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Rhodizite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About RhodiziteHide

Formula:
(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Colour:
Colourless, white, greyish, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous
Hardness:
8
Specific Gravity:
3.305 - 3.38
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
From the Greek, "rhodizein," = "to be rose-coloured" in allusion to its property of turning a blowpipe flame rose-red. Do not confuse with rhodesite.
The potassium analogue of Londonite. Londonite-Rhodizite Series.


First described by Rose in 1834 without quantitative chemical data. A chemical analysis was made by Damour (1882) but later showed to be incomplete, lacking both Li and Be. The alkali metals were also not separated in the analysis. Pekov et al. (2010) re-analyzed co-type specimens of rhodizite from Sarapulsk and Shaitanka, Russia and found all to be Cs-dominant (Cs > K) and thus londonite according to IMA nomenclature. No rhodizite has been verified from the co-type localities. However, K-dominant members of the londonite-rhodizite series have been noted from Madagascar.
Note: Both K-dominant and Cs-dominant samples from Madagascar prior to the description of londonite (the Cs-dominant member of the londonite-rhodizite series) by Simmons et al. (2001) have been described as rhodizite in the literature.

NOTE:
Specimens from Madagascar without analysis should be labeled as londonite-rhodizite series. Many crystals contain complex patchy zones of londonite and rhodizite which are only visible by back-scattered electron imaging (Simmons et al. 2001).




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3405
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3405:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
6bc71147-62a3-4898-b120-8177deb66a2c

IMA Classification of RhodiziteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
KBe4Al4(B11Be)O28
First published:
1834

Classification of RhodiziteHide

6.GC.05

6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
25.8.2.1

25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : Miscellaneous
9.1.16

9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference
RdzIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
RdzThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of RhodiziteHide

Adamantine, Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white, greyish, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {111} and {1_11}, difficult.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.305 - 3.38 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.24 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of RhodiziteHide

Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.689 - 1.691
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
High
Comments:
Exhibits weak anomalous double refraction distributed in sectors with Z(+) inclined about 10° to [110].

Chemistry of RhodiziteHide

Mindat Formula:
(K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28
Common Impurities:
Rb,Na,K

Crystallography of RhodiziteHide

Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
P4 3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.31 Å
Unit Cell V:
390.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Crystals dodecahedral, also tetrahedral. "o" usually smooth and shining and "d" frequently uneven. Dodecahedral {110} faces modified by deltoid dodecahedral {221}, tristetrahedral {211}, and tetrahedral {111} faces and rare cubic {100} faces.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0014483RhodizitePring A, Din V K, Jefferson D A, Thomas J M (1986) The crystal chemistry of rhodizite: a re-examination Mineralogical Magazine 50 163-1721986Ambatofinandrahana, Ankarata Mts, Madagascar0293
0015418RhodiziteBuerger M J, Taxer K (1966) Rhodizite. Structure and composition Science 152 500-5021966Manjaka, Madagascar0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
2.983 Å(100)
2.440 Å(51)
3.274 Å(48)
2.111 Å(37)
1.775 Å(25)
1.956 Å(22)
2.205 Å(21)
Comments:
Manjaka, Madagascar.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
34 : Complex granite pegmatites

Type Occurrence of RhodiziteHide

Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt-Universität-Berlin, Germany, numbers 1997-4993, 1997-0082, 1997-2275.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of RhodiziteHide

Other Language Names for RhodiziteHide

Relationship of Rhodizite to other SpeciesHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
26 photos of Rhodizite associated with RubelliteA(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
14 photos of Rhodizite associated with TourmalineAD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
14 photos of Rhodizite associated with QuartzSiO2
6 photos of Rhodizite associated with ElbaiteNa(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
6 photos of Rhodizite associated with AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
5 photos of Rhodizite associated with MicroclineK(AlSi3O8)
3 photos of Rhodizite associated with DanburiteCaB2Si2O8
2 photos of Rhodizite associated with Columbite-(Mn)Mn2+Nb2O6
2 photos of Rhodizite associated with Béhierite(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
2 photos of Rhodizite associated with K Feldspar

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

6.GC.05Londonite(Cs,K,Rb)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m

Fluorescence of RhodiziteHide

Very weak to moderate yellowish green fluorescence with short-wave UV radiation. Usually no fluorescence with long-wave UV, but occasionally very weak to weak yellowish green (Laurs et al 2002).

Other InformationHide

Electrical:
Pyroelectric.
Notes:
Insoluble in acids.
Naturally colored material fades in sunlight over a period of 2-4 weeks (Laurs et al 2002).
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 RhodiziteHide

References for RhodiziteHide

Reference List:

Localities for RhodiziteHide

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.
Madagascar
 
  • Amoron'i Mania
    • Ambatofinandrahana District
      • Fenoarivo
Behier (1960)
    • Ambositra
      • Sahatsiho Ambohimanjaka
Pezzotta et al. (1997) +1 other reference
Pezzotta et al. (1997)
Pezzotta et al. (1998) +1 other reference
        • Manandona Valley
Lacroix (1922) +3 other references
Pezzotta et al. (1997)
Pezzotta et al. (1997)
  • Analamanga
Arthur Thomas (2009)
  • Anosy
    • Amboasary Sud District
      • Tranomaro
Behier (1960)
  • Vakinankaratra
    • Antsirabe II District
      • Ibity
        • Sahatany Valley
Bruno Tesseron (Mineralphil Madagascar)
Larsen (2003)
Lacroix (1912) +1 other reference
      • Sahanivotry Manandona
Lefevre et al. (1998)
    • Betafo District
      • Andrembesoa
        • Tetezantsio-Andoabatokely Pegmatite Field
Knut Edvard Larsen Collection # M-710 +1 other reference
Laurs et al. (Skip) +1 other reference
      • Anosiarivo Manapa
        • Antsentsindrano
[Eur.J.Min 13:159-165] +2 other references
Russia (TL)
 
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Beryozovsky
      • Sarapulka
Pekov (1998) +1 other reference
    • Rezhevsky District
      • Shaitanka District
Pekov (1998) +1 other reference
UK
 
  • England
    • Devon
      • West Devon
        • Okehampton Hamlets
www.mindat.org (n.d.) +3 other references
USA
 
  • Wisconsin
    • Florence County
      • Fern
        • Pine River pegmatites
Falster et al. (1996)
 
Mineral and/or Locality  
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