Birunite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered - questionable
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Aburayhan-e Biruni
Formula:
Ca18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5SO4 · 15H2O(?)
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Dull
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.36
Name:
Named by S.T. Badalov and I.M Golovanov in 1957 in honor of Abū Rayḥān Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Al-Bīrūnī (English: Aburayhan-e Biruni) (4/5 September 973, Kath, Khwarezm, Samanid Empire (modern-day Uzbekistan) - 13 December 1048, Ghazni, Ghaznavid Empire), great Persian scholar and scientist. He was one of the greatest scholars of the medieval Islamic era; a polymath well versed in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and natural sciences. He was also an historian, chronologist and linguist. In mineralogy, he built an apparatus and determined the specific gravity of metals and minerals with remarkable precision.
This page provides mineralogical data about Birunite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
40582
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:40582:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0f04fce3-fae5-45b9-8ae8-747b82b1a289
IMA Classification of Birunite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959), Questionable
IMA Formula:
Ca18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5(SO4) · 15H2O
First published:
1957
Classification of Birunite
7.DG.15
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Brn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Birunite
Dull
Colour:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
in one direction
in one direction
Density:
2.36 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Birunite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.527 nγ = 1.531
Warning: number_format() expects parameter 1 to be float, string given in /home/mindat/www/show_class.php on line 4387
Warning: number_format() expects parameter 1 to be float, string given in /home/mindat/www/show_class.php on line 4387
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.004
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Chemistry of Birunite
Mindat Formula:
Ca18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5SO4 · 15H2O(?)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.595 Å | (10) |
| 1.781 Å | (10) |
| 1.939 Å | (8) |
| 1.712 Å | (4) |
| 1.292 Å | (3) |
Comments:
1.339 (8) in original publication assumed to be a misprint.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Birunite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Dull white fibrous incrustations 2-3 mm thick bordering veinlets of thaumasite that fil1s fractures in enstatitic rock.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Badalov, S.T., Golovanov, I.M. (1957) Birunite - a new mineral of the thaumasite group. Doklady Akademii Nauk Uzbekistan S.S.R: 12: 17-21 (in Russian).
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DG. | Mathesiusite | K5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2O |
| 7.DG.05 | Darapskite | Na3(SO4)(NO3) · H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Clinoungemachite | (Na, K, Fe, SO4) |
| 7.DG.10 | Humberstonite | Na7K3Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.10 | Ungemachite | K3Na8Fe(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Bentorite | Ca6Cr2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Charlesite | Ca6(Al,Si)2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH,O)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Ettringite | Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Jouravskite | Ca3Mn4+(SO4)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Sturmanite | Ca6Fe3+2(SO4)2.5[B(OH)4](OH)12 · 25H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Thaumasite | Ca3(SO4)[Si(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Carraraite | Ca3(SO4)[Ge(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Buryatite | Ca3(Si,Fe3+,Al)(SO4)B(OH)4(OH,O)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Hielscherite | Ca3Si(SO4)(SO3)(OH)6 · 11H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Kottenheimite | Ca 3Si(SO4)2(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Imayoshiite | Ca3Al(CO3)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Tatarinovite | Ca3Al(SO4)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Siwaqaite | Ca6Al2(CrO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 7.DG.15 | Chiyokoite | Ca3Si(CO3)[B(OH)4]O (OH)5 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.20 | Rapidcreekite | Ca2(SO4)(CO3) · 4H2O |
| 7.DG.25 | Tatarskite | Ca6Mg2(SO4)2(CO3)2(OH)4Cl4 · 7H2O |
| 7.DG.30 | Nakauriite | Cu8(SO4)4(CO3)(OH)6 · 48H2O |
| 7.DG.35 | Chessexite | (Na,K)4Ca2(Mg,Zn)3Al8(SO4)10(SiO4)2 · 40H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Carlosruizite | K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SeO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.40 | Fuenzalidaite | K6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2O |
| 7.DG.45 | Chelyabinskite | (Ca,Mg)3(SO4,CO3)2[Si(OH)6] · 9H2O (?) |
| 7.DG.55 | Ramazzoite | [Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20][(H0.33SO4)3(H2O)36] |
| 7.DG.60 | Witzkeite | Na4K4Ca(NO3)2(SO4)4 · 2H2O |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Endothermal break at 120-200°C, another broad endothermal break at 550-720°C, and an exothermal peak at 770-870°C.
Notes:
Dissolves in 10% HCl slowly, leaves scarcely any residue, and forms a silica gel immediately.
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 Birunite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-40582.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Birunite
Localities for Birunite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
France | |
| publication date: November 2018 +1 other reference |
Jordan | |
| Pitty et al. (2010) |
| Khoury et al. (1985) |
Uzbekistan (TL) | |
| Badalov et al. (1957) |
