{{Short description|Zeolite mineral group}} {{Infobox mineral | name = Ferrierite | image = Ferrierite-Mg-143217.jpg | imagesize = 300px | alt = | caption = Ferrierite-Mg, Kamloops Lake, British Columbia, Canada | category = Tectosilicate minerals | group = Zeolite group | formula = {{chem2|("A"position)_{3–5}Mg[Al_{5–7}Si_{27.5–31}O72]*18H2O}} | IMAsymbol = Frr<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}</ref> | molweight = | strunz = 9.GD.50 | dana = | system = Orthorhombic | class = Dipyramidal (mmm) <br/>H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) | symmetry = ''Immm'' <br/>''P''2<sub>1</sub>/n (Ferrierite-Na) | unit cell = | color = white, colorless, pinkish, orange to red | colour = | habit = small plates or short prismatic crystals, asbestiform needles | twinning = | cleavage = | fracture = | tenacity = | mohs = 3 – {{frac|3|1|2}} | luster = | streak = white | diaphaneity = | gravity = | density = | polish = | opticalprop = | refractive = | birefringence = | pleochroism = | 2V = | dispersion = | extinction = | length fast/slow = | fluorescence = | absorption = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | impurities = | alteration = | other = | prop1 = | prop1text = | references = <ref>[http://webmineral.com/data/Ferrierite.shtml Webmineral]</ref><ref>[http://www.mindat.org/min-6931.html Mindat – Ferrierite-Mg]</ref>
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The '''ferrierite''' group of zeolite minerals (the FER structure) consists of four very similar species: ferrierite-Mg, ferrierite-Na, ferrierite-NH4 and ferrierite-K, based on the dominant cation in the '''A''' location. ferrierite-Mg and ferrierite-K are orthorhombic minerals and ferrierite-Na is monoclinic with highly variable cationic composition {{chem2|(Na,K)2Mg(Si,Al)18O36(OH)*9H2O}}. Calcium and other ions are often also present. They are found in vitreous to pearly, often radiating, spherical aggregates of thin blade-shaped transparent to translucent crystals.
Ferrierite typically occurs as an alteration mineral in basaltic rocks and in tuffaceous sediments. In North America, it is found at Kamloops Lake, BC, Canada (the original type locality) and Leavitt Lake, California. Ferrierite was named for Canadian geologist and mining engineer Walter Frederick Ferrier (1865–1950).
==Synthetic ferrierite== Synthetic ferrierites have even greater cation variability and have important uses as commercial filters and ion-exchange beds.
Ferrierite-H can be used as a catalyst in the chemical industry for the acid-catalyzed skeletal isomerization of n-butenes to isobutene, the raw material for production of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).<ref name="Wiedemann2016">{{cite journal |author1=Wiedemann, Sophie C. C. |author2=Ristanović, Zoran |author3=Whiting, Gareth T. |author4=Reddy Marthala, V. R. |author5=Kärger, Jörg |author6=Weitkamp, Jens |author7=Wels, Bas |author8=Bruijnincx, Pieter C. A. |author9=Weckhuysen, Bert M. |title=Large Ferrierite Crystals as Models for Catalyst Deactivation during Skeletal Isomerisation of Oleic Acid: Evidence for Pore Mouth Catalysis |journal=Chemistry – A European Journal|year=2016|volume=22|issue=1|pages=199–210 |doi=10.1002/chem.201503551 |pmid=26611940|bibcode=2016ChEuJ..22..199W |hdl=1874/328186 |doi-access=free |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
The hydrophobic all-silica ferrierite (Si-FER) has very high selectivity in the separation of alcohol–water mixtures, due to the very restrictive shape and space constraints of the FER framework type. At high pressure, Si-FER can achieve the separation of an ethanol–water liquid mixture into supramolecular blocks of its components, namely, ethanol dimer wires and water tetramer squares.<ref name="arletti2017">{{cite journal |author1=Arletti, Rossella |author2=Fois, Ettore |author3=Gigli, Lara |author4=Vezzalini, Giovanna |author5=Quartieri, Simona |author6=Tabacchi, Gloria |title=Irreversible Conversion of a Water–Ethanol Solution into an Organized Two-Dimensional Network of Alternating Supramolecular Units in a Hydrophobic Zeolite under Pressure |journal=Angewandte Chemie International Edition|year=2017|volume=56|issue=8|pages=2105–2109 |doi=10.1002/anie.201610949 |pmid=28067444|bibcode=2017ACIE...56.2105A |hdl=11383/2059730|hdl-access=free}}</ref>
== Potential toxicity == Ferrierite is normally found as small plates or short prismatic crystals. However recent research found that in some locations, it grows as very thin needles or fibers. These fibrous varieties have been found in several localities, including northern Italy, Lovelock (Nevada, USA), and British Columbia (Canada).<ref name="Mattioli2022"/><ref name="Zoboli2019"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Giacobbe |first1=C. |last2=Wright |first2=J. |last3=Dejoie |first3=C. |last4=Tafforeau |first4=P. |last5=Berruyer |first5=C. |last6=Vigliaturo |first6=R. |last7=Gieré |first7=R. |last8=Gualtieri |first8=A. F. |year=2019 |title=Depicting the crystal structure of fibrous ferrierite from British Columbia using a combined synchrotron techniques approach |journal=Journal of Applied Crystallography |volume=52 |issue=6 |pages=1397–1408 |doi=10.1107/S1600576719013980 |pmc=6878881 }}</ref>
Scientific research into the fibrous ferrierite’s habit has become very important because of its potential health risks that could be similar to minerals like asbestos and erionite, and is strongly linked to fiber shape and size. Long, thin, durable fibers can be inhaled deep into the lungs, where they may persist and irritate lung tissue.<ref name="Gualtieri2018"/>
Measurements of fibrous ferrierite from northern Italy and from the Lovelock, Nevada deposits show that many fibers fall within the “breathable/respirable” size range used for occupational health screening, meaning they are small enough to reach the lower lungs if airborne and inhaled.<ref name="Mattioli2022">{{cite journal |last1=Mattioli |first1=M. |last2=Ballirano |first2=P. |last3=Pacella |first3=A. |last4=Cangiotti |first4=M. |last5=Di Lorenzo |first5=F. |last6=Valentini |first6=L. |last7=Meli |first7=M. A. |last8=Roselli |first8=C. |last9=Fagiolino |first9=I. |last10=Giordani |first10=M. |year=2022 |title=Fibrous Ferrierite from Northern Italy: Mineralogical Characterization, Surface Properties, and Assessment of Potential Toxicity |journal=Minerals |volume=12 |issue=5 |page=626 |doi=10.3390/min12050626 |bibcode=2022Mine...12..626M |doi-access=free |hdl=11573/1672805 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Zoboli2019">{{cite journal |last1=Zoboli |first1=A. |last2=Di Giuseppe |first2=D. |last3=Baraldi |first3=C. |last4=Gamberini |first4=M. C. |last5=Malferrari |first5=D. |last6=Urso |first6=G. |last7=Lassinantti Gualtieri |first7=M. |last8=Bailey |first8=M. |last9=Gualtieri |first9=A. F. |year=2019 |title=Characterisation of fibrous ferrierite in the rhyolitic tuffs at Lovelock, Nevada, USA |journal=Mineralogical Magazine |volume=83 |issue=4 |pages=577–586 |doi=10.1180/mgm.2019.25 |hdl=11380/1182631 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Surface studies also found that fibrous ferrierite can be chemically and physically similar to fibrous erionite, which is known to be highly carcinogenic. Researches recommended a precautionary approach when fibrous ferrierite is present until direct toxicology testing is completed.<ref name="Gualtieri2018">{{cite journal |last1=Gualtieri |first1=A. F. |last2=Gandolfi |first2=N. B. |last3=Passaglia |first3=E. |last4=Pollastri |first4=S. |last5=Mattioli |first5=M. |last6=Giordani |first6=M. |last7=Ottaviani |first7=M. F. |last8=Cangiotti |first8=M. |last9=Bloise |first9=A. |last10=Barca |first10=D. |year=2018 |title=Is fibrous ferrierite a potential health hazard? Characterization and comparison with fibrous erionite |journal=American Mineralogist |volume=103 |issue=7 |pages=1044–1055 |doi=10.2138/am-2018-6508 |bibcode=2018AmMin.103.1044G |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Mattioli2022" /><ref name="Zoboli2019" />
Ferrierite has not been formally classified as a human carcinogen, but the occurrence of naturally fibrous–asbestiform ferrierite and its respirable fiber sizes are reasons it continues to be studied for possible health effects in specific locations.<ref name="Gualtieri2018" /><ref name="Mattioli2022" /><ref name="Zoboli2019" />
==See also== *List of minerals *List of minerals named after people
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://archive.today/20121212105302/http://helios.princeton.edu/zeomics/cgi-bin/view_structure.pl?src=iza&id=FER Structure type FER] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20040918202508/http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/neuhoff/zeo/ferrierite.html Univ. Florida images]
Category:Sodium minerals Category:Potassium minerals Category:Aluminium minerals Category:Magnesium minerals Category:Zeolite group Category:Orthorhombic minerals Category:Minerals in space group 71