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Holfertite

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Holfertite pit, Starvation Canyon (Searles Canyon), Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah, USA
© Elmar Lackner

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Formula:
Ca
 
x
U
6+
2-x
Ti(O
 
8-x
OH
 
4x
) · 3H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Canary yellow to orange ...
Hardness:4
Name:For John W. Holfert


A hydrated Ca-U-Ti oxide/hydroxide.

May not be the same material per Foord from location.

Classification of Holfertite

IMA status:Approved 2003
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/H.0-
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.GB.70

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
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Type Occurrence of Holfertite

Type Locality:Holfertite pit, Starvation Canyon (Searles Canyon), Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Minute yellow, rod-like needles sparsely
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Smithsonian Museum, Fersman Museum
Geological Setting of type material:In Rhyolite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TopazQuartz

Physical Properties of Holfertite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Canary yellow to orange yellow
Streak:Pale yellow
Hardness (Mohs):4
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
(110)
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):4.22 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.26 g/cm3

Crystallography of Holfertite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:P3
Cell Parameters:a = 10.824Å, c = 7.549Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.697
Unit Cell Volume:V 765.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Hollow elongated prisms
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.60(100)
2.90(80)
1.87(30)
1.747(30)
1.211(30)
Comments:From type description.

Optical Data of Holfertite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.815 nε = 1.910
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.095

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Holfertite

Formula:
Ca
 
x
U
6+
2-x
Ti(O
 
8-x
OH
 
4x
) · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, Ti, U
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, Ti, U

Relationship of Holfertite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.GB.05Agrinierite
K
 
2
(Ca,Sr)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.GB.05Compreignacite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 7H
 
2
O
4.GB.05Rameauite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(OH)
 
16
 · H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Becquerelite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 8H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Billietite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 4-8H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Protasite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.15Richetite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
4
O
 
5
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Bauranoite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Calciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Metacalciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb,K
 
2
)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 2H
 
2
O
4.GB.25Fourmarierite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
4
O
 
3
(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.GB.30Wölsendorfite
(Pb,Ca)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 2H
 
2
O
4.GB.35Masuyite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.40Metavandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
 · nH
 
2
O n < 12
4.GB.40Vandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
 · 12H
 
2
O
4.GB.45Vandenbrandeite
Cu(UO
 
2
)(OH)
 
4
4.GB.50Sayrite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.GB.55Curite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
8
O
 
8
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.60Iriginite
(UO
 
2
)Mo
 
2
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.65Uranosphaerite
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)

Other Names for Holfertite

Synonyms:
IMA2003-009
Other Languages:
German:Holfertit
Russian:Холфертит
Spanish:Holfertita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None
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 Holfertite

Reference List:

- +
Foord, E.E., Chirnside, W., Davis, A.M., Lichte, F.E., Esposito, K.J. (1995): A new U–Ti–Ca–HREE hydrated oxide and associated niobian rutile from Topaz Valley, Utah. Mineralogical Record, 26, 122-128.

Belakovskiy, D.I. and Pautov, L.A. (2002) A new hydrous uranium titanate from Thomas Range, Utah, USA. International Mineralogical Association, 18th. General Meeting (Edinburgh), 135.

Sokolova, E., Hawthorne, F.C., Belakovskiy, D.I., Pautov, L.A. (2005): The OD (order–disorder) structure of holfertite, a hydrated uranyl titanate mineral from Searle Canyon, Thomas Range, Utah, USA. Canadian Mineralogist, 43, 1545-1552.

Belakovskiy, D.I., Pautov, L.A., Sokolova, E., Hawthorne, F.C., Mokhov, A.V. (2006): Holfertite, a new mineral from Thomas Range, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Record, 37, 311-317.

Internet Links for Holfertite

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    • Localities for Holfertite

    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    USA
     
    • Utah
      • Juab Co.
        • Thomas Range
    		Min Rec (2006) 37:311-317
    Min Rec (2006) 37:311-317
    Min Rec (2006) 37:311-317
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