Betafite  Mineral Data

Betafite Mineral Data

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General Betafite Information

Help on Chemical  Formula: Chemical Formula: (Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 415.12 gm
   Calcium    1.93 %  Ca    2.70 % CaO
   Uranium   17.20 %  U    20.67 % UO3
   Tantalum  21.79 %  Ta   26.61 % Ta2O5
   Titanium   9.23 %  Ti   15.39 % TiO2
   Niobium   20.14 %  Nb   28.81 % Nb2O5
   Aluminum   0.65 %  Al    1.23 % Al2O3
   Iron       1.35 %  Fe    1.92 % Fe2O3
   Hydrogen   0.73 %  H     6.51 % H2O
   Oxygen    26.98 %  O
            ______        ______ 
            100.00 %      103.85 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: U0.3Ca0.2Nb0.9Ti0.8Al0.1Fe3+0.1Ta0.5O4(OH)3
Help on Environment: Environment: Typically a primary mineral in granite pegmatites, rare in carbonatites.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1912
Help on Locality: Locality: Betafo, Malagasy Republic. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named after its locality.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Betafite Say BETAFITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Blomstrandite
  Mendeleyevite
  Samiresite
 

Betafite Image

Click Here for Larger Betafite Image in a New Browser Window Images:
Click Here for Larger Betafite Image

Betafite

Comments: Brown hexoctahedral crystal of betafite on greenish apatite crystals.
Location: Silver Crater Mine, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. Scale: 2-1/4 cm across.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Betafite Crystallography

Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 10.31, Z = 10; V = 1,095.91 Den(Calc)= 6.29
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F d3m
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 2.96(1), 1.814(0.45), 1.546(0.4),
Help on Forms: Forms:

Mouse
Dbl Clk - Start-Stop Rotation
RMB - Cycle Display Modes
Drag1 - Manipulate Crystal
Drag2 - Resize

Keyboard
S - Stereo
I - Indicies
<space> - Start-Stop Rotation
F - Fit to Screen
M - Menu

Help on Above

Forms: ( 1 0 0) ( 1 0 0) ( 1 1 1)

Warning: this large pop-up is very compute intensive and may not work well with some computers.

Click Here for Large Betafite Structure Window Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate

Keyboard
S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
Help on Above


Dickson F J , Hawkins K D , White T J , Journal of Solid State Chemistry , 82 (1989) p.146-150, Calcium uranium titanate - a new pyrochlore, Locality: synthetic

 

Physical Properties of Betafite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: None
Help on Color: Color: Brown, Black, Brownish green, Yellow, Greenish black.
Help on Density: Density: 3.7 - 4.9, Average = 4.3
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Translucent to Opaque
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).
Help on Habit: Habit: Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.
Help on Habit: Habit: Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 5-5.5 - Apatite-Knife Blade
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Radioactive.
Help on Luster: Luster: Vitreous - Greasy
Help on Streak: Streak: yellowish white
 

Optical Properties of Betafite

Help on Gladstone-Dale: Gladstone-Dale: CI meas= -0.026 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.298 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1675,KPDmeas= 0.245,KC= 0.2387
Ncalc = 1.88 - 2.5
Help on Optical Data: Optical Data: Isotropic, n=1.91-2.197.
Help on RL Color: RL Color: Almost colorless.
Help on Reflectivity Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Betafite in Air
λ R  ∑ R(λ) 
 400 nm   13.50   
 420 nm   13.20 
 440 nm   13.00 
 460 nm   12.80 
 480 nm   12.60 
 500 nm   12.40 
 520 nm   12.30 
 540 nm   12.20 
 560 nm   12.00 
 580 nm   11.90 
 600 nm   11.70 
 620 nm   11.60 
 640 nm   11.60 
 660 nm   11.60 
 680 nm   11.50 
 700 nm   11.50 
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Betafite in Air
Relative
Intensity
   0%   80% 100% 160% 240% 320% 400% 480% 560% 640% 720% 740%
R                        
 

Calculated Properties of Betafite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.84 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Betafite =4.30 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEBetafite = 722.04 barns/electron
U=PEBetafite x relectron=2,774.78 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity:

GRapi = 1,310,419.54 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Betafite per GRapi unit = 763.11 (PPB)

Betafite is Radioactive as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. Greater than 70 Bq / gram.

Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 10 cm box) 23.21 ± 5.80 grams of pure Betafite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 2321.1 ±580.28 grams of pure Betafite .

Estimated Radioactivity from Betafite - very strong
Specimen
Size
Weight/Volume
(Sphere)
*
Calculated
Activity
Becquerels
(Bq)
Calculated
Activity
Curies (Ci)
Estimated
Activity
GR(api)
Estimated
Exposure
(mRem**)/hr
If Held in Hand
For One Hour
1000 gm / 7.63 cm 30,791,430 8.32E-04 1,310,419.54 430.82
100 gm / 3.54 cm 3,079,143 8.32E-05 131,041.95 43.08
10 gm / 1.64 cm 307,914 8.32E-06 13,104.20 4.31
1 gm / 7.63 mm 30,791 8.32E-07 1,310.42 0.43
0.1 gm / 3.54 mm 3,079 8.32E-08 131.04 0.04
0.01 gm / 1.64 mm 308 8.32E-09 13.10 0.00
0.001 gm / 0.76 mm 31 8.32E-10 1.31 0.00

Weight of pure Betafite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 4.30 gm/cc.*
Goverment Estimate of Average Annual Exposure ( 360 mRem) **
Note: 10 microsieverts/hr = 1 mRem/hr **
Max Permissable Adult Dose 50,000 mRem/yr (hands), 15,000 mRem/yr (eyes)
Lethal Dose LD(50) Exposure 400,000 to 500,000 mRem
 

Betafite Classification

Help on  Dana Class: Dana Class: 08.02.03.01 (08)Multiple Oxides with Nb, Ta, and Ti
  (08.02)where (A)2 (B2O6) (O,OH,F)
  (08.02.03)Pyrochlore Group (Betafite Subgroup; 2(Ti)>(Ta+Nb)
 
08.02.03.01 Betafite (Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
08.02.03.02 Yttrobetafite-(Y) (Y,U,Ce)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
08.02.03.03 Plumbobetafite (Pb,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
08.02.03.04 Stibiobetafite (Sb,Ca)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
08.02.03.05 Calciobetafite Ca2(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
Help on  Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 04.DH.15 04 - OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodate
  04.D - Metal:Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
  04.DH -With large (± medium-sized) cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
 
04.DH.15 Alumotungstite (W,Al)(O,OH)3(?) Unk Cubic
 
04.DH.15 Betafite (Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Ferritungstite (K,Ca,Na)(W,Fe)2(O,OH)6•(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Cesstibtantite (Cs,Na)SbTa4O12 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Bismutomicrolite (Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Ceriopyrochlore-(Ce) (Ce,Ca,Y)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Bariopyrochlore (Ba,Sr)(Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Bariomicrolite Ba(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Calciobetafite Ca2(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Jixianite Pb(W,Fe)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Plumbomicrolite (Pb,Ca,U)2Ta2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Kalipyrochlore (H2O,Sr)(Nb,Ti)(O,OH)6•(H2O,K) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Plumbopyrochlore (Pb,Y,U,Ca)2-xNb2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Strontiopyrochlore* Sr2Nb2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Uranmicrolite (U,Ca)2(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Pyrochlore (Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Microlite (Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Natrobistantite (Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)4O12 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Plumbobetafite (Pb,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Stibiomicrolite (Sb,Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Stannomicrolite (Sn,Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb,Sn)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Stibiobetafite (Sb,Ca)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Uranpyrochlore (U,Ca,Ce)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Bismutopyrochlore! (Bi,U,Ca,Pb)1x(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)•n(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Fluornatromicrolite! (Na,Ca,Bi)2Ta2O6F F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Yttrobetafite-(Y) (Y,U,Ce)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 
04.DH.15 Yttropyrochlore-(Y) (Y,Na,Ca,U)1-2(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 2/m 3
 
04.DH.15 Elsmoreite! WO3•0.5(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
 

Other Betafite Information

Help on References: References: NAME( AntBidBlaNic3) PHYS. PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Betafite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Google Images
8 - Google Scholar
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
11 - MinDAT
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - Online Mineral Museum
14 - QUT Mineral Atlas
15 - Ruff.Info
16 - Uranium Minerals
17 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Betafite Specimen Label here :

Betafite

(Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
Dana No: 08.02.03.01 Strunz No: 04.DH.15
Locality:

 

Notes: