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Niobophyllite

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Mount Malosa, Zomba District, Malawi
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
(K,Na)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH,F)
 
31
System:TriclinicHardness:3 - 4
Member of:Astrophyllite Group
Name:From its Nb content and phyllos (φύλλον), Greek for leaf, in allusion to its foliated habit.


Astrophyllite Group.

Classification of Niobophyllite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/G.12-80
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DC.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
C : Inosilicates with branched 2-periodic single chains; Si2O6 + 2SiO3 Si4O12
Dana 8th edition ID:69.1.1.4

69 : INOSILICATES Chains with Side Branches or Loops
1 : Chains with Side Branches or Loops with (P=2, and N=4, 2 branches)
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.8.17

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
8 : Silicates with niobate or tantalate
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Type Occurrence of Niobophyllite

Type Locality:Mann 2 (Ten Mile Lake), Seal Lake area, Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Year of Discovery:1964

Physical Properties of Niobophyllite

Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4

Crystallography of Niobophyllite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.39Å, b = 11.88Å, c = 11.66Å
α = 113.1°, β = 94.5°, γ = 103.1°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.454 : 1 : 0.981
Unit Cell Volume:V 657.11 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Niobophyllite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.724 nβ = 1.760 nγ = 1.772
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.048

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

Chemical Properties of Niobophyllite

Formula:
(K,Na)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH,F)
 
31
Essential elements:Fe, K, Nb, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:F, Fe, H, K, Mn, Na, Nb, O, Si, Ti
Common Impurities:Al,Ta,Mg,Ca,H2O

Relationship of Niobophyllite to other Species

Member of:Astrophyllite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Astrophyllite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH)
 
7
Hydroastrophyllite
(H
 
3
O,K,Ca)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
5-65
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
31
Kupletskite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
4
F
Kupletskite-(Cs)
(Cs,K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
Magnesioastrophyllite
(Na,K)
 
4
Mg
 
2
(Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
5
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
Nalivkinite
Li
 
2
Na(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
4
F
Niobokupletskite
K
 
2
Na(Mn,Zn,Fe)
 
7
(Nb,Zr,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
4
(O,F)
Tarbagataite
(K□)Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mn)
 
7
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
5
Zircophyllite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DC.05Astrophyllite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH)
 
7
9.DC.05Hydroastrophyllite
(H
 
3
O,K,Ca)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
5-65
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
31
9.DC.05Kupletskite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
4
F
9.DC.05Magnesioastrophyllite
(Na,K)
 
4
Mg
 
2
(Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
5
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
9.DC.05Zircophyllite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
9.DC.05Kupletskite-(Cs)
(Cs,K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
9.DC.05Niobokupletskite
K
 
2
Na(Mn,Zn,Fe)
 
7
(Nb,Zr,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
4
(O,F)
9.DC.05Nalivkinite
Li
 
2
Na(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
4
F
9.DC.05Sveinbergeite
Ca(Fe
2+
6
Fe
3+
 
)Ti
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
5
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.8.1Epistolite
Na
 
2
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
17.8.2Murmanite
Na
 
2
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)O
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
17.8.3Perraultite
BaNaMn
2+
4
Ti
 
2
 (Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
2
F
17.8.4Niocalite
(Ca,Nb)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
17.8.5Mongolite
Ca
 
4
Nb
 
6
Si
 
5
O
 
24
(OH)
 
10
 · nH
 
2
O
17.8.6Fersmanite
Ca
 
4
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
8
F
 
3
17.8.7Nacareniobsite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ca
 
3
(Ce,La,Nd)Nb(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
OF
 
3
17.8.8Nenadkevichite
(Na,◻)
 
8
Nb
 
4
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O
17.8.9Natrokomarovite
(Na,Ca,H)
 
2
Nb
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
(OH,F)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
17.8.10Wöhlerite
NaCa
 
2
(Zr,Nb)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
17.8.11Belkovite
Ba
 
3
(Nb,Ti)
 
6
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
12
17.8.12Baotite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
8
Si
 
4
O
 
28
Cl
17.8.13Shcherbakovite
(K,Ba)KNa(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)O
 
2
17.8.14Ilímaussite-(Ce)
(Na,K)
 
7-8
(Ba,K)
 
10
Ce
 
5
(Nb,Ti)
 
6
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
4
(Si
 
9
O
 
18
)O
 
6
(O,OH)
 
24
17.8.15Komarovite
(Ca,Mn)Nb
 
2
[O
 
3
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · 3.5H
 
2
O
17.8.16Manganbelyankinite
(Mn,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
5
O
 
12
 · 9H
 
2
O
17.8.18Caesium-Kupletskite

Other Names for Niobophyllite

Synonyms:
IMA1964-001
Other Languages:
German:Niobophyllit
Spanish:Niobophyllita

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 Niobophyllite

Reference List:

- +
Nickel, E.H., J.F. Rowland, and D.J. Charette (1964) Niobophyllite - the niobium analogue of astrophyllite; a new mineral from Seal Lake, Labrador. Can. Mineral., 8, 40-52.

American Mineralogist (1965): 50: 263.

Internet Links for Niobophyllite

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

    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.
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    (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
     
    • Newfoundland and Labrador
      • Labrador
    \"Rare Earth Element Mines, Deposits, and Occurrences,\" G.J. Orris and R.I. Grauch, Open File Report 02-189, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, 2002.
    Nickel, E.H., J.F. Rowland, and D.J. Charette (1964) Niobophyllite - the niobium analogue of astrophyllite; a new mineral from Seal Lake, Labrador. Can. Mineral., 8, 40-52.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Narsaq
    		Soerensen, H. (2001): The Ilimaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland: status of mineralogical research with new results, Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin 190, GEUS
    Malawi
     
    • Zomba District
    		Demartin, F.; Guastoni, A. & Pezzotta, F. (2003): Barylith, Niobophyllit & yttriumreicher Milarit- Neufunde aus den Pegmatiten von Zomba-Malosa, Malawi. Lapis 28 (1), 18-21; American Mineralogist, Volume 94, pages 1216–1222, 2009
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