Mindat Logo

Franconite

Formula:
Na
 
2
Nb
 
4
O
 
11
·9H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicHardness:4
This page provides mineralogical data about Franconite.

Classification of Franconite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.06-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.FM.15

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
M : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); unclassified
Dana 8th edition ID:8.6.1.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
6 : (AB)6O11·nH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.1.4

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
1 : Niobates and tantalates containing neither rare earths nor U
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1595.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Franconite

Type Locality:Francon quarry, St. Michel District, Montréal, Jacques Cartier Co., Québec, Canada
Year of Discovery:1984

Physical Properties of Franconite

Hardness (Mohs):4

Crystallography of Franconite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 22.21Å, b = 12.87Å, c = 6.35Å
β = 92.24°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.726 : 1 : 0.493
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,813.71 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Franconite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.720 nβ = 1.780 nγ = 1.790
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.070

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v moderate

Chemical Properties of Franconite

Formula:
Na
 
2
Nb
 
4
O
 
11
·9H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Na, Nb, O
All elements listed in formula:H, Na, Nb, O

Relationship of Franconite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.FM.15Hochelagaite
(Ca,Na,Sr)(Nb,Ti,Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
11
·8H
 
2
O
4.FM.15Ternovite
(Mg,Ca)Nb
 
4
O
 
11
·nH
 
2
O
4.FM.25Belyankinite
Ca
 
1-2
(Ti,Zr,Nb)
 
5
O
 
12
· 9H
 
2
O (?)
4.FM.25Gerasimovskite
(Mn,Ca)(Nb,Ti)
 
5
O
 
12
·9H
 
2
O
4.FM.25Manganbelyankinite
(Mn,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
5
O
 
12
·9H
 
2
O
4.FM.30Silhydrite
3SiO
 
2
·H
 
2
O
4.FM.35Cuzticite
Fe
3+
2
[TeO
 
6
] · 3H
 
2
O
4.FM.40Cyanophyllite
(Cu,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|Sb
5+
 
(OH)
 
6
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
18.1.1Lithiotantite
Li(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
8
18.1.2Lueshite
NaNbO
 
3
18.1.3Natroniobite
NaNbO
 
3
18.1.5Natrotantite
Na
 
2
Ta
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.6Irtyshite
Na
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.7Rankamaite
(Na,K,Pb,Li)
 
3
(Ta,Nb,Al)
 
11
(O,OH)
 
30
18.1.8Kalipyrochlore
(K,Sr)
 
2-x
Nb
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)·nH
 
2
O
18.1.9Calciotantite
CaTa
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.10Rynersonite
Ca(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.11Microlite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH,F)
18.1.12Belyankinite
Ca
 
1-2
(Ti,Zr,Nb)
 
5
O
 
12
· 9H
 
2
O (?)
18.1.13Latrappite
(Ca,Na)(Nb,Ti,Fe)O
 
3
18.1.14Hochelagaite
(Ca,Na,Sr)(Nb,Ti,Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
11
·8H
 
2
O
18.1.15Bariomicrolite
Ba(Ta,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.16Parabariomicrolite
BaTa
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
18.1.17Bariopyrochlore
(Ba,Sr)
 
2
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.18Alumotantite
AlTaO
 
4
18.1.19Simpsonite
Al
 
4
(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
13
(OH,F)
18.1.20Sosedkoite
(K,Na)
 
5
Al
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
22
O
 
60
18.1.21Thoreaulite
SnTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.22Stannomicrolite
(Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Ta,Nb,Sn)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.23Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.24Changbaiite
PbNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.25Plumbopyrochlore
(Pb,Y,U,Ca)
 
2-x
Nb
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
18.1.26Plumbomicrolite
(Pb,Ca,U)
 
2
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
18.1.27Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
18.1.28Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.29Natrobistantite
(Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)
 
4
O
 
12
18.1.30Cesplumtantite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Pb,Sb
3+
 
)
 
3
Ta
 
8
O
 
24
18.1.31Stibiomicrolite
(Sb,Ca,Na)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
7
18.1.32Cesstibtantite
(Cs,Na)SbTa
 
4
O
 
12
18.1.33 Stibobetafite
(Ca,Sb)
 
2
(Ti,Nb,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.34Bismutotantalite
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.35Bismutomicrolite
(Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
18.1.36Tantalite-(Mn)
MnTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.37Gerasimovskite
(Mn,Ca)(Nb,Ti)
 
5
O
 
12
·9H
 
2
O
18.1.38Tapiolite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.39Columbite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.40Wodginite
Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
 
2
O
 
8
18.1.41Ixiolite
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
4
O
 
8
18.1.42Columbite-(Fe)
FeNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.43Tantalite-(Fe)
FeTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.44Columbite
(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.45Tantalite
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.46Tapiolite
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.47Tapiolite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.48Columbite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.50Strüverite
(Ti,Ta,Fe)O
 
2
18.1.51 Staringite
(Fe,Mn)
 
x
(Ta,Nb)
 
2x
Sn
 
6-3x
O
 
12

Other Names for Franconite

Synonyms:
IMA1981-006IMA1981-006a
German names:
Franconit
Spanish names:
Franconita

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 Franconite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 70: 436-437.

Internet Links for Franconite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Franconite on Google
  • Look for Franconite images on Google
  • External Links:
  • Look for Franconite on Webmineral
  • Look for Franconite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Franconite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Franconite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Franconite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Franconite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Search for Franconite on minvision.com
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Franconite specimens
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
  • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Franconite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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.
    Bolivia
     
    • Santa Cruz Department
      • Velasco Province
    ?? Perhaps error for "francolite"?
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Jacques Cartier Co.
        • Montréal
          • St. Michel District
    Canadian Mineralogist (1984): 22: 239-243.
      • Rouville Co.
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    Min Rec (2006) 37: 5-60, CanMin 22:239-243(1984), Horváth, L and Gault, R.A. (1990), The mineralogy of Mont Saint-Hilaire Quebec. Mineralogical Record: 21: 284-359.
      • Verchères Co.
        • Varennes & St-Amable
          • Saint-Amable sill
    Mineralogical Record: 29: 83.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Khibiny Massif
    Pekov, I.V. & Podlesnyi, A.S. (2004): Kukisvumchorr Deposit: Mineralogy of Alkaline Pegmatites and Hydrotermalites. Mineralogical Almanac, vol. 7, 140 pages + xxiv photo's pages
    Min Rec (2006) 37: 5-60
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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.