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Ferruccite

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Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
© 2008, JGW

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Formula:
Na[BF
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless to white
Hardness:3
Name:After Ferruccio Zambonini (1880-1932), Italian mineralogist.
Isostructural with:Anhydrite


Also isostructural with NaClO4 and KMnO4.

Classification of Ferruccite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/B.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CA.05

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
A : Borofluorides
Dana 8th edition ID:11.2.3.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
2 : AmBX4
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.12.1

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
12 : Fluorborates (BF'4) and fluosilicates (SiF''6)
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Type Occurrence of Ferruccite

Type Locality:Mt. Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy
Year of Discovery:1933
Geological Setting of type material:Active volcanic fumaroles.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
MalladriteSassoliteAvogadriteHieratite

Physical Properties of Ferruccite

Colour:Colourless to white
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {100}, {010}, and {001}.
Density (measured):2.496 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.511 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ferruccite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.82Å, b = 6.25Å, c = 6.77Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.091 : 1 : 1.083
Unit Cell Volume:V 288.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Artificial crystals tabular {001} or {010} with c{001}, a{100}, b{010}, and m{110}.

Optical Data of Ferruccite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.301 nβ = 1.301 nγ = 1.307
2V:Measured: 11° , Calculated: 22°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.006

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

Chemical Properties of Ferruccite

Formula:
Na[BF
 
4
]
Essential elements:B, F, Na
All elements listed in formula:B, F, Na

Relationship of Ferruccite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.CA.10Avogadrite
(K,Cs)[BF
 
4
]
3.CA.10Barberiite
(NH
 
4
)[BF
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.12.2Avogadrite
(K,Cs)[BF
 
4
]
8.12.3Malladrite
Na
 
2
[SiF
 
6
]
8.12.4Hieratite
K
 
2
[SiF
 
6
]
8.12.5Cryptohalite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[SiF
 
6
]
8.12.6Bararite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[SiF
 
6
]

Other Names for Ferruccite

Other Languages:
German:Ferruccit
Russian:Ферручит
Spanish:Ferruccita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Several high temperature polymorphs are known.
Other Information:Soluble in water. Readily fusible.
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 Ferruccite

Reference List:Carobbi (1933) Periodico de Mineralogia-Roma: 4: 410.

American Mineralogist (1934): 19: 555.

Finbak and Hassel (1936) Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, Leipzig, Berlin: 32: 433.

Klinkenberg (1937)Recueil des travaux chimiques des Pays-Bas et de la Belgique, Leyden: 56: 36.

Bellanca (1946) Rendus soc. min. ital.: 3: 20.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 98-99, 407.

Acta Crystallographica: 24: 1703-1704.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Ferruccite

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    Localities for Ferruccite

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    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.
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 99.
    Russo, M., Punzo, I. (2004): I minerali del Somma-Vesuvio, AMI
    Mineral and/or Locality
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