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Curetonite

Big Photo

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

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

- +
19.5.1Strontiowhitlockite
Sr
 
9
Mg[PO
 
4
]
 
6
[HPO
 
4
]
19.5.2Belovite-(Ce)
NaSr
 
3
(Ce,La)[(F,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
19.5.3Goyazite
SrAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
19.5.4Goedkenite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
Al[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
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
Ba(NaSr)
 
2
Na[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.5.8Nastrophite
Na(Sr,Ba)PO
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
19.5.9Jagowerite
BaAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.5.10Gorceixite
BaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
19.5.11Penikisite
Ba(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
19.5.13Bjarebyite
(Ba,Sr)(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
19.5.14Kulanite
Ba(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
19.5.15Perloffite
Ba(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
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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    Localities for Curetonite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Potosi District
    		Min Rec 10:4 pp219-221
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 13th Nov 2009 09:05:59