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Asbecasite

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Big Photo

Wanni glacier - Scherbadung (Monte Cervandone) area, Kriegalp Valley (Chriegalp Valley), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
© O. Dziallas

Show Asbecasite Photos (19)



Formula:
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Sn
4+
 
)Be
 
2
(AsO
 
3
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:Yellow, pale yellow
Hardness:6½ - 7
Name:Named by S. Graeser in 1966 for the elements in its composition: As, Be, Ca, Si.
This page provides mineralogical data about Asbecasite.

Classification of Asbecasite

IMA status:Approved 1966
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.11-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.JB.30

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
B : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites; with additional anions, without H2O
Dana 8th edition ID:45.1.3.1

45 : ACID AND NORMAL ANTIMONITES AND ARSENITES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.7.9

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
7 : Silicates with vanadate, arsenate or antimonate
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Type Occurrence of Asbecasite

Type Locality:Wanni glacier - Scherbadung (Monte Cervandone) area, Kriegalp Valley (Chriegalp Valley), Binn Valley, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
Year of Discovery:1963
Geological Setting of type material:Alpine veins.

Physical Properties of Asbecasite

Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Yellow, pale yellow
Streak:Pale yellow
Hardness (Mohs):6½ - 7
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Rhombohedral {10-11}
Density (measured):3.70 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.71 g/cm3

Crystallography of Asbecasite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:P3c1
Cell Parameters:a = 8.364Å, c = 15.304Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.83
Unit Cell Volume:V 927.18 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Tabular rhombohedral, sometimes equant.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
4.04 (50)
3.84 (50)
3.23 (100)
2.41 (60)
1.75 (60)
1.57 (70)
1.32 (60)
1.15 (70)
Comments:19-0087

Optical Data of Asbecasite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.860 nε = 1.830
Birefringence:0.03
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.030

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

Chemical Properties of Asbecasite

Formula:
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Sn
4+
 
)Be
 
2
(AsO
 
3
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
Essential elements:As, Be, Ca, O, Si, Ti
All elements listed in formula:As, Be, Ca, O, Si, Sn, Ti

Relationship of Asbecasite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.JB.05Fetiasite
(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Ti)
 
3
(As
 
2
O
 
5
)O
 
2
4.JB.10Manganarsite
Mn
 
3
(As
 
2
O
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
4.JB.15Magnussonite
Mn
 
10
As
 
6
O
 
18
(OH,Cl)
 
2
4.JB.15UM1984-09-AsO:ClHMn
Mn
 
10
As
 
6
O
 
18
(OH)Cl
4.JB.20Armangite
Mn
2+
26
(AsO
 
3
)
 
14
(HAsO
 
3
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
4.JB.25Nanlingite
NaMg
 
4
(AsO
 
3
)
 
2
F
 
4
4.JB.35Stenhuggarite
CaFeSb(AsO
 
3
)
 
2
O
4.JB.40Trigonite
Pb
 
3
Mn
2+
 
(AsO
 
3
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
3
)
4.JB.45Finnemanite
Pb
 
5
(AsO
 
3
)
 
3
Cl
4.JB.50Gebhardite
Pb
 
8
(As
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
2
OCl
 
6
4.JB.55Derbylite
Fe
3+
4
Ti
 
3
Sb
3+
 
O
 
13
(OH)
4.JB.55Tomichite
(V,Fe)
 
4
Ti
 
3
AsO
 
13
(OH)
4.JB.55Graeserite
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
4
Ti
 
3
AsO
 
13
(OH)
4.JB.60Hemloite
(Ti,V
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
12
(As
3+
 
,Sb
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
23
(OH)
4.JB.65Freedite
Cu
+
 
Pb
 
8
(AsO
 
3
)
 
2
O
 
3
Cl
 
5
4.JB.70Georgiadèsite
Pb
 
4
(AsO
 
3
)Cl
 
4
(OH)
4.JB.75Ekatite
(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
12
(AsO
 
3
)
 
6
(AsO
 
3
,HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.7.1Suzukiite
BaVSi
 
2
O
 
7
17.7.2Franciscanite
Mn
2+
6
(V
5+
 
,☐)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
17.7.3Kurumsakite
(Zn,Ni,Cu)
 
8
Al
 
8
V
5+
2
Si
 
5
O
 
35
 · 27H
 
2
O (?)
17.7.4Ardennite-(As)
Mn
2+
4
(Al,Mg)
 
6
(Si
 
3
O
 
10
)(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
,VO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
17.7.5Medaite
(Mn,Ca)
 
6
(V,As)Si
 
5
O
 
18
OH
17.7.6Johninnesite
Na
 
2
Mn
2+
9
Mg
 
7
(OH)
 
8
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
[Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
17.7.7Tiragalloite
Mn
2+
4
(HAsSi
 
3
O
 
13
)
17.7.8Dixenite
CuMn
2+
14
Fe
2+
 
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(As
5+
 
O
 
4
)(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)
 
5
(OH)
 
6
17.7.10Mcgovernite
Mn
 
19
Zn
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(AsO
 
3
)(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
21
17.7.11Kraisslite
Zn
 
3
(Mn,Mg)
 
25
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)
 
2
[(Si,As
5+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
10
(OH)
 
16
17.7.12Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
17.7.13Nelenite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(OH)
 
14
[As
3+
3
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
]
17.7.14Kolicite
Mn
2+
7
Zn
 
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
17.7.15Yeatmanite
Zn
 
6
Mn
2+
9
Sb
5+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
12
17.7.16Welshite
Ca
 
4
Mg
 
9
Sb
 
3
O
 
4
[Si
 
6
Be
 
3
AlFe
 
2
O
 
36
]
17.7.17Katoptrite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
13
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Sb
5+
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
20
17.7.18Parwelite
Mn
 
10
Sb
 
2
As
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
24
17.7.19Långbanite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
4
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
9
Sb
5+
 
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
16
17.7.20Chapmanite
Fe
3+
2
Sb
3+
 
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
17.7.21Cervandonite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,La)(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Ti,Al)
 
3
O
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(As
3+
 
O
 
3
)(OH)

Other Names for Asbecasite

Synonyms:
AbbecasiteIMA1965-037
Other Languages:
German:Abbecasit
Asbecasit
Russian:Асбекасит
Spanish:Abbecasita
Asbecasita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent
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 Asbecasite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 52: 1583.

American Mineralogist: 55: 1818.

Mineralogical Magazine: 57: 315-322.

Internet Links for Asbecasite

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

    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.
    Italy
     
    • Latium
      • Viterbo Province
        • Vico Lake
          • Vetralla
    		A. Maras et al. , Eur. J. Mineral. , 1995, 7, pp. 439-446.
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Ossola Valley
          • Baceno
            • Devero Alp (Devero Valley; Val Devero)
    		http://www.webmineralshop.com/ Cervandone article& personal collection
    Norway
     
    • Nordland
      • Sørfold
    		Ellingsen, H.V., Haugen, A., Raade, G., Eldjarn, K. & Berg, H.-J., (1995): Sjeldne mineraler i en amazonittpegmatitt ved Tennvatn i Nordland. Norsk Bergverksmuseums Skriftserie 9, 35-37
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Binn Valley
        • Chummibort
    		Cuchet, S., van der Burgt, A. und Meisser, N. (2005): Chummibort, eine neue Fundstelle für Arsenmineralien im Binntal. Schweizer Strahler, Nr. 2, 19-29. (in German/French)
        • Kriegalp Valley (Chriegalp Valley)
    Schweiz.Min.Petr.Mitt.(1966) 46, 367-375
        • Lercheltini (Lärcheltini) area
    		[MinRec 27:302]; American Mineralogist, Volume 79, pages 996-1002, 1994
      • Brig
        • Simplon pass area
          • Steinu Valley
    		Christian Bracke Collection.
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