Pyrochlore Mineral Data

General Pyrochlore Information

Chemical Formula:

(Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 353.84 gm

Sodium 9.75 % Na 13.14 % Na₂O

Calcium 5.66 % Ca 7.92 % CaO

Niobium 52.51 % Nb 75.12 % Nb₂O₅

Hydrogen 0.21 % H 1.91 % H₂O

Oxygen 30.52 % O

Fluorine 1.34 % F 1.34 % F

- % F -0.57 % -O=F₂

______ ______

100.00 % 98.87 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na_1.5Ca_0.5Nb₂O₆(OH)_0.75F_0.25

Environment:

Nepheline-syenite rocks.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1826

Locality:

Fredriksvarn and Larvik, Norway. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek pyr - "fire" and chloros - "green."

Name Pronunciation:

Pyrochlore + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 27815

PDF 17-746

Pyrochlore Image

Images:

Pyrochlore

Comments: Deep brownish black crystals of pyrochlore to 0.9 cm across.
Location: Lauzon Farm, Oka, Quebec, Canada. Scale: 3.9 x 2.9 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Pyrochlore Perrierite-(Ce) Zircon Loparite-(Ce)

Comments: Reddish black perrierite crystal, with orange-brown pyrochlore crystal, yellow-brown zircon, and grayish-black loparite.
Location: Buer, Bjorkedalen, Langesundfjord, Telemark, Norway. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Pyrochlore Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.37, Z = 10; V = 1,115.16 Den(Calc)= 5.27

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/I_o): 3(1), 1.838(0.6), 1.568(0.5),

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Crystal Structure:

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Bonazzi P , Bindi L , Zoppi M , Capitani G C , Olmi F , American Mineralogist , 91 (2006) p.794-801, Single-crystal diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies, of silicified pyrochlore from Narssarssk, Julianehaab district, Greenland, Locality: Narssarssk, Julianehaab district, Greenland, Sample: 396a

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Pyrochlore
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Physical Properties of Pyrochlore

Cleavage:

{111} Indistinct, {111} Indistinct, {111} Indistinct

Color:

Brown, Yellowish brown, Yellow, Greenish brown, Reddish brown.

Density:

4.2 - 6.4, Average = 5.3

Diaphaneity:

Subtranslucent to opaque

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.

Hardness:

5-5.5 - Apatite-Knife Blade

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Resinous - Greasy

Streak:

yellowish brown

Optical Properties of Pyrochlore

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.208 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.203 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1992,KPDmeas= 0.1981,KC= 0.2501
Ncalc = 2.05 - 2.6

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.9-2.2.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Pyrochlore in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	11.30
420 nm	11.20
440 nm	11.10
460 nm	11.00
480 nm	11.00
500 nm	10.90
520 nm	10.80
540 nm	10.70
560 nm	10.60
580 nm	10.50
600 nm	10.50
620 nm	10.40
640 nm	10.40
660 nm	10.40
680 nm	10.40
700 nm	10.40

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Pyrochlore in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	90%	100%	180%	270%	360%	450%	540%	630%	720%	810%	830%
R

Calculated Properties of Pyrochlore

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.93 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Pyrochlore =5.27 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0002232777
Boson Index = 0.9997767223

Photoelectric:

PE_Pyrochlore= 80.27 barns/electron
U=PE_Pyrochlore x rElectron Density= 395.72 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Pyrochlore is Not Radioactive

Pyrochlore Classification

Dana Class:

08.02.01.01 (08)Multiple Oxides with Nb, Ta, and Ti

(08.02)where (A)2 (B2O6) (O,OH,F)

(08.02.01)Pyrochlore Group (Pyrochlore Subgroup; Nb>Ta;(Nb+Ta)>2(Ti)

08.02.01.01 Pyrochlore (Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

08.02.01.02 Kalipyrochlore (H2O,Sr)(Nb,Ti)(O,OH)6•(H2O,K) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

08.02.01.03 Bariopyrochlore (Ba,Sr)(Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

08.02.01.04 Yttropyrochlore-(Y) (Y,Na,Ca,U)1-2(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 2/m 3

08.02.01.05 Ceriopyrochlore-(Ce) (Ce,Ca,Y)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

08.02.01.06 Plumbopyrochlore (Pb,Y,U,Ca)2-xNb2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

08.02.01.07 Uranpyrochlore (U,Ca,Ce)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

08.02.01.08 Strontiopyrochlore* Sr2Nb2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

08.02.01.09 Bismutopyrochlore! (Bi,U,Ca,Pb)1x(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)•n(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

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 Pyrochlore Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Pyrochlore :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - GeoScienceWorld
9 - Google Images
10 - Google Scholar
11 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
12 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
13 - MinDAT
14 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
15 - Online Mineral Museum
16 - QUT Mineral Atlas
17 - Ruff.Info
18 - WWW-MINCRYST

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

Pyrochlore

(Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F)
Dana No: 08.02.01.01 Strunz No: 04.DH.15
Locality:

Notes: