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Hafnon

Formula:
(Hf,Zr)[SiO
 
4
]
System:TetragonalColour:Red-orange, ...
Hardness:7½
Name:In allusion to its composition, being a silicate of HAFNium, and ending in "ON" in allusion to, and to be consistent with, its relationship to ZircON.


Zircon Group.

The hafnium analogue of Thorite and Zircon. Zircon-Hafnon Series.

Classification of Hafnon

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/A.09-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AD.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:51.5.2.2

51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
5 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in >[6] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.10.2

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
10 : Silicates of Zr or Hf
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Type Occurrence of Hafnon

Co-type Localities:Conca mine, Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
Moneia Mine, Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
Morro Mine, Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
Muiâne pegmatite, Alto Ligonha District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique
Year of Discovery:1974
Geological Setting of type material:Tantalum-bearing granitic pegmatites.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
CookeiteAlbite

Physical Properties of Hafnon

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Red-orange, brown-yellow, colourless (rare)
Hardness (Mohs):7½

Crystallography of Hafnon

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:I41/amd (I41/a 2/m 2/d)
Cell Parameters:a = 6.57Å, c = 5.96Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.907
Unit Cell Volume:V 257.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals euhedral to irregular. Often zoned with zircon.

Optical Data of Hafnon

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.930 - 1.970 nε = 1.980 - 2.030
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.050

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

Chemical Properties of Hafnon

Formula:
(Hf,Zr)[SiO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Hf, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Hf, O, Si, Zr

Relationship of Hafnon to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Zircon (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.AD.05Larnite
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.05Calcio-Olivine
Ca
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.15Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.AD.20Bredigite
Ca
 
7
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
4
9.AD.25Andradite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Almandine
Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Goldmanite
Ca
 
3
(V
3+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Henritermierite
Ca
 
3
(Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.AD.25Hibschite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
6-1
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1.5-2.5
]
9.AD.25Hydroandradite
9.AD.25Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
9.AD.25Kimzeyite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
[(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Knorringite
Mg
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Majorite
Mg
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Si,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Morimotoite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
 (?)
9.AD.25Pyrope
Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Spessartine
Mn
2+
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Uvarovite
Ca
 
3
Cr
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.25Wadalite
Ca
 
6
(Al,Mg)
 
4
[Cl
 
3
|O
 
4
|{(Si,Al,Fe
3+
 
)O
 
4
}
 
3
]
9.AD.25Holtstamite
Ca
 
3
(Al,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.AD.30Coffinite
(U,Th)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Thorite
(Th,U)[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.30Thorogummite
(Th,U)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
9.AD.30Zircon
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.35Huttonite
Th[SiO
 
4
]
9.AD.35Tombarthite-(Y)
Y
 
4
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.40Eulytine
Bi
 
4
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
9.AD.45Reidite
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.10.1Zircon
Zr[SiO
 
4
]
14.10.3Zektzerite
LiNa(Zr,Ti,Hf)Si
 
6
O
 
15
14.10.4Parakeldyshite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.5Vlasovite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
4
O
 
11
14.10.6Keldyshite
(Na,H)
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.7Gaidonnayite
Na
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.8Terskite
Na
 
4
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
16
·2H
 
2
O
14.10.9Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
·3H
 
2
O
14.10.10Hilairite
Na
 
2
Zr[SiO
 
3
]
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
14.10.11Petarasite
Na
 
5
Zr
 
2
[(OH,Cl)|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.12Khibinskite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
2
O
 
7
14.10.13Wadeite
K
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.10.14Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
14.10.15Kostylevite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
14.10.16Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
14.10.17Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
14.10.18Georgechaoite
NaKZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.19Gittinsite
CaZr[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.10.20Calciocatapleiite
CaZrSi
 
3
O
 
9
·2H
 
2
O
14.10.21Calciohilairite
CaZr[SiO
 
3
]
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
14.10.22Armstrongite
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
]·3H
 
2
O
14.10.23Lemoynite
(Na,K)
 
2
CaZr
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
26
·5H
 
2
O
14.10.24Catapleiite
Na
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·2H
 
2
O
14.10.25Baghdadite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.10.26Lovozerite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
]
14.10.27Låvenite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(Zr,Ti)[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.10.28Penkvilksite
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
·5H
 
2
O
14.10.29Darapiosite
KNa
 
2
Li(Mn,Zn)
 
2
ZrSi
 
12
O
 
30
14.10.30Bazirite
BaZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.10.31Komkovite
BaZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·3H
 
2
O
14.10.32Zirsinalite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Zr[Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
14.10.33Tranquillityite
(Fe
2+
 
,Ca)
 
8
(Zr,Y)
 
2
Ti
 
3
[O
 
4
|SiO
 
4
]
 
3

Other Names for Hafnon

Synonyms:
IMA1974-018
Russian names:
Гафнон

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 Hafnon

Reference List:Salt, D.J. and Hornung, G. (1967) Synthesis and X-ray study of hafnium silicate. Journal of the American Ceramic Society: 50: 549-550.

Correia Neves, J.M., Lopes Nunes, J.E., and Sahama, T.G. (1974) High hafnium members of nthe zircon-hafnon series from the granite pegmatites of Zambézia, Mozambique. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 48: 73-80.

American Mineralogist (1976): 61: 175 (abstract).

Speer, J.A. and B.J. Cooper (1982) Crystal structure of synthetic hafnon, HfSiO4, comparison with zircon and the actinide orthosilicates. American Mineralogist: 67: 804-808.

Internet Links for Hafnon

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

    (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.
    Canada
     
    • Manitoba
      • Lac-du-Bonnet area
        • Bernic Lake
    • Ontario
      • Renfrew Co.
        • Lyndoch Township
          • Quadeville
    		ontariominerals.com
    • Québec
      • Papineau Co.
        • Portland Township
          • St-Pierre-de-Wakefield
    		Rock & Min. 82, 412
    Mozambique
     
    • Zambezia Province
      • Alto Ligonha District
    		No reference listed
    Contr. Mineral. Petrol., 48, 73-80. (2) (1976); American Mineralogist, 61, pp. 175(1976)
    USA
     
    • North Carolina
      • Yancey Co.
        • Spruce Pine District
          • Black Mtn-Bowlens Creek Area
            • Burnsville
              • Hurricane Mt.
    		"Mineralogy of the Ray Mica Mine, Yancey County, N.C." by J.W. Miller and C.W. Allen
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Masvingo
      • Masvingo (Fort Victoria)
        • Bikita
    		J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. III (1997)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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