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Perovskite

Formula:
CaTiO
 
3
System:OrthorhombicColour:Dark brown, black, ...
Hardness:
Name:After Count L. A. Perovski (1792-1856) of St. Petersburg, Russia.


Perovskite Group

Classification of Perovskite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/C.10-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.CC.30

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
C : With large and medium-sized cations
Dana 8th edition ID:4.3.3.1

4 : SIMPLE OXIDES
3 : A2X3
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.9.6

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
9 : Oxides of Ti
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Type Occurrence of Perovskite

Type Locality:Akhmatovskaya Kop (Achmatovsk Mine), Nyazyamskie Mts, Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1839

Occurrences of Perovskite

Geological Setting:An accessory in alkaline mafic rocks.

Physical Properties of Perovskite

Lustre:Adamantine, Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Translucent on thin edges
Colour:Dark brown, black, red-brown, yellow shades
Streak:Colourless, greyish white
Hardness (Mohs):
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
On {001}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.98 - 4.26 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.02 g/cm3
Comment:Calculated on synthetic material.

Crystallography of Perovskite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma (P21/n 21/m 21/a)
Cell Parameters:a = 5.447(1) Å, b = 7.654(1) Å, c = 5.388(1) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.712 : 1 : 0.704
Unit Cell Volume:V 224.63 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals usually cubic, highly modified at times, but the planes are often irregularly distributed. Cubic faces striated parallel to [001] and apparently penetrations twins (as if of pyritohedral individuals; also striated parallel to [110]. {001} less developed with {113} and {449} prominent. Also cubooctahedra or octahedra (esp. Ce and Nb varieties). Rarely reniform masses exhibiting small cubes on the surface, or massive granular.
Twinning:On {111}: 1. penetration twins (esp. Ce or Nb varieties); 2. complex lamellar twinning. About [101] and rarely [121]
Crystal Atlas:
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Perovskite no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Perovskite no.10 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Perovskite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.300 nβ = 2.340 nγ = 2.380
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.080

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Isotropic
Dispersion:r > v
Colour in reflected light:Dark bluish grey
Internal Reflections:Brown
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:Z greater than X

Chemical Properties of Perovskite

Formula:
CaTiO
 
3
Essential elements:Ca, O, Ti
All elements listed in formula:Ca, O, Ti
Common Impurities:Fe,Nb,Ce,La,TR

Relationship of Perovskite to other Species

Related to:
  • Perovskite Group
  • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    4.CC.05Chrombismite
    Bi
     
    16
    CrO
     
    27
    4.CC.10Freudenbergite
    Na
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe)
     
    8
    O
     
    16
    4.CC.15Grossite
    CaAl
     
    4
    O
     
    7
    4.CC.20Mayenite
    Ca
     
    12
    Al
     
    14
    O
     
    33
    4.CC.25Yafsoanite
    Ca
     
    3
    Zn
     
    3
    [TeO
     
    6
    ]
     
    2
    4.CC.30Latrappite
    (Ca,Na)(Nb,Ti,Fe)O
     
    3
    4.CC.30Lueshite
    NaNbO
     
    3
    4.CC.30Natroniobite
    NaNbO
     
    3
    4.CC.30Barioperovskite
    BaTiO
     
    3
    4.CC.30IMA2007-014
    CaZrO
     
    3
    4.CC.35Loparite-(Ce)
    (Na,Ce,Ca,Sr,Th)(Ti,Nb,Fe)O
     
    3
    4.CC.35Macedonite
    PbTiO
     
    3
    4.CC.35Tausonite
    SrTiO
     
    3
    4.CC.35Isolueshite
    (Na,La,Ca)(Nb,Ti)O
     
    3
    4.CC.40Crichtonite
    (Sr,La,Ce,Y)(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    ,Mn)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Davidite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
     
    20
    (O,OH)
     
    38
    4.CC.40Davidite-(La)
    (La,Ce)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
     
    20
    (O,OH)
     
    38
    4.CC.40Davidite-(Y)
    (Y,Ce,La,Ca,�)(U,Y)(Fe
    3+
     
    ,Mg)
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    ,Cr,�)
     
    18
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Landauite
    NaMnZn
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe)
     
    6
    Ti
     
    12
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Lindsleyite
    (Ba,Sr)(Ti,Zr,Fe,Cr)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Loveringite
    (Ca,Ce)(Ti,Fe,Cr,Mg)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Mathiasite
    K(Ti,Cr,Fe,Mg,Zr)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Senaite
    Pb(Ti,Fe,Mn)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Dessauite-(Y)
    (Sr,Pb)(Y,U)(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    )
     
    20
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.40Cleusonite
    (Pb,Sr)(U
    4+
     
    ,U
    6+
     
    )(Fe
    2+
     
    ,Zn)
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe
    2+
     
    ,Fe
    3+
     
    )
     
    18
    (O,OH)
     
    38
    4.CC.40Gramaccioliite-(Y)
    (Pb,Sr)(Y,Mn)(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    )
     
    18
    Fe
    3+
    2
    O
     
    38
    4.CC.45Diaoyudaoite
    NaAl
     
    11
    O
     
    17
    4.CC.45Hawthorneite
    BaMgTi
     
    3
    Cr
     
    4
    Fe
     
    4
    O
     
    19
    4.CC.45Hibonite
    (Ca,Ce)(Al,Fe,Ti,Si,Mg)
     
    12
    O
     
    19
    4.CC.45Lindqvistite
    Pb
     
    2
    (Mg,Fe)Fe
     
    16
    O
     
    27
    4.CC.45Magnetoplumbite
    (Pb,Mn)(Fe,Mn)
     
    12
    O
     
    19
    4.CC.45Plumboferrite
    PbFe
     
    4
    O
     
    7
    4.CC.45Yimengite
    K(Cr,Ti,Fe,Mg)
     
    12
    O
     
    19
    4.CC.45Haggertyite
    Ba[Fe
    2+
    6
    Ti
     
    5
    Mg]O
     
    19
    4.CC.45Nežilovite
    PbZn
     
    2
    (Mn
    4+
     
    ,Ti
    4+
     
    )
     
    2
    Fe
    3+
    8
    O
     
    19
    4.CC.45Batiferrite
    Ba[Ti
     
    2
    Fe
    3+
    8
    Fe
    2+
    2
    ]O
     
    19
    4.CC.50Jeppeite
    (K,Ba)
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe)
     
    6
    O
     
    13
    4.CC.55Zenzénite
    Pb
     
    3
    (Fe,Mn)
     
    4
    Mn
     
    3
    O
     
    13
    4.CC.60Mengxianminite
    (Ca,Na)
     
    3
    (Fe,Mn)
     
    2
    Mg
     
    2
    (Sn,Zn)
     
    5
    Al
     
    8
    O
     
    29
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    7.9.1Hongquiite
    TiO
    7.9.2Rutile
    TiO
     
    2
    7.9.3Anatase
    TiO
     
    2
    7.9.4Brookite
    TiO
     
    2
    7.9.5Geikielite
    MgTiO
     
    3
    7.9.7Kassite
    CaTi
     
    2
    O
     
    4
    (OH)
     
    2
    7.9.8Tausonite
    SrTiO
     
    3
    7.9.9Crichtonite
    (Sr,La,Ce,Y)(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    ,Mn)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    7.9.10Lucasite-(Ce)
    CeTi
     
    2
    (O,OH)
     
    6
    7.9.11Hibonite
    (Ca,Ce)(Al,Fe,Ti,Si,Mg)
     
    12
    O
     
    19
    7.9.12Yttrocrasite-(Y)
    (Y,Th,Ca,U)(Ti,Fe)
     
    2
    (O,OH)
     
    6
    7.9.13Pyrophanite
    Mn
    2+
     
    TiO
     
    3
    7.9.14Iwakiite
    Mn(Fe,Mn)
     
    2
    O
     
    4
    7.9.15Ilmenite
    Fe
    2+
     
    TiO
     
    3
    7.9.16Pseudobrookite
    Fe
     
    2
    TiO
     
    5
    7.9.17Ulvöspinel
    Fe
     
    2
    TiO
     
    4
    7.9.18Pseudorutile
    Fe
     
    2
    Ti
     
    3
    O
     
    9
    7.9.19Freudenbergite
    Na
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe)
     
    8
    O
     
    16
    7.9.20 Kennedyite
    MgFeTi
     
    3
    O
     
    10
    7.9.21Armalcolite
    (Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    )Ti
     
    2
    O
     
    5
    7.9.22Högbomite
    (Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    (Al,Ti)
     
    5
    O
     
    10
    7.9.23Qandilite
    (Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe,Al)O
     
    4
    7.9.24Cafetite
    (Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)
     
    2
    Ti
     
    4
    O
     
    12
    ·4H
     
    2
    O
    7.9.25Loveringite
    (Ca,Ce)(Ti,Fe,Cr,Mg)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    7.9.26Lindsleyite
    (Ba,Sr)(Ti,Zr,Fe,Cr)
     
    21
    O
     
    38
    7.9.27Priderite
    (K,Ba)(Ti,Fe)
     
    8
    O
     
    16
    7.9.28Jeppeite
    (K,Ba)
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe)
     
    6
    O
     
    13
    7.9.29Ankangite
    Ba(Ti,V
    3+
     
    ,Cr)
     
    8
    O
     
    16
    7.9.30Ecandrewsite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    ,Mn
    2+
     
    )TiO
     
    3
    7.9.31Landauite
    NaMnZn
     
    2
    (Ti,Fe)
     
    6
    Ti
     
    12
    O
     
    38

    Other Names for Perovskite

    Synonyms:
    MetaperovskitePerofskitePerovskite (of Rose)Uhligite (of Hauser)
    German names:
    PerowskitPerovskit
    Russian names:
    Перовскит
    Spanish names:
    Perovskita
    Varieties:
    DysanalyteKnopite

    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 Perovskite

    Reference List:Rose (1839), Ann. Phys.: 48: 558 (as Perowskit).

    Knop (1877), Zs. Kr.: 1: 284 (as Dysanalyte).

    Baumhauer (1880), Zs. Kr.: 4: 187.

    Ben Saude (1882), Preiss. Göttingen.

    Federov (1892), Zs. Kr.: 20: 74 (as Metaperovskite).

    Holmquist (1893), Geol. För. Forh.: 15: 588 (as Knopite).

    Holmquist (1894), Geol. För. Forh.: 16: 73.

    Holmquist (1897), Bull. Geol. Inst. Upsala: 3: 181.

    Bowman (1908), Mineralogical Magazine: 15: 156.

    Meigen and Hügel (1913), Zs. anorg. Chem.: 82: 242.

    Goldschmidt (1918): 5: 32.

    Goldschmidt (1920): 6: 131.

    Fersmann (1922), Comptes rendus de académie des sciences Russie: 59.

    Barth (1925), Norsk Geol. Tidsskr.: 8: 201.

    Levi and Natta (1925), Acc. Linc., Att.: 2(6): 39.

    Ellsworth and Walker (1926), Geological Survey of Canada, Summary report 230A.

    Hevesy, Alexander, and Würstlin (1929), Zs. anorg. Chem.: 181: 95.

    Zedlitz (1939), Jb. Min., Beil.-Bd.: 75: 245.

    Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 730-735.

    Turi B. (1968) - Note sull'analisi chimica della perovskite. Periodico di mineralogia – Roma, pp. 567-575.

    Acta Crystallographica: 10: 219-226.

    Kristallografiya: 42: 54-63.

    Acta Crystallographica (1983): C39: 1323.

    Caracas, R., Wentzcovitch, R., Price, G.D., and Brodholt, J. (2005), CaSiO3 perovskite at lower mantle pressures. Geophysical Research Letters: 32: L06306, DOI: 10.1029/2004GL022144.

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    Localities for Perovskite

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