Mineral B PDF

GEOLOGICAL HANDBOOK
MINERAL
B
BY:
MAULANA ARSYAD
http://mineral.galleries.com/
THE MINERAL BABINGTONITE

Chemistry: Ca 2 Fe 2 Si 5 O 14 OH, Calcium iron silicate.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Inosilicates
Uses: mineral specimen
Specimens
Babingtonite is a mineral that was unknown to science before
the start of this century. It is an unusual mineral in three
respects. It contains both divalent (+2) and trivalent (+3) iron
ions and this causes a very weak magnetism that could turn the
needle of a compass. It is opaque and brilliantly vitreous. It also
is the only black mineral found with the typically white or pale
colored zeolites. This sets it off and makes it easy to see the
normally small crystals among the other minerals in a zeolitic
pocket. Babingtonite is somewhat scarce and its presence in a
specimen tends to raise the value of the specimen
considerably. Babingtonite, although scarce, is found in almost
all rare mineral collections.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is almost always black to dark green.
Luster is vitreous.
Transparency: Crystals are generally opaque but thin
crystals or splinters can be translucent.
Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
Crystal Habits include short stocky prismatic crystals or
tabular to platy forms.
Cleavage is good in one direction and perfect in another,

these are pinacoidal but are at near right angles to
each other forming rectangular prisms.
Fracture is uneven to subconchoidal.
Hardness is 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.3 (somewhat above
average for translucent minerals)
Streak is brown to gray.
Associated Minerals are quartz, apophyllite, feldspars,
heulandite, stilbite, scolecite and other zeolites.
Other Characteristics: weakly magnetic.
Notable Occurrences include Poona, India; Devon,
England; Baveno, Italy and several locations in
Massachusetts.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, associations
with zeolites and luster.
THE MINERAL BAKERITE

Chemistry: Ca4B4(BO4)(SiO4) 3(OH)3 - H2O, Hydrated
Calcium Boro-silicate Hydroxide.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Nesosilicates
Group: Datolite
Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Bakerite is a rare boro-silicate that was discovered in Death
Valley, California and is still only found in abundance there. It is
found there in altered volcanic rocks as nodules and veins.
Datolite and howlite a couple of other boro-silicates, form
similar looking nodules, but datolite is harder and howlite is
softer. Massive magnesite can also be confused with bakerite,
but it has good cleavage. At another California locality, crystals
and crusts of bakerite are found lining cavities in shale with
crystals of celestite. The bakerite crystals are clearly
monoclinic with a slanted prismatic form.
Color is white, colorless or gray.
Luster is vitreous as crystals; dull to sub-vitreous
(porcelaneous) for nodules and masses.
Transparency crystals are opaque to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habits include prismatic, slanted (pseudorhombohedral) crystals and cauliflower-like nodules
and compact masses.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is conchoidal to uneven.
Hardness is 4.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 (average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Is non-fluorescent.
Associated Minerals include celestite and other minerals
in altered volcanic rocks.
Notable Occurrences include the type locality at Furnace
Creek, Death Valley, Inyo County and at the Sterling
Borax Mine in Tick Canyon, Los Angeles County,
California, USA.
Best Field Indicators are locality, nodular character,
hardness and non-fluorescence.
THE MINERAL BARATOVITE

Chemistry: KLi3Ca7(Ti, Zr)2(SiO3)12F2, Potassium
Lithium Calcium Titanium Zirconium Silicate Fluoride.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: cyclosilicates
Uses: only as a mineral specimen
Specimens
Baratovite is a very rare silicate mineral. It is extremely new on
the mineral scene since it was only described in the last twenty
five years. Baratovite is a cyclosilicate which means that the
structure is composed of silicate tetrahedrons linked together
so that they form isolated rings. Baratovite is one of the rare
minerals that are coming out of the former USSR and finding
their way onto the mineral markets. Baratovite has the "look" of
muscovite but is easily distinguished by its brilliant blue
fluorescence under ultra-violet light.
Color is white with pinkish tints.
Luster is pearly.
Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic (pseudo-hexagonal); 2/m
Crystal Habits include flattened pseudohexagonal crystals
also massive and lamellar.
Cleavage: perfect in one direction.
Fracture: uneven
Hardness is 3.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 (average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: fluoresces brilliant blue under UV
light.
Associated Minerals include aegerine, misterite and other
rare silicates.
Notable Occurrences include Dara-Pioz, Tien-Shan
Mountains, Tadzhikistan.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, fluorescence,
cleavage, associations and locality.
THE MINERAL BARITE
Chemistry: BaSO4, Barium Sulfate

Class: Sulfates
Group: Barite
Uses: ore of barium
Specimens
Barite is a common mineral and makes very attractive

specimens. It often is an accessory mineral to other minerals
and can make a nice backdrop to brightly colored crystals. At
times bladed or tabular crystals of Barite form a concentric
pattern of increasingly larger crystals outward. This has the
appearance of a flower and when colored red by iron stains,
these formations are called "Desert Roses". Because Barite is
so common, it can be confused for other minerals. Celestite
(SrSO4) has the same structure as barite and forms very
similar crystals. The two are indistinguishable by ordinary
methods, but a flame test can distinguish them. By scrapping
the dust of the crystals into a gas flame the color of the flame
will confirm the identity of the crystal. If the flame is a pale
green it is barite, but if the flame is red it is celestite. The flame
test works because the elements barium (Ba) and strontium
(Sr) react in the flame and produce those colors.
Color is variable but is commonly found colorless or white,
also blue, green, yellow and red shades.
Luster is vitreous.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m

Crystal Habits include the bladed crystals that are
dominated by two large pinacoid faces top and bottom and
small prism faces forming a jutting angle on every side.
There are many variations of these faces but the flattened
blades and tabular crystals are the most common. If the
pinacoid faces become diminished or are absent, the
resulting prismatic crystal has a rhombic cross section. Also
scaly, lamellar, and even fiberous.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction, less so in another
direction.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 3 - 3.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.5 (heavy for translucent
minerals)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are numerous but significant
associations have been with chalcopyrite, calcite,
aragonite, sulfur, pyrite, quartz, vanadinite, cerussite
and fluorite among many others.
Other Characteristics: green color in flame test (see
above).
Notable Occurances include Oklahoma, Connecticut and
Colorado, USA; England and Germany.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, flame test and
density.
THE MINERAL BASTNASITE
Chemistry: (Ce, La, Y)CO3F , Cerium Lanthanum

Yttrium Carbonate Fluoride.
Class: Carbonates
Groups: Rare earth carbonates and Bastnasite.
Uses: As an important ore of cerium and other rare
earth metals and as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Bastnasite, which is sometimes spelled as bastnaesite, is one

of a few rare earth carbonate minerals. Other rare earth
carbonate
minerals
include
ancylite,
baiyuneboite,
burbankite, calcioancylite, calkinsite, carbocernaite,
cebaite, cordylite, daqingshanite, donnayite, ewaldite,
gysinite, huanghoite, hydroxylbasnasite, khanneshite,
kimuraite, lanthanite, parisite, remondite, rontgenite,
sahamalite,
schuilingite,
synchysite,
tengerite,
thorbastnasite and zhonghuacerite.
Bastnasite has cerium, lanthanum and yttrium in its generalized
formula but officially the mineral is divided into three minerals
based on the predominant rare earth element. There is
Bastnasite-(Ce) with a more accurate formula of (Ce,
La)CO3F. There is also Bastnasite-(La) with a formula of (La,
Ce)CO3F. And finally there is Bastnasite-(Y) with a formula of
(Y, Ce)CO3F. There is little difference in the three in terms of
physical properties and most bastnasite is bastnasite-(Ce).
Cerium in most natural bastnasites usually far and away
dominates the others. Bastnasite and the phosphate mineral
monazite are the two largest sources of cerium, an important

industrial metal.
Bastnasite is closely related to the mineral parisite The two are
both rare earth fluoro-carbonates, but parisite's formula of
Ca(Ce, La, Nd)2(CO3)3F2 contains a calcium (and a small
amount of neodymium) and a different ratio of constituent ions.
Parisite could be viewed as a molecule of calcite (CaCO3)
added to two molecules of bastnasite. In fact, the two have
been shown to alter back and forth with the addition or loss of
CaCO3 in natural environments.
Bastnasite forms a series with the mineral hydroxylbasnasite.
The two are members of a substitution series that involves the
possible substitution of fluorine ions for hydroxyl (OH) ion
groups. Hydroxylbasnasite has a formula of (Ce, La)CO3(OH,
F). Not an obviously significant difference, but significant
enough to warrant a new mineral. X-ray studies confirm that the
hydroxyl ion groups increase the unit cells of the structure and
crystallographically and mineralogically this is significant.
Bastnasite gets its name from its type locality, Bastnas Mine,
Riddarhyttan, Vastmanland, Sweden. Although a scarce
mineral and never in great concentrations, it is wide spread and
one of the more common rare earth carbonates. Bastnasite has
been found in karst bauxite deposits in Hungary, Greece and
the Balkans. Also found in carbonatites, a rare carbonate
igneous intrusive rock, at Fen, Norway; Bayan Obo, Mongolia;
Kangankunde, Malawi; Kizilcaoren, Turkey and Mountain Pass,
California, USA. At Mountain Pass, bastnasite is the leading
ore mineral. Some bastnasite has been found in the unusual
granites of the langesundsfjord area, Norway; Kola
Peninsula; Mont Saint-Hilaire mines, Ontario Canada and
Thor Lake deposits, Northwest Territories, Canada.
Hydrothermal sources have also been reported.
Color is pale white, tan, gray, brown, yellow and pink.
Luster is pearly, vitreous, greasy to dull.

Transparency: Crystals are translucent to opaque.
Crystal System is hexagonal.
Crystal Habits include small hexagonal rounded flakes
and short prismatic crystals, also in rosettes and
spheres as well as massive and granular. Bastnasite
has been known to replace (pseudomorph) crystals of
allanite.
Cleavage is distinct in one direction (basal) and poor in
three directions (prismatic).
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 4 to 4.5.
Specific Gravity is 4.7 to 5.0 (well above average)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are extensive and include albite,
analcime, monazite, hematite, amphiboles, aegirine,
rutile,
rhodochrosite,
ancylite-(Ce),
calcite,
apophyllite, cordylite, ashcroftine, fluorite, galena,
donnayite, epididymite, apatite, serandite, zircon,
elpidite,
natrolite,
pyrochlore,
pyrophanite,
astrophyllite,
barite,
brookite,
leucophanite,
lorenzenite, quartz, synchysite-(Ce), parisite,
dolomite, strontianite, siderite and ankerite.
Notable Occurrences include the type locality at
Bastnas Mine, Riddarhyttan, Vastmanland, Sweden as
well as Fen, Norway; Bayan Obo, Mongolia;
Kangankunde,
Malawi;
Kizilcaoren,
Turkey;
langesundsfjord area, Norway; Kola Peninsula,
Russia; Mountain Pass, California, USA; Hungary;
Greece; several sites in the Balkans; Mont SaintHilaire mines, Ontario and Thor Lake deposits,
Northwest Territories, Canada.
Best Field Indicators: crystal habit, color, cleavage,
density, luster and locality.
THE MINERAL BAUMHAUERITE
Chemistry: Pb3As4S9, Lead Arsenic Sulfide

Class: Sulfides
Subclass: Sulfosalts
Uses: As a very minor ore of lead and arsenic and
as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Baumhauerite is a rare sulfide mineral from the famous quarry

at Lengenbach, Binnental, Valais, Switzerland. The site is
famous for many rare minerals including: novakite, rathite,
smythite, dufrenoysite, jordanite, marrite, seligmannite,
wallisite,
lengenbachite,
bernardite,
sartorite,
arsenolamprite, liveingite, imhofite and hatchite to name a
few. Most of the more exotic minerals from this site are arsenic
sulfides and sulfosalts like baumhauerite. Baumhauerite is
usually a bright dark gray mineral with a nice luster and striated
prismatic crystals embedded in a dolomitic marble. It is a rare
mineral and is only found in a few localities. Lengenbach is the
only locality where specimens can be found with regularity.
Color is a bright lead gray, blue gray to gray black
(internal reflections will flash a red color).
Luster is metallic to dull.
Transparency: Crystals are opaque.
Crystal System: Triclinic; bar 1.
Crystal Habits include prismatic striated crystals with
rounded faces; also in massive and granular forms.
Cleavage: Indistinct.
Fracture: Conchoidal.
Hardness is 3.
Specific Gravity is 5.3 (slightly heavier than average
for metallic minerals)
Streak is dark brown.
Associated Minerals include dolomite, realgar and
sartorite.
Notable Occurrences are limited to the type locality of
the
Lengenbach
Quarry,
Binnental,
Valais,
Switzerland and Franklin, New Jersey, USA.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, locality, internal
reflections, associations and density.
THE MINERAL BAYLDONITE
Chemistry: Cu3Pb(AsO4)2 - H2O, Hydrated Copper

Lead Arsenate Hydroxide
Class: PhosphateClass
Subclass: Arsenates
Uses: Crafted as cabochons and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Bayldonite is another attractive arsenate mineral formed in the

oxidation zone of ore deposits. It has a nice green color and
high resinous luster. The color is mostly due to the copper
content and the luster is mostly due to the lead content. Many
specimens contain some zinc as well. Bayldonite, which was
discovered at Penberthy Croft Mine in Cornwall, England, can
be used to make attractive cabochons, but is also nice as
cabinet specimens. Specimens are known from only a few
localities, so treasure any that can be found.
Color is green to yellow-green or yellow.
Luster is resinous.
Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic.
Crystal Habits include tabular crystals, radiating
fibrous, granular and massive crusts.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 4.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 5.5 (well above

average for translucent minerals).
Streak is green.
Associated Minerals are duftite, mimetite, quartz,
bindheimite, cerussite, wulfenite, mimetite, azurite
and limonite.
Notable Occurrences include Penberthy Croft Mine
and Wheal Carpenter Mine, St. Hilary and St. Day,
Cornwall, England; Arizona, USA and Tsumeb,
Namibia.
Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, streak,
lack of cleavage, density, locality and associations.
THE MINERAL BEUDANTITE
Chemistry:
PbFe3AsO4SO4(OH)6,
Lead
Iron
Arsenate Sulfate Hydroxide.
Class: Sulfates; although sometimes classified as a
Phosphate.
Group: Beudantite
Uses: As a very minor source of lead and as
mineral specimens.
Specimens
Beudantite is a difficult mineral to classify in that it has both an

arsenate anion group and a sulfate anion group. The arsenate
anion would normally dictate that beudantite be classified in the
Arsenate Subclass of the Phosphate Class of minerals. But
beudantite's sulfate anion group is intricate and essential in its
structure, while the arsenate anion group can be substituted for
by a phosphate anion group to at least a limited degree (see
the Beudantite Group below). Many classification schemes
place beudantite in the Phosphate Class however.
Beudantite, which is named for the French mineralogist
Francois S. Beudant, is at times a very attractive mineral. It can
be beautifully colored although often too dark, appearing black.
It has a nice high luster due to its lead content. It is often
associated with other rare secondary minerals that are found in
the oxidation zone of ore deposits. Often these assorted
mineral specimens can be quite interesting and a bonus to the
collector who likes lots of different minerals on one specimen
(more for the money, so to speak).
Beudantite lends its name to a group of sulfate-arsenates and

sulfate-phosphates called the Beudantite Group. These
minerals are all trigonal, contain a sulfate ion group and have
six hydroxides. The general formula of this group is AB 3{AsO4
and/or PO4}SO 4(OH)6. The A cation can be either calcium,
barium, cerium, lead, strontium and/or hydrogen. The B cation
can be either iron, aluminum and/or gallium.
These are the members of the Beudantite Group:
Beudantite (Lead Iron Arsenate Sulfate Hydroxide)
Corkite (Lead Iron Phosphate Sulfate Hydroxide)
Gallobeudantite (Lead Gallium Arsenate Sulfate
Hydroxide)
Hidalgoite (Lead Aluminum Arsenate Sulfate
Hydroxide)
Hinsdalite (Lead Strontium Aluminum Phosphate
Sulfate Hydroxide)
Kemmlitzite (Strontium Cerium Aluminum Arsenate
Sulfate Hydroxide)
Orpheite (Lead Aluminum Phosphate Sulfate
Hydroxide)
Schlossmacherite (Hydrated Hydrogen Calcium
Aluminum Arsenate Sulfate Hydroxide)
Svanbergite (Strontium Aluminum Phosphate
Sulfate Hydroxide)
Woodhouseite (Calcium Aluminum Arsenate
Sulfate Hydroxide)
THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BEUDANTITE:
Color is green, dark green, yellow-green, orangebrown, brown or black.
Luster is vitreous, adamantine to greasy.
Transparency: Specimens are transparent to
translucent.
Crystal System is trigonal: bar 3
Crystal Habits include blocky rhombohedrons,

sometimes pseudo-cubic, and platy to tabular crystals.
also as druses, crusts and earthy masses.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction (basal), but not
usually seen.
Hardness is 4.
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.3 - 4.5 (heavy for
non-metallic minerals).
Streak is greenish yellow.
Associated Minerals include mimetite, jarosite,
conichalcite,
anglesite,
galena,
sphalerite,
arsenopyrite,
pyrite,
pyrrhotite,
descloizite,
aegirine, hemimorphite, microcline, muscovite,
arthurite, tetranatrolite and natrolite.
Notable Occurrences include Tsumeb, Namibia;
Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada; several mines in
Arizona, USA; laurion, Greece and Australia.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, density, color,
streak, luster and hardness.
THE MINERAL
BENITOITE
Fluorescent
Cursor Passover
Chemistry: BaTiSi3O9, Barium Titanium Silicate.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Cyclosilicates
Uses: As a gemstone and as a mineral specimen
Specimens
Benitoite is a somewhat obscure, but wonderful gemstone

mineral that was only discovered at the beginning of this
century. It has a sapphire blue color and was first thought to be
a variety of sapphire. But x-ray studies showed that the crystal
structure was unlike any mineral previously discovered. It is one
of only a few minerals to crystallize in the bar 6 m 2 class called
the ditrigonal-dipyramidal symmetry class. While this class is
techically hexagonal, it produces trigonal (triangular) looking
crystals. Additionally benitoite is also a fluorescent mineral.
Nearly all specimens of benitoite will fluoresce a beautiful pale
blue color under UV light (see above).
Benitoite is associated with a few rare minerals such as blackred neptunite, snow white natrolite and brown-yellow
joaquinite. The only source of this rare combination occures at
San Benito, California. They are formed in fractures of a

serpentine rock from hydrothermal solutions. These solutions
contained a number of unusual elements such as barium,
titanium, fluorine, iron, cesium, niobium, manganese and
lithium in relatively high concentrations. How such a solution
occurred and what other conditions caused the crystallization of
these rare minerals is still not well understood. The rare
clusters of blue benitoite and black neptunite on top of a crust
of white natrolite produces a truly fantastic and a one of a kind
mineral combination that is a must have for a serious mineral
collector.
Color is typically blue, but also colorless and yellowish.
Luster is vitreous.
Crystal System is hexagonal; bar 6 m 2
Crystal Habits include the flattened six faced
dipyramid that has a distinct triangle shape often
modified by minor faces. Also found as small grains.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is irregular.
Hardness is 6 - 6.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.6 (above average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Nearly all specimens
fluoresce blue under UV light.
Associated Minerals include serpentine, neptunite,
natrolite, joaquinite, sanbornite, taramellite, albite
and fresnoite.
Notable Occurrences include only the mines of San
Benito County, California, USA for good excellent
crystals. SW Texas produces tiny grains in eocene
sands as well as some other California localities.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, fluorescence,
color, associations and locality.
THE MINERAL BERAUNITE
Chemistry: Fe6(PO4)4(OH)5 - 4H2O, Hydrated Iron

Phosphate Hydroxide.
Class: Phosphates
Specimens
Beraunite is a scarce, but popular phosphate mineral for

collectors. It can have a nice color and luster and its rarity make
it an ideal collection specimen. It is one of those minerals that
contain two valences of iron and its formula could be written to
reflect this fact as in :Fe{+2}Fe{+3}5(PO4)4(OH)5 - 4H2O. This
chemistry reflects the fact that the mineral formed in not quite
completely oxidized conditions, a situation that interests
geochemists. The larger Fe{+2} ion occupies a separate and
distinct position in the structure of beraunite from the five other
Fe{+3} ions.
Color is yellow, brown, red, green or yellow.
Luster is vitreous.
Transparency: Specimens are translucent to
transparent.
Crystal System is monoclinic.
Crystal Habits include acicular, tabular, encrusting or
radiating fibrous crystals.
Cleavage is good.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3 - 4
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 (average).

Streak is yellow.
Associated Minerals include strengite, cacoxenite,
strunzite, rockbridgeite and limonite.
Notable Occurrences include Cornwall, England;
Ireland; Germany; Palermo Mine, New Hampshire and
Pennington County, South Dakota, USA.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color,
associations, cleavage and streak.
THE MINERAL BERLINITE
Chemistry: AlPO4, Aluminum Phosphate

Class: Phosphates
Specimens
Berlinite is a rare phosphate mineral first discovered at the

Vestana iron mine, Nastum, Sweden. It would not be very
outstanding except for the fact that it is the only known mineral
to be isostructural with quartz. Isostructural means that they
have the same structure although the two minerals have rather
different chemistries. Quartz, SiO2, would seem to be very
different from berlinite, AlPO4. But if the formula of quartz is
written as SiSiO4 then the similarity is obvious.
The reason that berlinite is able to have the same structure as
quartz is because the aluminum and phosphorus ions are of
similar size to silicon ions. Thus the same structure can be
achieved since the aluminums and phosphorus can completely
replace the silicons without alteration of the quartz structure.
Unfortunately, berlinite rarely forms crystals. It would be
fascinating to compare the crystals of berlinite to those of
quartz.
Color is colorless, gray to pink or rose.
Luster is vitreous.
Crystal System is trigonal; 3 2
Crystal Habits include granular masses and
disseminated grains.
Cleavage is absent.
Hardness is 6.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 (average for

translucent minerals)
Streak is white or gray.
Notable Occurrences include the Vestana iron mine,
Nastum, Sweden.
Best Field Indicators are locality, color, absence of
cleavage and hardness.
THE MINERAL BERYLLONITE
Chemistry:
NaBePO4,
Sodium
Beryllium
Phosphate.
Class: Phosphates
Uses: As a collector's gemstone and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Beryllonite is a rare beryllium mineral. It is found at only a few

places around the world. It can be cut as gems, but lacks color,
fire and hardness to be a popular gemstone. The first and some
of the best specimens of beryllonite have come from McKean
Mt., Stoneham, Maine. It forms from pegmatitic dikes and can
be easily confused with more common pegmatite minerals.
Color is colorless, white to pale yellow.
Luster is vitreous.
Transparency: Specimens are transparent
translucent (especially when frosted).
Crystal Habits include tabular to equant crystals
well as rosettes and masses.
Cleavage is good in one direction (basal), fair
several other directions.
Hardness is from 5.5 - 6
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.8 (average
to
as
in
for
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals include quartz especially rose
quartz, feldspars especially a variety of albite called
cleavelandite, elbaite, beryl and columbite.
Notable Occurrences are limited to McKean Mt.,
Stoneham and Newry, Maine, USA; the Sapucaia
pegmatite, Minas Gerais, Brazil and Paprok, Nuristan,
Afghanistan.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, hardness
and locality.
THE MINERAL BERTHIERITE
Chemistry: FeSb2S4 , Iron Antimony Sulfide.

Class: Sulfides
Uses: A minor ore of antimony and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Berthierite is easily confused with the closely related mineral

stibnite. The chemistry of berthierite differs from stibnite by
having an additional sulfur and one iron ion. Characteristic
wise, berthierite differs from stibnite in being found more
frequently in acicular to fibrous clusters, having a brown streak
and non flexible crystals.
Color is brownish gray to dark brown.
Luster is metallic.
Transparency crystals are opaque.
Crystal Habits include acicular, fibrous or radiating
crystals.
Cleavage is perfect in the lengthwise direction.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 2.5 - 3
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.6+ (average for
metallic minerals)
Streak is a dark brown.
Other Characteristics: Crystals are not flexible.
Associated Minerals include quartz, stibnite and

other sulfides.
Notable Occurrences include France; Rumania;
Colorado, USA; England and Germany.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, streak,
softness and inflexibility of crystals.
THE MINERAL BERTRANDITE
Chemistry: Be4Si2O7(OH)2, Beryllium

Hydroxide.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Sorosilicates
Uses: An ore of beryllium and as
specimens.
Specimens
Silicate
mineral
Bertrandite was named after Leon Bertrand, a French

mineralogist, and is one of the more important ores of
beryllium, second only to beryl. Bertrandite is closely tied to the
gemstone mineral beryl in many ways besides its use as an
ore for the same metal. The two are often associated together
as bertrandite is an alteration product of beryl. At times
bertrandite is growing on beryl crystals and at other times
bertrandite has completely replaced the beryl crystals forming a
pseudomorph. A pseudomorph is an atom by atom
replacement of one mineral for another; replacing the chemistry
and structure with a new mineral, but preserving the outward
shape of the original crystal. Pseudomorph mean false shape.
Bertrandite is found in beryllium bearing pegmatitic rocks and
some hydrothermal veins.
Color is colorless, white and pale yellow.
Luster is vitreous to pearly.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; m m 2.
Crystal Habits include tabular to platy crystals and

some prismatic forms. Often aggregates formed over
crystals of beryl. Twinning is common. Pseudomorphs
of bertrandite after beryl are also common.
Cleavage good in one direction lengthwise.
Fracture is uneven to conchoidal.
Hardness is 6-7.
Specific Gravity is 3.3-3.5
Streak is white to gray.
Other Characteristics: Some specimens have
fluoresced green under UV light.
Associated Minerals are numerous and include of
course beryl as well as quartz, albite, orthoclase,
fluorapatite, micas, anatase, brookite, pyrite,
fresnoite, analcime, calcite and cheralite.
Notable Occurrences include the type locality of PetitPort and Barbin, Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, France aa
well as Akca Tau and Kara-Oba, Kazakhstan; Zabytoe,
Primorie, Russia; Spor Mountain and the Brush
Beryllium Mine, Juab County, Utah; Harding Mine, New
Mexico; Texas and Pala District, San Diego County,
California, USA; China; Cornwall, England; Mongolia;
Norway and Mexico.
Best Field Indicators include only one direction of
cleavage, crystal habit, color, association with beryl and
hardness.
THE MINERAL BETAFITE
Chemical Formula: (Ca, Na, U)2(Ti, Nb, Ta)2O6(OH,

F) , Calcium Sodium Uranium Titanium Niobium
Tantalum Oxide Hydroxide Fluoride.
Class: Oxides and Hydroxides
Group: Pyrochlore
Uses: A minor ore of rare earth elements and
uranium and as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Betafite is a popular uranium bearing mineral to collect. It is one

of the few uranium minerals to form nice well shaped crystals.
Betafite crystallizes in the isometric symmetry class and forms
large octahedral and dodecahedral crystals that can weigh up
to 100 kg. Frequently they are modified by other isometric
forms and/or flattened when two opposing faces dominate the
crystal. Well formed crystals of betafite are considered classics!
Because betafite has rare earth elements such as thorium in its
chemistry, it is one of several so called Rare Earth Oxides.
Other rare earth oxides such as fergusonite, euxenite,
aeschynite and samarskite have very similar properties to
each other but lack betafite's typically well formed isometric
crystals.
Betafite is formed in rare earth rich, granite pegmatites, a slow
cooling igneous intrusive rock, such as from the site in which it
was named; Betafo, Malagasy Republic, Madagascar. It is also
found in the contact metamorphic marbles that surround these
pegmatites. Although concerning the marbles there is a

question as to whether they are actually the product of igneous
carbonatites. As is the case at the other most notable locality
for betafite; Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. At these and other
localities, betafite is associated with several minerals common
to these rocks such as quartz, feldspars, columbite, tantalite,
zircon, biotite, thorite, allanite, fergusonite and other rare
earth minerals.
Betafite is a popular and interesting mineral. Although lacking in
color, it makes up for it in the large well formed crystals for
which it is known. Remember, this is a radioactive mineral and
should be stored away from other minerals that are subject to
damage from radioactivity and of course human exposure
should be limited !
Color is black with a tint of yellow, brown or green.
Luster is earthy to metallic and sometimes vitreous
when translucent.
Transparency: Crystals are generally opaque but
some translucent specimens are known.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits typically include octahedral and
dodecahedral crystals that are often modified by other
isometric forms and/or flattened when two opposing
faces dominate the crystal; also found as granular and
massive. Some crystals can be quite large and can
weigh up to and slightly over 100 kg.
Cleavage is absent.
Hardness is 4 - 5.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.7 - 5.0 (heavy for
non-metallic, average for metallic minerals). Extreme
variation caused by variable composition of component
metals.
Streak is yellow to brown.

Other Characteristics: Slightly radioactive and
crystals/specimens are often coated with a yellow or
green earthy coating.
Associated Minerals include quartz, feldspars,
columbite, tantalite, zircon, biotite, thorite, allanite,
fergusonite and other rare earth minerals.
Notable Occurrences include Betafo (hence the
name), Malagasy Republic, Madagascar; Silver Crater
Mine, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada and less noteworthy
sites in Russia; Spain; Peru; Pakistan; India; China;
Norway and Brazil as well as California, Arizona, New
Mexico and Colorado, USA.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, luster, fracture,
color, radioactivity, associations, environment and
specific gravity.
THE MINERAL
BERYL
Chemistry: Be3Al2(SiO3)6, Beryllium Aluminum

Silicate
Class: Silicates
Uses: Gemstone, mineral specimens and source of
beryllium
Specimens
Also see variety specimens:
o
o
o
o
o
Aquamarine Specimens
Emerald Specimens
Goshenite Specimens
Heliodor Specimens
Morganite Specimens
Beryl is often unknown to the general public, even the

gemstone-buying public. However, it is one of the most
important gem minerals. Beryl is colorless in pure form; it is the
many different impurities that give beryl its varied coloration.
Without these splendid color varieties, beryl would be a rather
ordinary gemstone with only average fire and brilliance.
Emerald is the green variety and Aquamarine is the blue
variety of beryl.
Other colors of beryl are also used as gemstones but are not as
well known.
The greenish-yellow variety is called Heliodor.
The pink variety is called Morganite.
The colorless variety is called Goshenite.
The name beryl is used for the red and golden
varieties, which are simply called red beryl and golden
beryl, respectively.
Emerald is highly prized and is one of the most valued
gemstones. Its green color is peerless and all other green
gemstones are compared to its intensity. Emerald specimens
are often "flawed" with mineral inclusions and fractures; unlike
other gems, these are considered part of the stones'
"character." These flaws actually help determine natural from
synthetically-produced stones. Uncut emerald specimens are
rare on the mineral markets, probably because even low grade
emeralds can carry a high price when cut as gems. Especially
hard to find are true "in-matrix" specimens. Fakes are often
produced with natural crystals glued into a "host" rock and then
sold as an in-matrix specimen with a highly inflated price.
Aquamarine is also a popular gem although it does not

command nearly as high a price as its green cousin. Uncut
aquamarines are plentiful but relatively expensive, as would be
expected of crystalline gemstone specimens. Large crystals of
aquamarine are available on the open market and represent
perhaps the largest raw gemstone specimens.
Color is varied and includes emerald green, blue to
blue-green, yellow, greenish-gold, red, colorless and
pink.
Luster is vitreous.
Crystal System is hexagonal; 6/m 2/m 2/m
Crystal Habits typically include the hexagonal prism
with pincoid terminations. The terminations are often
modified by many different pyramidal faces which can
sometimes produce a rounded termination in the rough
shape of a used pencil eraser.
Cleavage is imperfect in one direction (basal).
Hardness is 7.5 - 8.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 - 2.9 (average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Faces on large crystals are
often pitted, striated lengthwise and rough.
Associated Minerals include micas, quartz, euclase,
calcite, tourmalines and some feldspars.
Notable Occurrences include Colombia and some
African localities for emerald; Brazil, Russia and
Pakistan for aquamarine; California, Brazil, Africa, and
many other localities for other beryls.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, lack of good
cleavage, hardness and color.
THE MINERAL BIDEAUXITE
Chemistry: Pb2AgCl3(F, OH)2, Lead Silver Chloride

Fluoride Hydroxide.
Class: Halides
Specimens
Bideauxite was named for American mineralogist Richard A.

Bideaux. Its type locality of Mammoth-St Anthony Mine, Tiger,
Pinal County, Arizona, USA is famous for wonderful lead
minerals. Other lead minerals from here include phosgenite,
murdochite, crocoite, ramsdellite, vanadinite, dioptase,
wherryite, creaseyite, pinalite, matlockite, cerussite,
anglesite, boleite, leadhillite and galena. Bideauxite forms
from the alteration of boleite crystals. The boleite in turn formed
from the original lead sulfide ores.
Bideauxite is a beautiful mineral. It forms well shaped cubic
crystals that look like fluorite cubes. The color however is more
variable than most fluorite specimens which are either strongly
colored or colorless, but usually not both. In bideauxite, there
can be deep purple colors in the crystal cores with strikingly
colorless exteriors. Also in the same specimens there can be
deeply colored cubes nested beside perfectly colorless cubes.
The lack of cleavage and greater density for bideauxite are
diagnostic in distinguishing it from fluorite. Unfortunately for
collectors, bideauxite is extremely rare and hard to find on the
mineral market.
Bideauxite and others minerals with similar chemistries belong
to a division in the Halide Class called the Oxyhalides and
Hydroxyhalides. These minerals have either oxygen or
hydroxide groups in their chemistries. The oxygen atom in their
chemistries might require their classification in the Oxides
Class of minerals except that their structures are more tied to
the halide elements and the oxygens and hydroxides are kind
of superfluous to the overall structure. Some other members of
the Oxyhalides and Hydroxyhalides include boleite,
chloroxiphite,
kelyanite,
botallackite,
laurionite,
paralaurionite, mendipite, fiedlerite, pinchite, penfieldite,
yedlinite, atacamite, koenenite, diaboleite, zirklerite and
paratacamite. Of these, only atacamite and boleite are
common enough to be seen at rock shows and in rock shops
with regularity.
THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BIDEAUXITE:
Color is colorless, white, pale violet to lavender.
Luster is adamantine.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m.
Crystal Habits include cubic crystals that envelope
boleite crystals and often completely replace them.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3.
Specific Gravity is 6.3 (very heavy for translucent
minerals)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Index of refraction equals
2.192 (very high).
Associated Minerals include boleite, matlockite,
cerussite, anglesite, leadhillite and galena.
Notable Occurrences include the type locality of
Mammoth-St Anthony Mine, Tiger, Pinal County,
Arizona, USA and Chile.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, density,
luster, lack of cleavage and locality.
THE MINERAL BINDHEIMITE
Chemical Formula: Pb2Sb2O6(O, OH), Lead

Antimony Oxide Hydroxide.
Uses: A very minor ore of lead and antimony and
Specimens
Bindheimite is an alteration product, or more specifically an

oxidation product of lead antimony sulfides such as
jamesonite, Pb4FeSb6S14 and boulangerite, Pb5Sb4S11.
Sometimes it pseudomorphs these minerals meaning that it
replaces them without to much distortion of the outward
appearance of the crystals. More commonly, bindeimite
replaces these minerals with cryptocrystalline indistinct masses
or crusts.
Color is yellow to red-brown or greenish to white.
Luster is resinous to earthy.
Crystal System is isometric.
Crystal Habits include pseudomorphs of lead
antimony sulfides, but more commonly cryptocrystalline
masses or crusts.
Cleavage is not discernible.
Fracture is earthy.
Hardness is 4 - 4.5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 7.3 - 7.5 (heavier

than average) when pure but lowers with hydration to
around 4.6.
Streak is pale yellow to brown.
Associated
Minerals
include
stibiconite,
tetrahedrite, partzite, lewisite, cerussite and other
lead and/or antimony minerals.
Notable Occurrences include Nerchinsk, Siberia,
Russia; Bolivia; Australia; England; Cochise and Pima
Counties, Arizona; Black Hills, South Dakota and San
Bernardino County, California USA.
associations and luster.
THE MINERAL BIOTITE
Chemistry: K (FE, Mg)3 AlSi3 O10 (F, OH)2,

Potassium iron magnesium aluminum silicate
hydroxide fluoride.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Phyllosilicates
Group: Micas
Uses: heat insulator for industrial purposes.
Specimens
Biotite is a common rock forming mineral, being present in at

least some percentage in most igneous and both regional and
contact metamorphic rocks. The typical black to brown color of
biotite is characteristic although it is difficult to distinguish
brown biotite from dark brown phlogopite. The two are actually
end members in a series that is dependent on the percentage
of iron. Phlogopite is iron poor and biotite is iron rich. The
darker color and density increase with an increase in the iron
content. Biotite tends to form in a wider range of conditions
than phlogopite which is limited mostly to ultramafic rocks and
magnesium rich marbles and pegmatites. Biotite, like other
micas, has a layered structure of iron magnesium aluminum
silicate sheets weakly bonded together by layers of potassium
ions. These potassium ion layers produce the perfect cleavage.
Biotite is rarely considered a valuable mineral specimen, but it
can accompany other minerals and compliment them. In
Bancroft, Ontario Biotite forms large crystals with green apatite
and hornblende. Single large plates or "books" of biotite can
grow to considerable size and can make impressive mineral
specimens. Weathered tiny crystals of biotite can appear
golden yellow with a nice sparkle producing a "fool's Gold" that

has fooled many.
Color is black to brown and yellow with weathering.
Crystal Habits include tabular to prismatic crystals with
a prominant pinacoid termination. Biotite's four prism
faces and two pinacoid faces form pseudo-hexagonal
crystal "books". The sides of the crystal often tend to
tapper and can have a "hard candy that has been
sucked on, look". Also as lamellar or granular rock
forming masses providing the luster for most schists
and gneiss.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction producing thin
sheets or flakes.
Fracture is not readily observed due to cleavage but is
uneven.
Hardness is 2.5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 - 3.4+ (slightly
above average)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are quartz, feldspars, apatite,
calcite, hornblende, garnets and schorl.
Other Characteristics: cleavage sheets are flexible
and elastic, meaning they can be bent and will flex
back to original shape.
Notable Occurrences include Bancroft and sudbury,
Ontario; Sicily; Russia and many other locallities
around the world.
cleavage, elastic sheets and associations.
THE MINERAL BISMUTH
Chemistry: Bi, Elemental bismuth

Class: Elements
Group: Arsenic
Uses: An ore of bismuth and as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Bismuth is rarely found in nature in its elemental form. Of

growing interest in rock shops, however, are laboratory-grown
bismuth crystals. These crystals, while not natural, are
nonetheless very interesting to the mineral hobbyist and to
others. The unique look that these clusters offer is really
indescribable. Its color consisits of iridescent metallic yellow,
blue and green hues.
Of interest to hobbyists are the pseudocubic "hopper" crystals
that are always present on the laboratory produced specimens,
they are not seen in but only the rarest of natural crystals.
Hopper crystals are a unique crystallographic curiosity Just the
edges extend outward from the center of the crystal leaving
hollow stairstep faces between these edges. The hopper
crystals form due to the disparity of growth rates between the
crystal edges and the crystal faces.
Color is silver white often with a multi-colored
iridescent tarnish.
Luster is metallic.
Crystal System is trigonal; bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habits include mostly massive foliated forms in

natural specimens, although there do exist some well
formed natural crystals they are rather scarce.
Laboratory grown crystals display trigonal hopper
crystals that appear pseudocubic.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction (basal)
Fracture is uneven or jagged.
Hardness is 2 - 2.5
Specific Gravity is 9.7 - 9.8 (unusually heavy even for
metallic minerals)
Streak is silver to white.
Other Characteristics: striations on cleavage
surfaces.
Associated Minerals include bismuthinite and ores of
cobalt and silver found in hydrothermal veins such as
cobaltite and acanthite.
Notable Natural Occurrences include Australia; San
Baldomero and La Paz, Bolivia; Devon, England;
Germany and South Dakota, Colorado and California,
USA.
Best Field Indicators are tarnish, density and
cleavage. Hopper crystals in laboratory specimens are
unmistakable.
THE MINERAL BISMUTHINITE
Chemistry: Bi2S3, Bismuth Sulfide

Class: Sulfides
Uses: An ore of bismuth and as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Bismuthinite is an important ore of bismuth. Sprays of steel

gray prismatic bismuthinite crystals radiate outward from a
common attachment point in the more spectacular specimens
of this somewhat rare sulfide mineral. These specimens can
not help but be compared to specimens of stibnite. It is difficult
to distinguish from the similar looking and closely related
antimony sulfide. Bismuthinite is heavier than stibnite and on
closer inspection of the crystals, there exists a noticeable
difference with bismuthinite's having straighter, flatter faces. In
massive form the confusion is even more pronounced, but
bismuthinite is not associated with the typical antimony or
arsenic minerals to which stibnite is so commonly allied.
Associations of bismuthinite are varied, but combinations with
the rare elemental mineral bismuth are particularly special.
Chalcopyrite is another especially common associate. The
carbonate mineral bismutite, Bi2(CO3)O2, is found as an
alteration (oxidation) product of bismuthinite and often is found
as pseudomorphic crystals after bismuthinite. A pseudomorph
is an atom by atom replacement of one mineral by another
without significant changes in the outward appearance of the
crystals (pseudo="false" and morph="shape").
Color is steel gray to off-white.
Luster is metallic.
Crystal Habits include radiating acicular to prismatic
columnar crystals. Sometimes in wonderful sprays that
are similar to stibnite's crystal habits. Also granular
and massive.
Cleavage is perfect in one lengthwise direction.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 2
Specific Gravity is approximately 6.8 - 7.2 (well above
average for metallic minerals)
Streak is gray.
Other Characteristics: Thin crystals are slightly
flexible, but inelastic. There maybe a slight yellow or
iridescent tarnish present. Crystals are usually striated
and have some sectility.
Associated Minerals are numerous and include gold,
bismuth, bismutite, quartz, andradite, chrysoberyl,
almandine, barite, scheelite, pyrophyllite, kettnerite,
wulfenite, gadolinite, wolframite, beryl, epidote,
microcline, pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite,
covellite and several other sulfides.
Notable Occurrences are many and include Cornwall,
England; Bolivia; Australia; Temiscaming County,
Quebec, Canada; Guanajuato, Mexico; Brazil;
Kingsgate, New South Wales, Australia and some
excellent locations in Vogtland and Siegerland,
Germany. From the United States there are several
localities in Haddam, Connecticut; Beaver County,
Utah; Kern County, California; several counties in
Arizona and in Boulder County, Colorado.
THE MINERAL BIXBYITE
Chemical Formula: (Mn, Fe)2O3, Manganese Iron

Oxide
Uses: A minor ore of manganese and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Bixbyite is a rare mineral, but is still well known among

collectors. It forms well formed isometric crystals, usually highly
modified cubes. It also is associated with several interesting
and attractive minerals and has a nice high luster. For these
reasons bixbyite is popular among collectors although it only
has an unimpressive black color and the crystals are usually
small less than 1 centimeter wide.
The associated minerals include pink and clear topaz, pink
beryl, spessartine, quartz, hematite, hausmannite, braunite
and pseudobrookite. These assortments are found in cavities
in rhyolitic rock and make for attractive and much sought after
mineral specimens. Especially wonderful bixbyite specimens
come from the Thomas Range in Utah.
The crystals of bixbyite are usually cubes. The corners can be
modified by octahedral faces which truncate the corners with a
single flat face. Also the faces of a dodecahedron can be seen
modifying just the corners of the predominant cube with three
faces per corner. If all three forms are present the crystal can
look rather complex and beautiful.
As an ore of manganese, bixbyite is often under appreciated.
When found massive, it is usually associated with other
manganese oxides and is impossible to differentiate. Although

iron can substitute for the manganese in the structure by over
50%, many bixbyite samples are nearly pure manganese oxide.
Color is dark black.
Luster is metallic to submetallic.
Crystal System is isometric; 2/m bar 3
Crystal Habits include cubes often with octahedral and
dodecahedral faces modifying the corners. Also as
massive and granular.
Cleavage is octahedral.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 6.5
Specific Gravity is 4.9 - 5.0 (slightly above average for
metallic minerals)
Streak is black.
Associated
Minerals
include
beryl,
quartz,
spessartine,
hematite,
pseudobrookite,
hausmannite, braunite and topaz.
Notable Occurrences are limited to the Thomas
Range, Utah; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; northern
Patagonia, Argentina; Gerona, Spain; India; Sweden
and South Africa.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, density,
hardness, associations and locality.
THE MINERAL BLODITE
Chemistry: Na2Mg(SO4)2 - 4H2O, Hydrated Sodium

Magnesium Sulfate.
Class: Sulfates
Specimens
Blodite, which is also spelled bloedite, forms in marine and nonmarine (lacustrine) evaporite deposits. Evaporite minerals are
geologically important because they clearly are related to the
environmental conditions that existed at the time of their
deposition, namely arid. They also can be easily recrystallized
in laboratories enabling sedimentologists to obtain their specific
characteristics of formation, such as temperature, solution
concentrations, etc. Blodite also forms as an efflorescence on
cave and mine walls. An efflorescent mineral is one that forms
literally out of thin air, as a "precipitate" of sorts from fumes
concentrated with the mineral's chemical makeup. Crystals of
blodite are scarce, but well formed crystals can show an
intricate, multi-facetted, monoclinic form. Specimens of blodite
should be stored in a sealed container as they can dry out and
crumble.
Color is white, colorless, gray, yellow. red, green or
blue-green.
Luster is vitreous.
transparent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.

Crystal Habits include granular, earthy and encrusting
masses. Individual intricate, multi-facetted, prismatic
crystals are uncommon.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.2 - 2.3 (light for
translucent minerals).
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Salty taste.
Associated Minerals include halite, epsomite,
alunite, thernardite, trona, sylvite and other more
rare evaporite minerals.
Notable Occurrences include the type locality of
Chuquicamata, Antofagasta, Atacama Desert, Chile as
well as Soda Lake and other California sites and
Coconino, Arizona, USA; Germany; Russia; Austria;
Poland and India.
Best Field Indicators are associations, density, crystal
habit, taste and environment of formation.
THE MINERAL BOLEITE
Chemistry: Pb26Cu24Ag10Cl62(OH)48 - 3H2O, Hydrated

Lead Copper Silver Chloride Hydroxide
Class: Halides
Uses: A very minor ore of silver, copper and lead
and as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Boleite is a mineral of crystallographic curiosity and of great

interest to collectors of twins, silver minerals and rare halides.
And hey . . . its pretty too! Its indigo blue color is distinctive and
attractive and some crystals are cut as gemstones. Boleite is
technically a tetragonal mineral and as such would form
rectangular box-like crystals with a square cross-section.
However, boleite is always pseudocubically twinned. In other
words, each cube-like crystal of boleite is actually composed of
three of these rectangular boxes oriented at right angles to
each other. The pseudocubes are sometimes modified by
tetragonal dipyramid faces which give the look of octahedral
faces. Boleite is sometimes incorrectly listed as an isometric
mineral.
Boleite is associated with a couple of other rare halide

minerals;
cumengite,
(Pb21Cu20Cl42
(OH)40)
and
pseudoboleite, (Pb5Cu4Cl10(OH)8 - 2H2O) These halides have
similar chemistries to boleite and often form attached to the
boleite crystals as epitaxial overgrowths. The cumengite/boleite
combination crystal can form six pointed, 3-dimensional star
shapes that are truly amazing.
These halides and others with similar chemistries belong to a

division in the Halide Class called the Oxyhalides and
Hydroxyhalides. These minerals have either oxygen or
hydroxide groups in their chemistries. The oxygen atom in their
chemistries might require their classification in the Oxides
Class of minerals except that their structures are more tied to
the halide elements and the oxygens and hydroxides are kind
of superfluous to the overall structure. Some other members of
the Oxyhalides and Hydroxyhalides include bideauxite,
chloroxiphite,
kelyanite,
botallackite,
laurionite,
paralaurionite, mendipite, fiedlerite, pinchite, penfieldite,
yedlinite, atacamite, koenenite, diaboleite, zirklerite and
paratacamite. Of these, only atacamite and boleite are
common enough to be seen at rock shows and in rock shops
with regularity.
Boleite was named for its type locality at Boleo, Baja California,
Mexico. The French colonial town of Santa Rosalia was built
near the copper mines that extracted copper from the unusual
sedimentary copper deposits. Boleite crystals can still be found
in these deposits although they are scarce and not easy to find.
The chemistry of boleite is often written as the simpler
Pb9Cu8Ag3Cl21(OH)16 - H2O. But this is not the most accurate
portrayal of its chemistry. With its pretty color, valuable and
interesting chemistry, rarity, history, associations and twinning;
boleite is certainly a "must have" for any serious collector.
Color is deep blue almost black to a lighter indigo blue.
Transparency: Crystals are usually translucent but
some exceptional specimens are transparent.
Crystal System is tetragonal; 4 2 2
Crystal Habits include a pseudocubic habit due to
penetration twinning of three individual "twins"
oriented perdendicular to each other. Often the crystal

will appear to be modified by octahedron faces (actually
pseudo-octahedral tetragonal dipyramids). The cubes
are rarely over half an inch on each side. Individual
twinned crystals are common and are often found loose
without any host matrix.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
Fracture is uneven and brittle.
Hardness is 3 - 3.5
Specific Gravity is 5+ (rather heavy for translucent
minerals).
Streak is light greenish-blue.
Other Characteristics: Notches or interpenetrant
angles can be seen in some specimens revealing their
true twinned nature.
Associated Minerals include other rare copper and
lead chlorides such as pseudoboleite, cumengite,
chloroxiphite,
paralaurionite,
matlockite,
chlorargyrite, bideauxite, atacamite, mendipite and
diaboleite. Also found with cerussite, smithsonite,
leadhillite, linarite, phosgenite and chrysocolla.
Boleite crystals are often loose, but some are found in
a clay matrix.
Notable Occurrences include Boleo, Santa Rosalia,
Baja California, Mexico; Broken Hill, New South
Wales, Australia; Mammoth District, Arizona, USA and
Mendip Hills, Somerset, England.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, density,
streak and locality.
THE MINERAL BOLTWOODITE
Chemistry:
K2(UO2)2(SiO3)2(OH)2
3H2O,
Hydrated Potassium Uranyl Silicate Hydroxide.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Nesosilicates
Uses: mineral specimen and a very minor ore of
uranium.
Specimens
Boltwoodite is a locally common mineral but in general it is

quite rare. It forms from the oxidation and alteration of primary
uranium ore minerals. It forms crusts that are found on uranium
bearing sandstones. The crusts have a yellowish color and a
vitreous or silky to pearly luster. Remember, this is a
radioactive mineral and should be stored away from other
minerals that are affected by radioactivity and human exposure
should be limited.
Color is yellow to pale yellow.
Luster is vitreous to silky or pearly.
Crystal System: Monoclinic.
Crystal Habits are limited to crusts and tufts of fine
acicular crystals often found on uranium bearing
sandstones.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.6 - 4.3 depending

on the amount of water (above average for translucent
minerals)
Streak is pale yellow.
Associated Minerals are uraninite and other primary
uranium minerals.
Other Characteristics: Strongly radioactive.
Notable Occurrences are limited to Pick's Delta mine,
San Rafael Swell, Emory Co., Utah and Coconino
County, Arizona, USA.
Best Field Indicators are environment of formation,
luster, color, locality and of course radioactivity.
THE MINERAL BORACITE
Chemistry: Mg3B7O13Cl, Magnesium Borate

Chloride.
Class: Carbonates
Subclass: Borates
Uses: An ore of boron for boric acid and borax (a
cleaning agent and useful industrial chemical) and
Specimens
Boracite is an interesting borate mineral. It has good color,

clarity and hardness to be a gemstone and yet it is rarely cut for
this purpose. Probably because it is slightly soluble in water
and ordinary wear dulls its surface. It is an attractive mineral for
mineral specimens though.
Boracite is similar to quartz, in that it has high temperature and
low temperature phases. The high temperature phase is cubic
and forms nice well shaped cubes and octahedrons that are
often modified by other isometric forms. The low temperature
orthorhombic phase is the only phase that is stable at normal
surface temperatures. This means that when the high
temperature phase cools down, it converts to the low
temperature phase. The conversion is easily accomplished and
does not alter the outward appearance of the crystal,
preserving the isometric forms. Therefore the specimens of
boracite in a collection are actually the orthorhombic phase in
the isometric crystal forms. Mineralogists refer to this as a
pseudomorph, or "false shape".
Boracite is an evaporite mineral and is not surprisingly found
with other evaporite minerals like anhydrite, gypsum and
halite. Its crystals are often embedded in these other evaporite

minerals suggesting that they formed later than the others,
especially since the crystals are in the high temperature phase.
A variety of boracite is called "strassfurtite" and is a fibrous form
found at Strassfurt, Germany.
Color is white to colorless and with pale tints of yellow,
green and blue.
Luster is vitreous.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m ,
isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m at high temperatures.
Crystal Habits include highly modified cubes and
octahedrons which are actually pseudomorphs of the
high temperature isometric phase. Also massive,
fibrous, nodular and as embedded grains.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is uneven or conchoidal.
Hardness is 7 - 7.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 - 3.0 (average
for translucent minerals)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Slightly soluble in water.
Associated Minerals are anhydrite, gypsum, halite
and other evaporite minerals.
Notable Occurrences include Yorkshire, England;
Strassfurt, Germany; Bolivia; Chactaw Salt Dome,
Louisiana and Otis, California, USA and France.
BORAX
Chemistry: Na2B4O7 -10H2O, Hydrated sodium

borate.
Class: Carbonates
Subclass: Borates
Uses: an ore of boron and as a source of borax (a
cleaning agent and useful industrial chemical)
Specimens
Borax is a complex borate mineral that is found in playa lakes

and other evaporite deposits. The basic structure of borax
contains chains of interlocking BO2(OH) triangles and BO3(OH)
tetrahedrons bonded to chains of sodium and water
octahedrons. Most old mineral specimens of borax are chalky
white due to a chemical reaction from dehydration. They have
actually altered (at least on their surface) to the mineral
tincalconite, Na2 B4O7-5H2O, with the loss of water. This kind
of alteration from one mineral to another leaves the original
shape of the crystal. Minerologists refer to this as a
pseudomorph, or "fake shape", because the tincalconite has
the crystal shape of the predecessing borax.
Borax is directly deposited in arid regions from the evaporation
of water in intermittent lakes called playas. The playas form
only during rainy seasons due to runoff from adjacent
mountains. The runoff is rich in the element boron and is highly
concentrated by evaporation in the arid climate. Eventually the
concentration is so great that crystals of borax and other boron
minerals form.
Color is white to clear.
Luster is vitreous.
Crystal Habits include the blocky to prismatic crystals
with a nearly square cross section. Also massive and
as crusts.
Hardness is 2 - 2.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 1.7 (very light)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are calcite, halite, hanksite,
colemanite, ulexite and other borates.
Other Characteristics: a sweet alkaline taste, alters to
chalky white tincalconite with dehydration.
Notable Occurrences include Trona, Boron, Death
Valley and other California localities; Andes Mountains;
Turkey and Tibet.
associations, locality, density and hardness.
THE MINERAL BORNITE
Chemistry: Cu5FeS4, Copper Iron Sulfide

Class: Sulfides
Uses: Major ore of copper and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Bornite is an important copper ore mineral. It ranks up there

with many of the other copper ores such as chalcocite,
chalcopyrite, covellite, digenite, cuprite and tetrahedrite. As
a mineral specimen, bornite is usually lacking. Good crystals
are rare and thus bornite is commonly known as simply a
massive mineral ore.
It does however get used in the mineral trade as a curiosity
called "peacock ore". A favorite among children, the bornite
chunks sold as peacock ore or alternatively peacock copper
have a rich bouquet of colors. The colors are from an iridescent
tarnish that forms on bornite upon exposure to air. The tarnish
is made of assorted copper oxides or hydroxides that form a
mere atoms thin layer over the bornite. The thickness of the
layers is close to the wavelength of light. When light waves
bounce between the bornite surface and the top of the tarnish
layer they will leave with the wavelengths of various colors. This
effect is the same as the rainbow effect that occurs with oil on
water. In the case of bornite, the tarnish will have a purplish,
violet or blue color. Because bornite is often intergrown with
chalcopyrite which tarnishes to more greens and yellows, the
peacock ore may have many colors ranging from purple to blue
to green to yellow.
Bornite's crystals, if found, are usually distorted cubes with

curved faces. Even rarer are the distorted octahedrons and
dodecahedrons. These are isometric crystals. However,
bornite's structure at normal temperatures is not isometric.
Bornite is only isometric at temperatures above 228 degrees
celsius and it was above this temperature that the crystals
formed. As bornite cooled it structurally altered to possibly a
tetragonal structure but outwardly it retained the isometric
forms.
Color is brown to black with a typical purplish-bluish
tarnish, a reddish bronze color on freshly broken
surfaces.
Luster is metallic.
Crystal System is isometric; 4/m bar 3 2/m above 228
degrees celsius but below this temperature its structure
becomes less symmetrical possibly tetragonal; bar 4
2/m.
Crystal Habits include rare distorted cubes and even
more rarely dodecahedrons and octahedrons. Most
common habit is massive or disseminated grains.
Cleavage is very poor, octahedral.
Hardness is 3
Specific Gravity is approximately 4.9 - 5.3 (average
Streak is a gray black.
Other Characteristics: The tarnish that occurs on
fresh surfaces can form in only hours and will become
black over time.
Associated Minerals are magnetite, chalcocite,
chalcopyrite, covellite, pyrrhotite, pyrite and other
sulfides.
Notable Occurances include Bristol, Connecticut,

Butte, Montana, Plumas Co., Colorado and Superior,
Arizona, USA; Cornwall, England; Rhineland,
Germany; Tsumeb, Namibia; South Africa; Morocco;
Bolivia; Chile; Peru and Mexico.
Best Field Indicators are lack of good crystals,
tarnish, streak, color of fresh surfaces and
associations.
THE MINERAL BOULANGERITE
Chemistry: Pb5Sb4S11, Lead Antimony Sulfide

Class: Sulfides and Sulfosalts
Uses: Mineral specimens and as minor ore of lead.
Specimens
Boulangerite is one of a few sulfide minerals that form fine

acicular crystals that appear as hair-like fibers. The fibrous
aggregates may be so thick as to cover a specimen with hairlike fibers or it may be sparsely dessiminated between other
minerals and may be confused with actual hairs or dark lint.
Jamesonite and millerite are two other sulfides that form
similar acicular crystals and can be mistaken for Boulangerite.
However, millerite is yellow and jamesonite has brittle crystals.
Boulangerite is a sulfosalt, a segment of sulfides where the
antimony acts more like a metal than a non-metal and occupies
a position where it is bonded to sulfurs. Boulangerite and
jamesonite have been called feather ores. A variety of
boulangerite is called "plumosite" due to its plumose (feathery)
habit and was thought to be a different mineral.
Color is blue lead gray to gray.
Luster is either metallic or silky.
Crystal System: Monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habits include dense or sparse felted masses
of acicular crystals. Also in fibrous and compact
plumose (feathery) masses.
Cleavage is good in one direction parallel to the length.

Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 2.5
Specific Gravity is 5.8 - 6.2 (heavier than average for
metallic minerals)
Streak is gray to brown.
Associated Minerals include pyrite, sphalerite,
galena, siderite, quartz and arsenopyrite.
Other Characteristics: Crystals are flexible.
Notable Occurrences include Trepca, in the former
Yugoslavia; Pribram, in the former Czechoslovakia;
Sala, Sweden; Hunan, China; Harz, Germany; Baja
California, Mexico and at several locations in Idaho,
Montana, Colorado, Washington and Nevada, USA.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, flexibility,
associations, color and luster.
THE MINERAL BOURNONITE
Chemistry: CuPbSbS3, Copper lead antimony

sulfide
Class: Sulfides
Subclass: Sulfosalts
Uses: minor ore of lead and copper and as a
mineral specimen
Specimens
Bournonite is also called "cog wheel ore" because of the cog

wheel shape that the twinned crystals form. Twinning is
common in bournonite and if a crystal repeatitively twins it can
form a type of twin called a trilling. The trilling is composed of
four "twins" or crystals connected in a plane and forms a wheel
with a jagged edge that resemble the teeth of a cog wheel. Not
all specimens show this type of twinning however.
Color is silver gray or black.
Luster is metallic.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m2/m2/m
Crystal Habits include tabular to prismatic crystals.
Twinning is common and if repeated forms flat wheel
shaped crystals called cog wheels. Also massive and
granular.
Cleavage is poor in one direction.
Fracture is subconchoidal.
Hardness is 2.5 - 3
Specific Gravity is approximately 5.8 (above average

Streak is black.
Associated Minerals are siderite, fluorite, galena,
sphalerite, calcite and pyrite.
Other Characteristics: although the luster can be
bright, bournonite develops a dull tarnish. Crystals are
usually striated on their sides which produces the
"teeth" of the cog wheel.
Notable Occurrences include England; California,
USA; Mexico; Peru and Australia.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit (especially
twinning), color and density.
THE MINERAL BRASS
Chemistry: Cu3Zn2, Copper zinc

Class: Native Elements
Subclass: Metallic Alloys
Specimens
Brass is not an officially recognized mineral as yet, although it

has been proposed. It is not the man-made brass that is under
consideration, but specimens of naturally occurring crystals of a
copper nickel alloy with a formula similar to what we know as
brass. These specimens are also not common, but are
extremely rare and have only been found in a couple of
localities in Siberia, Russia. Brass could be considered an
official mineral if the naturally occurring crystals prove to have a
unique structure and chemistry from other copper nickel alloys.
That may prove difficult or impossible and if so, brass will then
be discounted as a mineral.
Brass is classified as an element dispite the fact, that in
chemical reality, it is a compound. Minerals like brass are
alloys with metallic bonds that are very similar to the more pure
metallic elements and are thus classified as elements.
Color is yellow to brassy yellow.
Luster is metallic.
Transparency: Specimens are opaque.
Crystal System is isometric.
Crystal Habits are limited to tiny grains.
Cleavage is absent.
Specific Gravity is 8.4 - 8.7 (man-made brass)
Streak is brassy brown.
Notable Occurrences are limited to two localities in

Siberia, Russia; Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka and
Vol'sk-Vym Ridge, Middle Timan.
Best Field Indicator is color, locality, density and
rarity.
THE MINERAL BRAZILIANITE
Chemistry: NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4, Sodium Aluminum

Phosphate Hydroxide.
Class: Phosphates
Uses: As a gemstone and as mineral specimens
Specimens
Brazilianite is an unusual gemstone mineral. It is one of the

only phosphate minerals to be used as a serious gemstone.
Although the phosphate mineral apatite is cut into gems it is
not considered as precious as brazilianite. Of course
brazilianite is relatively new to the mineral markets and is still
not well known to everybody.
It has a fair luster and interesting color, a yellow to greenish
yellow. It may look a little like yellow topaz but brazilianite tends
to be more green. Although not as hard as most other
gemstones, it is one of the hardest phosphate minerals.
Brazilianite is found in phosphate rich pegmatites. The igneous
pegmatites are rather unusual for their phosphate content.
Brazilianite was discovered in Brazil (hence the name) and was
later discovered in New Hampshire at the Palermo Mine. The
discovery at the Palermo Mine surprised many geologists who
had studied the minerals there in detail and yet had "missed"
this new mineral.
Color is yellow to greenish yellow and colorless.
Luster is vitreous.

Crystal System: Monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habits include complex short prismatic and
wedge shaped crystals that seem to lack any
symmetry. Crystals are very common, and massive
examples are almost unknown.
Hardness is 5.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.0 (average for
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Crystals are striated and the
index of refraction is 1.60 - 1.62
Associated Minerals are quartz, feldspars,
muscovite and primary and secondary phosphates
associated with phosphate rich pegmatites.
Notable Occurrences include Conselheiro Pena and
other mines in Minas Gerias, Brazil and Smith Mine,
Newport, New Hampshire.
Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habits, low
density and cleavage.
THE MINERAL BROCHANTITE
Chemistry:
Cu4SO4(OH)6,
Copper
Sulfate
Hydroxide.
Class: Sulfates
Uses: A minor ore of copper and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Brochantite is a popular mineral for collectors and in some

places it has been an important ore of copper. It typically forms
acicular or fibrous crystals aggregated into randomly organized
coatings and tufts. Its green color is usually a deep and
attractive shade. It is formed from the oxidation of copper ore
minerals along with other oxidation zone minerals.
Brochantite is similar to other fibrous green copper minerals
that form in oxidation zones such as the carbonate mineral
malachite, the halide mineral atacamite and the closely
related sulfate mineral antlerite. This brings up a number of
identification problems. Acicular malachite will effervesce in
warm hydrochloric acid and brochantite will not. Atacamite is
slightly softer and is usually less transparent. Antlerite is all but
indistinguishable by ordinary means although its terminations
are typically flatter than the rounded terminations of
brochantite.
Color is a bright emerald green or dark green to almost
black.
Luster is vitreous to pearly on cleavage surfaces.

Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.
Crystal Habits include acicular or fibrous crystals
aggregated into coatings and tufts as well as small
tabular crystals and reniform, massive or granular
specimens. Terminations tend to be rounded or domelike. Twinning is common and gives an orthorhombic
look to larger crystals.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction nearly
perpendicular to length.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3.5 - 4
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.9+ (above average
for translucent minerals)
Streak is green.
Other Characteristics: Does not effervesce in
hydrochloric acid.
Associated
Minerals
are
limonite,
cuprite,
chrysocolla, cyanotrichite, malachite, langite,
posnjakite and azurite.
Notable Occurrences include numerous locations in
Chile; Ural Mountains, Russia; England; Italy; Romania;
Zaire and several locations in Arizona, Nevada,
California, New Mexico and Utah, USA.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, associations,
hardness, cleavage, non-reaction to hydrochloric acid
and color.
THE MINERAL BROOKITE
Chemical Formula: TiO2, Titanium Oxide

Uses: A very minor ore of titanium and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Brookite is a polymorph with two other minerals. The minerals

rutile and anatase as well as brookite all have the same
chemistry, TiO2, but they have different structures. At higher
temperatures, about 750 degrees Celsius, brookite will
automatically revert to the rutile structure. Rutile is the more
common and the more well known mineral of the three.
Brookite shares many of the same properties as rutile such as
color and luster and some properties are nearly the same such
as hardness and density. However due to structural differences
brookite and rutile differ in crystal habit and cleavage.
Color is dark brown to greenish black.
Luster is adamantine to submetallic.
Crystal Habits include the typical tabular to platy
crystals with a pseudohexagonal outline. Magnet Cove
specimens tend to be more equant with complex
facets.
Cleavage is poor prismatically and in the basal
direction.
Fracture is subconchoidal and uneven.

Hardness is 5.5 - 6
Specific Gravity is 3.9 - 4.1 (average for metallic
minerals)
Streak is light brown to white.
Associated Minerals include anatase, rutile, quartz,
feldspars, chalcopyrite, hematite and sphene.
Notable Occurrences include Magnet Cove,
Arkansas, Butte, Montana, Somerville, Massachusetts
and Ellenville, New York, USA; Eicham, Austria;
Tremadoc, Wales, England; Ural Mountains, Russia
and at St. Gotthard, Switzerland.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, luster, density,
streak, associations and locality.
THE MINERAL BRUCITE
Chemical
Formula:
Mg(OH)2,
Magnesium
Hydroxide
Group: Brucite
Uses: A minor source of metallic magnesium, a
source of magnesia and as a refractory additive.
Specimens
Brucite is a mineral that is not often used as a mineral

specimen but does have some important industrial uses. It is a
minor ore of magnesium metal and a source of magnesia. It is
also used as an additive in certain refractories.
It is brucite's structure that is interesting. The basic structure
forms stacked sheets of octahedrons of magnesium hydroxide.
The octahedrons are composed of magnesium ions with a +2
charge bonded to six octahedrally coordinated hydroxides with
a -1 charge. Each hydroxide is bonded to three magnesiums.
The result is a neutral sheet since +2/6 = +1/3 (+2 charge on
the magnesiums divided among six hydroxide bonds) and -1/3
= -1/3 (-1 charge on the hydroxides divided among three
magnesiums); thus the charges cancel.
The lack of a charge on the brucite sheets means that there is
no charge to retain ions between the sheets and act as a "glue"
to keep the sheets together. The sheets are only held together
by weak residual bonds and this results in a very soft easily
cleaved mineral. Brucite is closely related to gibbsite, Al(OH)3.
However the extra charge in gibbsite's aluminum (+3) as
opposed to brucite's magnesium (+2) requires that one third of
the octahedrons to be vacant of a central ion in order to

maintain a neutral sheet.
Brucite is interesting for another reason because it is often
found as a part of the structure of other minerals. How can this
be? Well, the neutral magnesium hydroxide sheets are found
sandwiched between silicate sheets in two important clay
groups: the Chlorite and Montmorillonite/smectite groups. The
individual magnesium hydroxide layers are identical to the
individual layers of brucite and are referred to as the "brucite
layers".
Color is white or colorless with shades of gray, blue
and green.
Luster is vitreous or waxy; cleavage surfaces have a
pearly luster.
Transparency Crystals are translucent and rarely
transparent.
Crystal System is trigonal; bar 3 2/m
Crystal Habit is typically in flattened tabular crystals
with rare rhombohedral terminations. Also found in
lamellar and fibrous aggregates and as foliated
masses. Brucite has been known to pseudomorph
crystals of periclase.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction, basal.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 2 - 2.5
Specific Gravity is 2.4 (slightly below average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: cleavage flakes and fibers are
flexible but not elastic.
Associated Minerals are calcite, wollastonite,
nepheline, talc, aragonite, serpentine, chromite,
dolomite, magnesite, periclase and other magnesium
minerals.
Notable Occurrences include Unst, Shetland Islands,

England; Aesbestos, Wakefield and Black Lake,
Quebec, Canada; Aosta, Italy; Brewster, New York,
Wood's Mine, Texas, Gabbs, Nevada, Crestmore,
California and Berks Co., Pennsylvania, USA.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, luster
(especially on cleavage surfaces), lack of soapy or
greasy feel and flexible but inelastic flakes and fibers.
THE MINERAL BUERGERITE

(A Tourmaline)
Chemistry: NaFe3Al6Si6O18(BO3)3O3F, Sodium
Iron Aluminum Boro-silicate Oxide Fluoride.
Class: Silicates
Group: Tourmalines
Uses: Only as mineral collection specimens
Specimens
Buergerite is a rare species of the Tourmaline Group. Other

more common and at least more well known tourmalines are
schorl (black, opaque and iron rich), uvite and the gemstone
mineral, elbaite (various colors, transparent to translucent and
lithium rich). Buergerite is usually easy to distinguish from the
more common tourmalines. It is generally brown and
translucent to opaque. Buergerite is more easily confused with
the lesser known tourmaline, dravite. It is very difficult to
distinguish dravite from buergerite under normal circumstances
since both are brown and only slightly translucent. However
dravite is formed in metamorphic rocks and buergerite is found
in some very unusual extrusive igneous rocks (volcanic rocks).
Buergerite, when first discovered, was considered to be an
unusual variety of schorl, another sodium iron tourmaline. But,
the iron in buergerite is different than in schorl. In schorl, the
iron is in the plus two (+2) oxidation state, but in buergerite the
iron is in a plus three (+3) oxidation state. This makes
buergerite a rather unusual tourmaline. To compensate for the
extra +3 charges (one extra charge from each of the three iron
ions in the formula) buergerite must substitute three of the four

hydroxides (with a -1 charge each) , that are normally present
in a typical tourmaline, for three oxygens (each with a -2
charge) in order to balance the formula. In addition to this oddball setup, buergerite has a fluorine (with a -1 charge) instead
of that last hydroxide. Despite all of this chemical mayhem,
buergerite still retains its tourmaline structure and most of the
typical tourmaline characteristics.
Color is dark brown.
Luster is vitreous.
Transparency: Crystals are translucent to opaque.
Crystal System is Trigonal; 3 m
Crystal Habit is typically elongated three sided prisms.
The terminations can be either a simple to complex
trigonal pyramid or a flat basal face. The prism faces
are striated lengthwise. In cross section, all tourmalines
will appear predominantly triangular in shape with some
crystals showing a hexagon. Doubly terminated crystals
are hemimorphic meaning that the two ends of the
crystal are not exactly alike. Massive specimens can
also be found.
Cleavage is absent although there is basal parting.
Fracture is uneven to conchoidal.
Hardness is 7 - 7.5
Specific Gravity is 3.3+ (slightly heavier than average)
Streak: Off white.
Other Characteristics: Pleochroic and piezoelectric.
Associated Minerals include those commonly found in
volcanic rocks.
Notable Occurrences is mostly limited to San Luis
Potasi, Mexico.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, triangular

cross-section, locality, environment, color and
hardness.
THE MINERAL BURBANKITE
Chemistry: (Na, Ca)3(Sr, Ba, Ce)3(CO3)5 , Sodium

Calcium Strontium Barium Cerium Carbonate.
Class: Carbonates
Group: Rare Earth Carbonates.
Uses: Only as mineral specimens and as a possible
source of cerium.
Specimens
Burbankite is a rare strontium and cerium carbonate mineral.

Burbankite is one of many rare minerals that come from the
famous mineral locality, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.
Some specimens have been cut from there and in fact a large
6.62 carat orange stone is the North American record holder for
this species. But burbankite is far too rare to be considered a
mainstream gemstone. Its crystal habit is reminiscent of apatite
although its color and size is generally quite different.
Burbankite's crystals are typically quite small but well formed
and make good micromounts.
Burbankite has some unusual chemistry as it is enriched in rare
elements such as strontium, barium and cerium. Cerium is just
one of the several rare earth metals that are important to
industry. A closely related mineral is called carbocernaite.Both
minerals are considered to be important in the development of
rare earth minerals in carbonatite rocks and are being studied
for this reason. Some rare earth minerals have been found to
make pseudomorphs of burbankite and carbocernaite. A
testament perhaps of how they play a role in the rare earth
minerals' development.
Some specimens of what was thought to be burbankite have

been identified as a new species to science called remondite.
Remondite has a different symmetry, monoclinic (although
pseudohexagonal), and a slightly different chemistry.
Color is pale yellow, pale orange, beige, white and
colorless with some color zoning.
Luster is vitreous to dull or silky.
Transparency: crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is hexagonal.
Crystal Habits include small prismatic six and twelve
sided crystals with pyramidal or pinacoidal
terminations. Also as compact spherical aggregates
and fibrous masses.
Cleavage is distinct to imperfect in six directions
(prismatic).
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3.5 to 4.
Specific Gravity is 3.5 (above average)
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Some specimens have been
known to fluoresce and rarely to exhibit an unusual
color change from green (in daylight) to brown (in
incandescent light). Index of refraction is 1.615 - 1.627.
Associated Minerals are albite, calcite, donnayite,
ilmenite,
paranatrolite,
pyrophanite,
pyrite,
sphalerite, astrophyllite, molybdenite, biotite, rutile,
tetranatrolite, ewaldite, hilairite, anatase, andradite,
barylite, catapleiite, cordylite, ancylite-(Ce), zircon,
barite, analcime, synchysite-(Ce), natrolite and
aegirine.
Notable Occurrences are limited to Mont SaintHilaire, Quebec and Chapman Lake, Ontario, Canada;
Khibina, Kola Peninsula, Russia and the type locality
Vermiculite Prospects, Big Sandy Creek, Hill County,

Montana, USA.
Best Field Indicators: crystal habit, color, luster and
locality.
THE MINERAL BUTTGENBACHITE
Chemistry: Cu19(NO3)2Cl4(OH)32 - 2H2O, Hydrated

Copper Nitrate Chloride Hydroxide.
Class: Carbonates.
Subclass: Nitrates.
Uses: As a very minor ore of copper and as mineral
specimens.
Specimens
Buttgenbachite is a rare copper nitrate mineral. Buttgenbachite

is related to the sulfate mineral connellite. The two minerals
are isostructural, share the same chemistry (except for the
primary anion group) and have similar color and crystal habits.
Connellite is a secondary mineral found in some unusual
oxidation zones of copper deposits and is a classic mineral
from the copper mines of Cornwall, England and Arizona,
USA.
Buttgenbachite is much rarer than connellite. It was first
discovered at Likasi, Shaba, now of the Congo. This was the
only place of discovery until laboratory results proved its
existence in a few samples from South Comobabi Mountains,
Pima County, Arizona.
Color is deep blue.
Luster is vitreous.
transparent.
Crystal System is hexagonal; 6 2 2.
Crystal Habits include acicular to fibrous crystals
arranged in tufts, layers or radial aggregates.
Cleavage is absent.
Fracture is uneven.
Hardness is 3
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.4 - 3.5 (slightly

above average for non-metallic minerals).
Streak is blue.
Associated Minerals include quartz and copper
minerals.
Notable Occurrence is limited to the Likasi, Shaba,
now of the Congo and South Comobabi Mountains,
Pima County, Arizona, USA.
associations and locality.
THE MINERAL BYTOWNITE
Chemistry: Ca(70-90%) Na(30-10%) (Al, Si)AlSi2 O8,

Calcium sodium aluminum silicate.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Tectosilicates
Group: Feldspars
Uses: only as a mineral specimen.
Specimens
Bytownite is a rather rare member plagioclase series. The
plagioclase series comprises minerals that range in chemical
composition from pure NaAlSi3 O8, Albite to pure CaAl2 Si2 O8
, anorthite. Bytownite by definition must contain 30-10% sodium
to 70-90% calcium in the sodium/calcium position in the crystal
structure. The various plagioclase feldspars are identified from
each other by gradations in index of refraction and density in
the absence of chemical analysis and/or optical measurements.
All plagioclase feldspars show a type of twinning that is named
after albite. Albite Law twinning produces stacks of twin layers
that are typically only fractions of millimeters to several
millimeters thick. These twinned layers can be seen as striation
like grooves on the surface of the crystal and unlike true
striations these also appear on the cleavage surfaces. The
Carlsbad Law twin produces what appears to be two intergrown
crystals growing in opposite directions. Two different twin laws,
the Manebach and Baveno laws, produce crystals with one
prominant mirror plane and penetrant angles or notches into
the crystal. Although twinned crystals are common, single
crystals showing a perfect twin are rare and are often collected
by twin fanciers.
Color is usually white, gray or colorless but can be pale
shades of other colors.
Luster is vitreous to dull if weathered..
Transparency crystals are translucent to opaque and
only sometimes transparent.
Crystal System is triclinic; bar 1
Crystal Habits include blocky, or tabular crystals.
Rarely are free crystals seen but they have a nearly
rectangular or square cross-section with slanted dome
and pinacoid terminations. Twinning is almost universal
in all plagioclases. Crystals can be twinned according
to the Albite, Carlsbad, Manebach and Baveno laws.
Bytownite is usually found as grains in gabbros and in
compact masses.
Cleavage is perfect in one and good in another
direction forming nearly right angled prisms.
Hardness is 6 - 6.5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.74-2.76 (average)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are biotite, hornblende and
pyroxenes.
Other Characteristics: index of refraction is 1.565 to
1.585. Lamellar twinning may cause a grooved effect
on cystal and cleavage surfaces that appear as
striations.
Notable Occurrences include Ottawa (formally
Bytown), Canada; Scotland and South Africa.
Best Field Indicators are occurence, twinning
striations, density and index of refraction.

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GEOLOGICAL HANDBOOK

THE MINERAL BABINGTONITE

Cleavage is good in one direction and perfect in another,

THE MINERAL BAKERITE

THE MINERAL BARATOVITE

THE MINERAL BARITE

Chemistry: BaSO4, Barium Sulfate

Barite is a common mineral and makes very attractive

Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m

THE MINERAL BASTNASITE

Chemistry: (Ce, La, Y)CO3F , Cerium Lanthanum

Bastnasite, which is sometimes spelled as bastnaesite, is one

monazite are the two largest sources of cerium, an important

Luster is pearly, vitreous, greasy to dull.

THE MINERAL BAUMHAUERITE

Chemistry: Pb3As4S9, Lead Arsenic Sulfide

Baumhauerite is a rare sulfide mineral from the famous quarry

THE MINERAL BAYLDONITE

Chemistry: Cu3Pb(AsO4)2 - H2O, Hydrated Copper

Bayldonite is another attractive arsenate mineral formed in the

Specific Gravity is approximately 5.5 (well above

THE MINERAL BEUDANTITE

Beudantite is a difficult mineral to classify in that it has both an

Beudantite lends its name to a group of sulfate-arsenates and

Crystal Habits include blocky rhombohedrons,

Benitoite is a somewhat obscure, but wonderful gemstone

San Benito, California. They are formed in fractures of a

THE MINERAL BERAUNITE

Chemistry: Fe6(PO4)4(OH)5 - 4H2O, Hydrated Iron

Beraunite is a scarce, but popular phosphate mineral for

Specific Gravity is approximately 2.9 (average).

THE MINERAL BERLINITE

Chemistry: AlPO4, Aluminum Phosphate

Berlinite is a rare phosphate mineral first discovered at the

Specific Gravity is approximately 2.6 (average for

THE MINERAL BERYLLONITE

Beryllonite is a rare beryllium mineral. It is found at only a few

THE MINERAL BERTHIERITE

Chemistry: FeSb2S4 , Iron Antimony Sulfide.

Berthierite is easily confused with the closely related mineral

Associated Minerals include quartz, stibnite and

THE MINERAL BERTRANDITE

Chemistry: Be4Si2O7(OH)2, Beryllium

Bertrandite was named after Leon Bertrand, a French

Crystal Habits include tabular to platy crystals and

THE MINERAL BETAFITE

Chemical Formula: (Ca, Na, U)2(Ti, Nb, Ta)2O6(OH,

Betafite is a popular uranium bearing mineral to collect. It is one

pegmatites. Although concerning the marbles there is a

Streak is yellow to brown.

Chemistry: Be3Al2(SiO3)6, Beryllium Aluminum

Beryl is often unknown to the general public, even the

Aquamarine is also a popular gem although it does not

THE MINERAL BIDEAUXITE

Chemistry: Pb2AgCl3(F, OH)2, Lead Silver Chloride

Bideauxite was named for American mineralogist Richard A.

THE MINERAL BINDHEIMITE

Chemical Formula: Pb2Sb2O6(O, OH), Lead

Bindheimite is an alteration product, or more specifically an

Specific Gravity is approximately 7.3 - 7.5 (heavier

THE MINERAL BIOTITE

Chemistry: K (FE, Mg)3 AlSi3 O10 (F, OH)2,