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Rhodizite

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Big Photo

Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
© T. Kennedy 2002

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Formula:
(K,Cs)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, white, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, VitreousHardness:8
Name:From the Greek, "rhodizein," = "to be rose-coloured" in allusion to its property of turning a blowpipe flame red. Do not confuse with Rhodesite.


The potassium analogue of Londonite. Londonite-Rhodizite Series.

Classification of Rhodizite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/L.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.GC.05

6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:25.8.2.1

25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.1.16

9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
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Type Occurrence of Rhodizite

Co-type Localities:Mor's Pit, Shaitanka District, Rezh District, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Ministerskaya Yama Pit, Sarapulka (Murzinka) District, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1834
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Tourmaline

Physical Properties of Rhodizite

Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, greyish, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):8
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {111} and {1¯11}, difficult.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.305 - 3.38 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.24 g/cm3

Crystallography of Rhodizite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:P4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 7.31Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 390.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals dodecahedral, also tetrahedral. "o" usually smooth and shining and "d" frequently uneven.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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

Optical Data of Rhodizite

Type:Isotropic
Comments:Exhibits weak anomalous double refraction distributed in sectors with Z(+) inclined about 10° to [110].

Chemical Properties of Rhodizite

Formula:
(K,Cs)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
Essential elements:Al, B, Be, K, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Be, Cs, K, O
Common Impurities:Rb,Na,K

Relationship of Rhodizite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Londonite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.GC.05Londonite
(Cs,K,Rb)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.1.1Sassolite
H
 
3
BO
 
3
9.1.2Metaborite
HBO
 
2
9.1.3Diomignite
Li
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
9.1.4Biringuccite
Na
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH) · H
 
2
O
9.1.5Nasinite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.1.6Kernite
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.7Ezcurrite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 7H
 
2
O
9.1.8Tincalconite
Na
 
2
(B
 
4
O
 
7
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.1.9Borax
Na
 
2
(B
 
4
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.1.10Ameghinite
Na(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
9.1.11Sborgite
Na[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.12Aristarainite
Na
 
2
MgB
 
12
O
 
20
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.1.13Santite
K[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.1.14Larderellite
(NH
 
4
)B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
9.1.15Ammonioborite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O

Other Names for Rhodizite

Synonyms:
Rhodicite
Other Languages:
German:Rhodicit
Rhodizit
Rhodozit
Russian:Родицит
Simplified Chinese:硼锂铍石
Spanish:Rhodicita
Rhodizita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None
Electrical:Pyroelectric.
Other Information:Insoluble in acids.
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 Rhodizite

Reference List:

- +
Rose (1834) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 33: 253.

Rose (1836) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 39: 321.

Ries and Rose (1843) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 59: 353.

Bertrand (1882) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 5: 31, 72.

Damour (1882) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 5: 98.

Klein (1891) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: I: 65.

Pisani (1910) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 33: 37.

Dupare, Wunder, and Sabot (1911) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 34: 131.

Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 7: 123.

Strunz (1938) Doctoral dissertation.

Strunz (1943) Naturwissenschaften: 31, No. 5.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 329-330.

American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 533-534.

Mineralogical Magazine (1986): 50: 163-172.

American Mineralogist (1987): 72: 1028.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Rhodizite

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

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Madagascar
     
    • Antananarivo Province
      • Vakinankaratra Region
        • Betafo District
          • Andrembesoa Commune
            • FKT Antsentsindrano
    		Behier, J. (1963): Carte mineralogique de Madagascar. Archive Service Géologique Madagascar. A 1871; [Eur.J.Min 13:159-165];
            • Tetezantsio-Andoabatokely Pegmatite Field
    		K.E.Larsen collection.
    Knut Edv.Larsen collection / Laurs, B. M.; Pezzotta, F.; Simmons, W.; Falster, A. U & Muhlmeister, S. (2002): Rhodizite-londonite from the Antsongombato pegmatite, Central Madagascar. Gems & Mineralogy. 38 (4), 326-339
        • Sahatany Pegmatite Field (Mt Ibity area)
          • Manandona Valley
    		Lacroix, A. (1922): Mineralogie de Madagascar, Tome I. Géologie-Minéralogie descriptive. A.Challamel (Éditeur), Paris. 624p ; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 330; Canadian Mineralogist (2001): 39: 747-755.
    Can. Min. Volume 39, Number 3, June 2001, 747-755 / Rocks & Minerals May 1999
    Pezzotta F., Falster A. U., Simmons, Wm.B. & Webber, K.L. (1997): Rhodizite from Madagascar, new localities and new chemical data. Abstracts of the First International Workshop on Petrology, Milan, Italy, September 11 to 13, 1997, Mus. Storia Nat. Sc. Nat.
          • Sahatany Valley
    		Larsen, K. E. (2003): Mineralene i Sahatany pegmatittfelt, Madagaskar. Bergverksmuseets skrifter 25, 5-18 (in norwegian)
    Lacroix, A. (1912): Sur quelques minéraux des pegmatites du Vakinankaratra (Madagascar). Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie, Paris 35 , 76-84
    • Fianarantsoa Province
      • Amoron'i Mania Region
        • Ambatofinandrahana District
    		Behier, J. (1960): Contribution á la mineralogie de Madagascar. Annales Géologiques de Madagascar XXIX, Tananarive. p. 56
        • Ambositra District
          • Sahatsiho-Ambohimanjaka Commune
    		Pezzotta F., Falster A.U., Simmons W.B. & Webber K.L. (1997): Rhodizite from Madagascar, new localities and new chemical data. Abstracts of the First International Workshop on Petrology, Milan, Italy, September 11 to 13, 1997, Mus. Storia Nat. Sc. Nat.; Can. Min. Volume 39, Number 3, June 2001, 747-755:
    Pezzotta F., Falster A.U., Simmons W.B. & Webber K.L. (1997): Rhodizite from Madagascar, new localities and new chemical data. Abstracts of the First International Workshop on Petrology, Milan, Italy, September 11 to 13, 1997, Mus. Storia Nat. Sc. Nat.
    Madagaskar, extraLapis No. 17, pages 66-68 / Can. Min. Volume 39, Number 3, June 2001, 747-755
    • Tuléar (Toliara) Province
      • Anosy (Fort Dauphin) Region
        • Amboasary District
          • Tranomaro Commune
    		Behier, J.(1960): Contribution á la mineralogie de Madagascar. Ann.Geol. Mad. XXIX, p 56/ http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/Special/Pig/PIG_articles/Anjahamiary.pdf
    Russia
     
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast'
          • Rezh District
            • Shaitanka District
    		Pekov,I. (1998): Minerals first discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union, p. 174
          • Sarapulka (Murzinka) District
    		Pekov,I. (1998): Minerals first discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union, p. 174
    UK
     
    • England
      • Devon
        • Okehampton area (Northern Dartmoor)
    		http://www.mindat.org/mesg-7-92300.html; American Mineralogst 58, p 374
    USA
     
    • Wisconsin
      • Florence Co.
        • Fern
    		The Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Animikie Red Ace Pegmatite, Florence County, Wisconsin. Alexander U. Falster, Wm. B. Simmons, and Karen L. Webber, Recent Research Developments in Mineralogy, 1(1996)
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2012. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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