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Franconite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Franconite (58)

Franconite Gallery Search Photos of Franconite

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Franconite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Franconite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Franconite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Franconite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Franconite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Franconite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Franconite, etc.

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

Franconite

Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

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About FranconiteHide

Francon quarry view in 1982

Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Formula:

Na(Nb₂O₅)(OH) · 3H₂O

Colour:

White, colorless, grayish blue.

Lustre:

Adamantine, Vitreous, Silky

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

2.72

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Member of:

Franconite Group

Name:

Named by J.L. Jambor, A.P. Sabina, A.C. Roberts, M. Bonardi, R.A. Ramik, and B.D. Sturman in 1984 for the type locality of Francon Quarry, Canada.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada

This page provides mineralogical data about Franconite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

1595

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:1595:6

GUID
(UUID V4):

558c97de-312d-4c32-b4ce-bdd71c17ea31

IMA Classification of FranconiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

NaNb₂O₅(OH) · 3H₂O

First published:

1984

Type description reference:

Jambor, John L., Sabina, A. P., Roberts, Andrew C., Bonardi, M., Ramik, R. A., Sturman, B. D. (1984) Franconite, a new hydrated Na-Nb oxide mineral from Montreal Island, Quebec. The Canadian Mineralogist, 22 (2) 239-243

Classification of FranconiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

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 ed.:

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

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Fra	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Pronunciation of FranconiteHide

Pronunciation:

Play	Recorded by	Country
	Jolyon Ralph	United Kingdom

Physical Properties of FranconiteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine, Vitreous, Silky

Transparency:

Transparent

Comment:

silky on fractures

Colour:

White, colorless, grayish blue.

Streak:

White

Hardness:

4 on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

None Observed

Parting:

: Basal, parting.

Density:

2.72(1) g/cm³ (Measured) 2.71 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of FranconiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.720 n_β = 1.780 n_γ = 1.790

2V:

Measured: 35° (5)

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.070

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Very High

Dispersion:

r < v moderate

Chemistry of FranconiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Na(Nb₂O₅)(OH) · 3H₂O

Elements listed:

H, Na, Nb, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of FranconiteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Cell Parameters:

a = 22.21 Å, b = 12.87 Å, c = 6.35 Å
β = 92.24°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.726 : 1 : 0.493

Unit Cell V:

1,813.71 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Comment:

Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0020435	Franconite	Haring M M M, McDonald A M (2014) Franconite, NaNb2O5(OH)3H2O: structure determination and the role of H bonding, with comments on the crystal chemistry of franconite-related minerals* Mineralogical Magazine 78 591-607		2014	Poudrette quarry, Quebec, Canada	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Franconite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Haring M M M'
'McDonald A M'
_journal_name_full 'Mineralogical Magazine'
_journal_volume 78 
_journal_year 2014
_journal_page_first 591
_journal_page_last 607
_publ_section_title
;
 Franconite, NaNb2O5(OH)*3H2O: structure determination and the role of H bonding,
 with comments on the crystal chemistry of franconite-related minerals
;
_database_code_amcsd 0020435
_chemical_compound_source 'Poudrette quarry, Quebec, Canada'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Na.73 Ca.13 Nb1.96 Ti.02 Si.02 Al.01 O9 H7'
_cell_length_a 10.119
_cell_length_b 6.436
_cell_length_c 12.682
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 99.91
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 813.603
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.914
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 1 21/c 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Na1   0.52880   0.24540   0.33950   0.73000   0.03040
Ca1   0.52880   0.24540   0.33950   0.13000   0.03040
Nb1   0.16333   0.27420   0.40382   0.98000   0.01200
Ti1   0.16333   0.27420   0.40382   0.01000   0.01200
Si1   0.16333   0.27420   0.40382   0.01000   0.01200
Al1   0.16333   0.27420   0.40382   0.00500   0.01200
Nb2  -0.00108   0.18674   0.60733   0.98000   0.01190
Ti2  -0.00108   0.18674   0.60733   0.01000   0.01190
Si2  -0.00108   0.18674   0.60733   0.01000   0.01190
Al2  -0.00108   0.18674   0.60733   0.00500   0.01190
O1   0.17100   0.25160   0.55860   1.00000   0.01470
O2  -0.16730   0.02870   0.61700   1.00000   0.01600
O3   0.07290   0.19630   0.74890   1.00000   0.01910
O4  -0.08450   0.43910   0.58620   1.00000   0.01790
O5   0.32900   0.33950   0.39590   1.00000   0.02230
O6   0.04830  -0.13830   0.57140   1.00000   0.01340
Ow7   0.74210   0.38540   0.31780   1.00000   0.02800
Ow8   0.60840   0.25360   0.52860   1.00000   0.03100
Ow9   0.43350   0.37800   0.16410   1.00000   0.03700
H1   0.12400  -0.20000   0.61900   1.00000   0.01000
H2   0.78000   0.50000   0.36400   1.00000   0.07000
H3   0.78000   0.41000   0.25400   1.00000   0.07000
H4   0.60000   0.39500   0.55300   1.00000   0.06000
H5   0.68000   0.17000   0.57000   1.00000   0.11000
H6   0.34700   0.32000   0.13300   1.00000   0.02000
H7   0.51100   0.37000   0.12800   1.00000   0.08000
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Na1 0.03200 0.03000 0.03000 0.00200 0.00800 0.00100
Ca1 0.03200 0.03000 0.03000 0.00200 0.00800 0.00100
Nb1 0.01980 0.00710 0.00990 0.00010 0.00430 0.00030
Ti1 0.01980 0.00710 0.00990 0.00010 0.00430 0.00030
Si1 0.01980 0.00710 0.00990 0.00010 0.00430 0.00030
Al1 0.01980 0.00710 0.00990 0.00010 0.00430 0.00030
Nb2 0.02280 0.00570 0.00760 0.00010 0.00450 -0.00060
Ti2 0.02280 0.00570 0.00760 0.00010 0.00450 -0.00060
Si2 0.02280 0.00570 0.00760 0.00010 0.00450 -0.00060
Al2 0.02280 0.00570 0.00760 0.00010 0.00450 -0.00060
O1 0.02100 0.01100 0.01200 0.00000 0.00300 0.00100
O2 0.02500 0.01100 0.01400 0.00100 0.00700 0.00000
O3 0.03500 0.01400 0.00900 -0.00100 0.00400 0.00000
O4 0.03200 0.00600 0.01600 0.00300 0.00700 0.00000
O5 0.02400 0.02200 0.02200 -0.00100 0.01000 -0.00300
O6 0.02100 0.00800 0.01100 0.00100 0.00200 -0.00300
Ow7 0.03500 0.02600 0.02400 -0.00800 0.00900 0.00100
Ow8 0.03100 0.03000 0.03100 0.00200 0.00100 -0.00100
Ow9 0.03500 0.03700 0.03700 -0.00600 0.00200 0.00300

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
11.0 Å	(100)
5.55 Å	(70)
4.73 Å	(60)
3.18 Å	(60)
4.21 Å	(50)
3.21 Å	(50)
2.626 Å	(50)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks

Type Occurrence of FranconiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada

General Appearance of Type Material:

White globules consists of radiating bladed crystals.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, 62094, 63748–63750.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M39041.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Weloganite

Quartz

Calcite

Reference:

Jambor, J.L., Sabina, A.P., Roberts, A.C., Bonardi, M., Ramik, R.A., Sturman, B.D. (1984) Franconite, a new hydrated Na-Nb oxide mineral from Montreal Island, Quebec. The Canadian Mineralogist: 22: 239-243.

Download:

Synonyms of FranconiteHide

IMA1981-006

IMA1981-006a

Other Language Names for FranconiteHide

German:Franconit

Spanish:Franconita

Relationship of Franconite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Franconite Group

Other Members of this group:

Hochelagaite	(Ca,Na,Sr)(Nb,Ti,Si,Al)₄O₁₁ · 8H₂O	Mon.
Ternovite	(Mg,Ca)Nb₄O₁₁ · nH₂O	Mon.

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

33 photos of Franconite associated with Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
32 photos of Franconite associated with Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
25 photos of Franconite associated with Thomasclarkite-(Y)	(Na,Ce)(Y,REE)(HCO₃)(OH)₃ · 4H₂O
25 photos of Franconite associated with Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)
21 photos of Franconite associated with Adamsite-(Y)	NaY[CO₃]₂ · 6H₂O
13 photos of Franconite associated with Niobokupletskite	K₂NaMn²⁺₇(Nb,Ti)(Si₄O₁₂)₂O₂(OH)₄(O,F)
13 photos of Franconite associated with Siderite	FeCO₃
11 photos of Franconite associated with Rhodochrosite	MnCO₃
11 photos of Franconite associated with Gaidonnayite	Na₂Zr(Si₃O₉) · 2H₂O
8 photos of Franconite associated with Zircon	Zr(SiO₄)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

4.FM.	Charleshatchettite	CaNb₄O₁₀(OH)₂ · 8H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
4.FM.	Dinilawiite	[Pb₄O₂Al(OH)₅]₂(S₂O₃)₂ · H₂(S₂O₃)(H₂O)₅	Mon. 2/m
4.FM.	Yttrotungstite-(Nd)	NdW₂O₇(OH) · H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
4.FM.15	Hochelagaite	(Ca,Na,Sr)(Nb,Ti,Si,Al)₄O₁₁ · 8H₂O	Mon.
4.FM.15	Ternovite	(Mg,Ca)Nb₄O₁₁ · nH₂O	Mon.
4.FM.25	Belyankinite	Ca_1-2(Ti,Nb)₅O₁₂ · 9H₂O (?)	Amor.
4.FM.25	Gerasimovskite	(Mn,Ca)(Nb,Ti)₅O₁₂ · 9H₂O	Amor.
4.FM.25	Manganbelyankinite	(Mn,Ca)(Ti,Nb)₅O₁₂ · 9H₂O
4.FM.30	Silhydrite	Si₃O₆ · H₂O	Orth.
4.FM.35	Cuzticite	Fe³⁺₂(TeO₆) · 3H₂O	Hex.
4.FM.50	Qatranaite	CaZn₂(OH)₆(H₂O)₂	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
4.FM.55	Hydroplumbite	3PbO · H₂O

Fluorescence of FranconiteHide

In UV light:

fluoresces pale yellow under LW UV, more intensely under SW UV.

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Does not effervesce in HCl, and is not readily consumed by HCl.

Special Storage/
Display Requirements:

Dehydrates, reversibly

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for FranconiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-1595.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Franconite on Webmineral

Look for Franconite on Wikipedia

Look for Franconite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for FranconiteHide

Reference List:

Dunn, Pete J., Gobel, Volker, Grice, Joel D., Puziewicz, Jacek, Shigley, James E., Vanko, David A., Zilczer, Janet (1985) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 70 (3-4) 436-441

Nikandrov, S.N. (1989) Franconite, first find in the USSR. Doklady Nauk USSR. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 305(2): 148-151.

Tarassoff, Peter, Horváth, László, Pfenninger-Horváth, Elsa (2006) Famous mineral localities: The Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Mineralogical Record, 37 (1) 5-60

Haring, M. M. M., McDonald, A. M. (2014) Franconite, NaNb₂O₅(OH)·3H₂O: structure determination and the role of H bonding, with comments on the crystal chemistry of franconite-related minerals. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (3) 591-607 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.3.09

(2023) Franconite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for FranconiteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Canada
Québec Montérégie La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM Mont Saint-Hilaire ⓘ Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH)	Horváth et al. (1990) +1 other reference
Lajemmerais RCM Varennes & St-Amable ⓘ Saint-Amable sill	Horváth et al. (1998)
ⓘ Demix-Varennes quarry	Horváth et al. (1998)
Montréal ⓘ Francon quarry (TL)	176-178. +3 other references

Russia
Chelyabinsk Oblast ⓘ Vishnevye Mountains	Nikandrov (1989) +1 other reference
Murmansk Oblast Khibiny Massif ⓘ Kukisvumchorr Mt	Pekov et al. (2004)
Northern Karelia ⓘ Vuoriyarvi alkaline-ultrabasic massif	Subbotin et al. (1997) +2 other references

Franconite

About FranconiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of FranconiteHide

Classification of FranconiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Pronunciation of FranconiteHide

Physical Properties of FranconiteHide

Optical Data of FranconiteHide

Chemistry of FranconiteHide

Crystallography of FranconiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of FranconiteHide

Synonyms of FranconiteHide

Other Language Names for FranconiteHide

Relationship of Franconite to other SpeciesHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of FranconiteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for FranconiteHide

References for FranconiteHide

Localities for FranconiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide