Berthierine Mineral Data

Berthierine Mineral Data +

General Berthierine Information

Chemical Formula:

(Fe++,Fe+++,Al,Mg)2-3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 295.97 gm

Magnesium 1.64 % Mg 2.72 % MgO

Aluminum 17.32 % Al 32.73 % Al₂O₃

Iron 32.08 % Fe 36.41 % FeO / 5.40 % Fe₂O₃

Silicon 10.44 % Si 22.33 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 0.68 % H 6.09 % H₂O

Oxygen 37.84 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 105.68 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Fe²⁺_1.5AlFe³⁺_0.2Mg_0.2Si_1.1Al_0.9O₅(OH)₂

Environment:

Common in unmetamorphosed marine sediments, in lateritic and polar soils.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1832

Locality:

Hayage, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Pierre Berthier (1782-1861), French geologist.

Berthierine Image

Images:

Berthierine

Comments: Berthierine-1M, black pseudomorphs after cordylite-(Ce) crystals.
Location: Mont Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Berthierine Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.576:1:0.7717

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.3, b = 9.2, c = 7.1, Z = 2; beta = 104.5° V = 335.17 Den(Calc)= 2.93

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - DomaticH-M Symbol (m) Space Group: Cm

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 7.12(1), 3.546(1), 2.52(1),1.56(0.7), 2.147(0.7), 1.478(0.6), 1.775(0.6),

Physical Properties of Berthierine

Color:

Brown green, Green yellow, Dark green.

Density:

3.03

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Habit:

Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.

Habit:

Oolitic - < 3mm rounded spherical grains.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luster:

Pearly

Streak:

greenish white

Optical Properties of Berthierine

Optical Data:

Biaxial (?), a=1.62, g=1.65, bire=0.0300

Calculated Properties of Berthierine

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.86 gm/cc
note: r_Berthierine=2.93 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.0135
Boson Index = 0.9865

Photoelectric:

PE_Berthierine= 10.48 barns/electron
U=PE_Berthierine x r_electron= 30.02 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Berthierine is Not Radioactive

Berthierine Classification

Dana Class:

71.1.2c.2 (71)Phyllosilicate Sheets of Six-Membered Rings

(71.1)with 1:1 layers

(71.1.2c)Serpentine group (Amesite subgroup)

71.1.2c.1 Amesite Mg2Al(SiAl)O5(OH)4 C1 1

71.1.2c.2 Berthierine (Fe,Fe,Al,Mg)2-3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 Cm m

71.1.2c.3 Brindleyite (Ni,Mg,Fe)2Al(SiAl)O5(OH)4 C 2 2

71.1.2c.4 Fraipontite (Zn,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 Cm m

71.1.2c.5 Kellyite (Mn,Mg,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 P 6₃ 6

71.1.2c.6 Manandonite Li2Al4[(Si2AlB)O10](OH)8 C1 1

71.1.2c.7 Cronstedtite Fe2Fe(SiFe)O5(OH)4 P 3₁m 3m

Strunz Class:

VIII/H.27-70 VIII - Silicates

VIII/H - Phyllosilicates (layered) Mica like with [Si4O10]4- and related groups

VIII/H.27 - Serpentine group

VIII/H.27-10 Antigorite (Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4 Cm m

VIII/H.27-20 Lizardite Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 P1 1

VIII/H.27-30 Clinochrysotile Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Cc, C 2/m Mono

VIII/H.27-40 Orthochrysotile Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Unk Ortho

VIII/H.27-50 Parachrysotile Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Unk Ortho

VIII/H.27-55 Caryopilite (Mn,Mg,Zn,Fe)3(Si,As)2O510(OH,Cl)4 Cm or C 2/m Mono

VIII/H.27-60 Greenalite (Fe,Fe)2-3Si2O5(OH)4 Unk Mono

VIII/H.27-70 Berthierine (Fe,Fe,Al,Mg)2-3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 Cm m

VIII/H.27-80 Fraipontite (Zn,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 Cm m

VIII/H.27-90 Zinalsite Zn2AlSi2O5(OH)4·2(H2O)(?) Mono

VIII/H.27-95 Dozyite (Mg7Al2)(Si4Al2)O15(OH)12 Cm m

VIII/H.27-100 Amesite Mg2Al(SiAl)O5(OH)4 C1 1

VIII/H.27-110 Kellyite (Mn,Mg,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 P 6₃ 6

VIII/H.27-120 Cronstedtite Fe2Fe(SiFe)O5(OH)4 P 3₁m 3m

VIII/H.27-140 Karpinskite (Mg,Ni)2Si2O5(OH)2(?) Unk Mono

VIII/H.27-150 Nepouite Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 Ccm21 mm2

VIII/H.27-160 Pecoraite Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.27-170 Brindleyite (Ni,Mg,Fe)2Al(SiAl)O5(OH)4 C 2 2

VIII/H.27-180 Maufite (Mg,Ni)Al4Si3O13·4(H2O)(?) Mono ? Mono

VIII/H.27-190 Carlosturanite (Mg,Fe,Ti,Mn)21(Si,Al)12O28(OH)34 Cm m

Other Berthierine Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic2) PHYS. PROP.(AntBidBlaNic2) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic2)

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Berthierine

(Fe++,Fe+++,Al,Mg)2-3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4
Dana No: 71.1.2c.2 Strunz No: VIII/H.27-70
Locality:

Notes: