsbergita v meteoritakh. Geokhimiya: 3: 329-340.

Mirgorodsky, A P, Baraton, M I, Quintard, P (1989) Lattice dynamics of silicon oxynitride, Si2N2O: vibrational spectrum, elastic and piezoelectric properties. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 1 (50). 10053-10066 doi:10.1088/0953-8984/1/50/008

Sjöberg, J., Helgesson, G., Idrestedt, I. (1991) Refinement of the structure of Si2N2O. Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure Communications, 47 (11) 2438-2441 doi:10.1107/s0108270191006236

Li, Ya-Li; Zheng, Fen; Liang, Yong; Ma, Xian-Feng; Cui, Suo-Jing; Ishigaki, Takamasa (2001) Reaction and Formation of Crystalline Silicon Oxynitride in Si-O-N Systems under Solid High Pressure. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 84 (4). 875-877 doi:10.1111/j.1151-2916.2001.tb00757.x

Kroll, Peter, Milko, Matus (2003) Theoretical Investigation of the Solid State Reaction of Silicon Nitride and Silicon Dioxide forming Silicon Oxynitride (Si2N2O) under Pressure. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 629. 1737-1750 doi:10.1002/zaac.200300122

(2005) Sinoite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Bischoff, Addi, Grund, Thorsten, Jording, Thomas, Heying, Birgit, Hoffmann, Rolf-Dieter, Rodewald, Ute C., Pöttgen, Rainer (2005) First Refinement of the Sinoite Structure of a Natural Crystal from the Neuschwanstein (EL6) Meteorite. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B, 60. 1231-1234 doi:10.1515/znb-2005-1203

Sekine, T.; He, H.; Kobayashi, T.; Shibata, K. (2006) Sinoite (Si2N2O) shocked at pressures of 28 to 64 GPa. American Mineralogist, 91 (2-3). 463-466 doi:10.2138/am.2006.2106

Localities for SinoiteHide

Showing 12 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 👁 Image
symbol to view information about a locality. The 👁 Image
symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Hide all sections | Show all sections

Locality ListHide

👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.

Antarctica
East Antarctica Buckley Island quadrangle Lewis Cliff ⓘ Lewis Cliff 88714 meteorite	Meteorological Bulletin
Victoria Land Elephant Moraine ⓘ Elephant Moraine 90102 meteorite	FOGEL (1997)
Australia
Western Australia Coolgardie Shire Kambalda ⓘ Yilmia meteorite	Buseck et al. (1972)
Belarus
Mogilev Region Babruysk District ⓘ Bobruisk Ring Structure	Levitskiy et al. (2018, July)
Estonia
Viljandi County Pillistfer (Pilistvere) ⓘ Pillistfer meteorite	KEIL et al. (1965) +2 other references
Finland
Satakunta Huittinen ⓘ Hvittis meteorite	KEIL et al. (1965) +1 other reference
Germany
Bavaria Swabia Ostallgäu District Schwangau ⓘ Neuschwanstein I meteorite (Neuschwanstein meteorite)	Russell et al. (2003) +1 other reference
Pakistan (TL)
Sindh Province Khairpur District ⓘ Jajh deh Kot Lalu meteorite (TL)	Andersen et al. (1964) +1 other reference
Poland
Lublin Voivodeship Zamość County ⓘ Zaklodzie meteorite	Przylibski et al. (2005) +2 other references
Sudan
River Nile ⓘ Almahata Sitta meteorite	El Goresy et al. (2012) +1 other reference
Tanzania
Manyara Region Babati District ⓘ Ufana meteorite	KEIL et al. (1965)
USA
Nebraska Cass County Eagle ⓘ Eagle meteorite	Mészárosová (2018)

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⇱ Sinoite: Mineral information, data and localities.

Sinoite

About SinoiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

Similar NamesHide

IMA Classification of SinoiteHide

Classification of SinoiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of SinoiteHide

Optical Data of SinoiteHide

Chemistry of SinoiteHide

Crystallography of SinoiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of SinoiteHide

Other Language Names for SinoiteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for SinoiteHide

References for SinoiteHide

Localities for SinoiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide