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Curetonite

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Redhouse Barite Mine, Potosi District, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
© c Knut Eldjarn

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Formula:
Ba
 
4
Al
 
3
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(O,OH)
 
6
System:MonoclinicColour:Bright green yellowish
Hardness:3½
Name:For Forrest (1932-) & Michael Cureton (1960-), who discovered the mineral.
This page provides mineralogical data about Curetonite.

Classification of Curetonite

IMA status:Approved 1978
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.32-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BK.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
K : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 2:1, 2.5:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.5.15.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.5.12

19 : Phosphates
5 : Phosphates of Sr and Ba
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Type Occurrence of Curetonite

Type Locality:Redhouse Barite Mine, Potosi District, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
Year of Discovery:1979
Geological Setting of type material:Barite deposit

Physical Properties of Curetonite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Bright green yellowish
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {011}
Parting:On {010}
Density (measured):4.42(5) g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.31 g/cm3

Crystallography of Curetonite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.977(2) Å, b = 12.564(4) Å, c = 5.223(1) Å
β = 101.15(2)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.555 : 1 : 0.416
Unit Cell Volume:V 449.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Wedgelike
Twinning:Polysynthetic on {100}

Optical Data of Curetonite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.676 nβ = 1.680 nγ = 1.693
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 58.4°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.017

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:weak r < v
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:In patchy yellows

Chemical Properties of Curetonite

Formula:
Ba
 
4
Al
 
3
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(O,OH)
 
6
Essential elements:Al, Ba, O, P, Ti
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ba, H, O, P, Ti

Relationship of Curetonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BK.05Brazilianite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BK.10Medenbachite
Bi
3+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Cu,Fe
3+
 
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
4
8.BK.10Neustädtelite
Bi
3+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Co)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
4
8.BK.10Cobaltneustädtelite
Bi
3+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Co,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
4
8.BK.20Heyite
Pb
 
5
Fe
2+
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
8.BK.25Jamesite
Pb
 
2
Zn(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
10
8.BK.25Lulzacite
Sr
 
2
Fe
2+
 
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
10
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.5.1Strontiowhitlockite
Sr
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)
19.5.2Belovite-(Ce)
NaCeSr
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
F
19.5.3Goyazite
SrAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
19.5.4Goedkenite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
Al(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
19.5.5Palermoite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
4
19.5.6Nabaphite
NaBaPO
 
4
 · 9H
 
2
O
19.5.7Olgite
(Sr,Ba)(Na,Sr,REE)
 
2
Na(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.5.8Nastrophite
Na(Sr,Ba)PO
 
4
 · 9H
 
2
O
19.5.9Jagowerite
BaAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
19.5.10Gorceixite
BaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
19.5.11Penikisite
Ba(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
19.5.13Bjarebyite
(Ba,Sr)(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
19.5.14Kulanite
Ba(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
19.5.15Perloffite
Ba(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3

Other Names for Curetonite

Synonyms:
IMA1978-065
Other Languages:
German:Curetonit
Russian:Куретонит
Spanish:Curetonita

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 Curetonite

Reference List:

- +
Williams, S. A. (1979): Curetonite a new phosphate from Nevada. Mineralogical Record: 10: 219-220.

American Mineralogist: 65: 206.

American Mineralogist: 79: 545-549.

Internet Links for Curetonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Curetonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Curetonite

    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.
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    (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
     
    • Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Potosi District
    		Min Rec 10:4 pp219-221
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