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Bertossaite

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Formula:
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,F)
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale pink
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6
Name:Named in honor of Antonio Bertossa, Director of the Geological Survey of Rwanda, the country in which it was first found.


Bertossaite-Palermoite Series. The calcium analogue of Palermoite

Classification of Bertossaite

IMA status:Approved 1965
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.28-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BH.25

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
H : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 = 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.7.1.2

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.8.5

19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Bertossaite

Type Locality:Buranga pegmatite, Gatumba District, Western Province, Rwanda
Year of Discovery:1966

Physical Properties of Bertossaite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Pale pink
Hardness (Mohs):6

Crystallography of Bertossaite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.48Å, b = 15.73Å, c = 7.23Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.73 : 1 : 0.46
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,305.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Bertossaite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.624 nβ = 1.636 nγ = 1.642
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.018

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Bertossaite

Formula:
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,F)
 
4
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, Li, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, F, Fe, H, Li, Mn, Na, O, P
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn

Relationship of Bertossaite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Palermoite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BH.05Thadeuite
Ca(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
2
8.BH.10Durangite
NaAl(AsO
 
4
)F
8.BH.10Isokite
CaMg(PO
 
4
)F
8.BH.10Lacroixite
NaAl(PO
 
4
)F
8.BH.10Maxwellite
NaFe
3+
 
(AsO
 
4
)F
8.BH.10Panasqueiraite
CaMg(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
8.BH.10Tilasite
CaMg(AsO
 
4
)F
8.BH.15Drugmanite
Pb(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BH.20Bjarebyite
(Ba,Sr)(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
8.BH.20Cirrolite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(?)
8.BH.20Kulanite
Ba(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
8.BH.20Penikisite
Ba(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
8.BH.20Perloffite
Ba(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
8.BH.20Johntomaite
BaFe
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
8.BH.25Palermoite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
4
8.BH.30Carminite
PbFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BH.30Sewardite
CaFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BH.35Adelite
CaMg(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Arsendescloizite
PbZn(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Austinite
CaZn(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Cobaltaustinite
CaCo(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Conichalcite
CaCu(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Duftite
PbCu(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Gabrielsonite
PbFe(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Nickelaustinite
Ca(Ni,Zn)(AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Tangeite
CaCu(VO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Gottlobite
CaMg(VO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.35Hermannroseite
CaCu(PO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.40Čechite
Pb(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(VO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.40Descloizite
Pb(Zn,Cu)(VO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.40Mottramite
PbCu(VO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.40Pyrobelonite
PbMn
2+
 
(VO
 
4
)(OH)
8.BH.45Bayldonite
PbCu
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BH.45Vésigniéite
BaCu
 
3
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BH.50Paganoite
NiBi(AsO
 
4
)O
8.BH.55Jagowerite
BaAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BH.55Carlgieseckeite-(Nd)
NaNdCa
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
8.BH.60Attakolite
(Ca,Sr)Mn(Al,Fe)
 
4
(HPO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
8.BH.65Leningradite
PbCu
 
3
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.8.1Montebrasite
LiAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.8.2Brazilianite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
19.8.3Wardite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
· 2H
 
2
O
19.8.4Tancoite
LiNa
 
2
Al(PO
 
4
)(HPO
 
4
)(OH)
19.8.6Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.7Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH) · 9H
 
2
O
19.8.8Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
· 12H
 
2
O
19.8.9Gordonite
MgAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
19.8.10Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
(PO
 
4
)
 
8
(OH)
 
22
· 32H
 
2
O
19.8.11Overite
CaMgAl(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
19.8.12Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
· 12H
 
2
O
19.8.14Foggite
CaAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
· H
 
2
O
19.8.15Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
· H
 
2
O
19.8.16Crandallite
CaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
5
· H
 
2
O
19.8.17Matulaite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Al
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(PO
 
3
OH)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
(H
 
2
O)
 
8
· 8H
 
2
O
19.8.19Lehiite
19.8.20Millisite
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
9
· 3H
 
2
O
19.8.21Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
(PO
 
4
)
 
21
(OH)
 
7
· 26H
 
2
O
19.8.22Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
· 3H
 
2
O
19.8.23Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
· 15H
 
2
O
19.8.24Paulkerrite
K(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
· 15H
 
2
O

Other Names for Bertossaite

Synonyms:
IMA1965-038
Other Languages:
German:Bertossait
Spanish:Bertossaita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Bertossaite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 52: 1583.

Internet Links for Bertossaite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Bertossaite on Google
  • Look for Bertossaite images on Google
  • External Links:
  • Look for Bertossaite on Webmineral
  • Look for Bertossaite on Athena Mineralogy[Link Broken?]
  • Look for Bertossaite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Bertossaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Bertossaite specimens
  • By minerals from YourMineralCollection
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  • Find Bertossaite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
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  • Localities for Bertossaite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • Victoria
      • East Gippsland Shire
        • Omeo
          • Mt Wills Mining District
            • Glen Wills
    Museum Victoria Natural Sciences Collection
    China
     
    • Fujian Province
      • Nanping Prefecture
        • Zhenghe Co.
    Huan Hu, Rucheng Wang, Fontan, F., Aicheng Zhang, and Jiadeng Chen (2007): Presented at the International Symposium: Granitic Pegmatites: The State of the Art, May 06–12, 2007, Porto, Portugal.
    Rwanda
     
    • Western Province
      • Gatumba District
    [Nickel & Nichols, 1991 - "Mineral Reference Manual", p21]
    F. Hatert, P. Lefèvre, A.M. Fransolet, M.R. Spirlet, F. Fontan, P. Keller : "Ferrorosemaryite, []NaFe2+Fe3+Al(PO4)3, a new phosphate mineral from the Rubindi pegmatite, Rwanda", Bull. Liaison S.F.M.C., Vol. 16, 2004, pp 44-45.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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