Balestraite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Balestraite
Formula:
KLi2V5+Si4O12
Colour:
Pale yellow
Lustre:
Silky
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.946
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named by Giovanni Orazio Lepore et al. in 2013 in honor of Corrado Balestra (1962, Millesimo, Liguria, Italy - ), professional chemist and a prominent Italian amateur mineralogist and collector with a specialty in Ligurian mineralogy.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
45970
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:45970:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
455c77fd-2327-4196-8aa7-2b1fe9945db1
IMA Classification of Balestraite
Classification of Balestraite
9.EC.
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Mineral Symbols
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.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Bls | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Bls | Warr (2020) | Warr, L.N. (2020) Recommended abbreviations for the names of clay minerals and associated phases. Clay Minerals, 55, 261–264 doi:10.1180/clm.2020.30 |
Physical Properties of Balestraite
Silky
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale yellow
Streak:
Colorless
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.946 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Balestraite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.642(2) nβ = 1.664(2) nγ = 1.676(2)
2V:
Measured: 84.4° (2), Calculated: 72°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.034
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
Dispersion:
r<v
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
pale gray in thin section
Chemistry of Balestraite
Mindat Formula:
KLi2V5+Si4O12
Crystallography of Balestraite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2 - Sphenoidal
Space Group:
B2
Setting:
C2
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.2024(5) Å, b = 8.9782(7) Å, c = 9.997(2) Å
β = 100.40(2)°
β = 100.40(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.579 : 1 : 1.113
Unit Cell V:
459.3 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Tabular
Twinning:
None observed
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.51 Å | (100) |
4.34 Å | (40) |
3.60 Å | (40) |
3.08 Å | (35) |
2.592 Å | (70) |
2.574 Å | (70) |
2.385 Å | (70) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Balestraite
General Appearance of Type Material:
It forms a sort of layered cluster of about 2x1 cm of randomly packed crystals in contact with the other phases.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale, Universita` degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy, catalogue number 3133/I
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In the manganesiferous beds within the metacherts of the ophiolitic sequences at the Cerchiara mine, Eastern Liguria (Italy)
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Balestraite
Relationship of Balestraite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Aspidolite | NaMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 | |
Ephesite | NaLiAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Garmite | CsLiMg2(Si4O10)F2 | Mon. |
Hendricksite | KZn3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Kreiterite | CsLi2Fe3+(Si4O10)F2 | Mon. |
Lepidolite | A Li-rich mica in, or close to, the so-called Polylithionite-Trilithionite series. | Mon. |
Masutomilite | (K,Rb)(Li,Mn3+,Al)3(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 | Mon. 2 : B2 |
Norrishite | KLiMn3+2(Si4O10)O2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Orlovite | KLi2Ti(Si4O10)OF | Mon. 2 : B2 |
Polylithionite | KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Preiswerkite | NaMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Shirokshinite | K(NaMg2)(Si4O10)F2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Shirozulite | KMn2+3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Sokolovaite | CsLi2Al(Si4O10)F2 | Mon. |
Suhailite | (NH4)Fe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Tainiolite | KLiMg2(Si4O10)F2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Trilithionite | K(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Wonesite | (Na,K)(Mg,Fe,Al)6((Al,Si)4O10)2(OH,F)4 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Zinnwaldite | Mica Group. |
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.EC. | Meifuite | KFe6(Si7Al)O19(OH)4Cl2 |
9.EC.05 | Minnesotaite | Fe2+3Si4O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.05 | Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.05 | Willemseite | Ni3Si4O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.9.EC. | Voloshinite | Rb(LiAl1.5◻0.5)(Al0.5Si3.5)O10F2 |
9.EC.10 | Ferripyrophyllite | Fe3+Si2O5(OH) |
9.EC.10 | Pyrophyllite | Al2Si4O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.10 | Luanshiweiite | KLiAl1.5(Si3.5Al0.5)O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.10 | Fluorluanshiweiite | KLiAl1.5(Si3.5Al0.5)O10F2 |
9.EC.10 | Manganiceladonite | K(MgMn3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.10 | Garmite | CsLiMg2(Si4O10)F2 |
9.EC.10 | Gorbunovite | CsLi2(Ti,Fe)Si4O10(F,OH,O)2 |
9.EC.15 | Boromuscovite | KAl2(BSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Celadonite | K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Chernykhite | (Ba,Na)(V3+,Al,Mg)2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Montdorite | (K,Na)2(Fe2+,Mn2+,Mg)5(Si4O10)2(OH,F)4 |
9.EC.15 | Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Nanpingite | CsAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2 |
9.EC.15 | Paragonite | NaAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Roscoelite | K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Tobelite | (NH4,K)Al2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Aluminoceladonite | K(MgAl◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Chromphyllite | K(Cr,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2 |
9.EC.15 | Ferroaluminoceladonite | K(Fe2+Al◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Ferroceladonite | K(Fe2+Fe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Chromceladonite | K(MgCr◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | Tainiolite | KLiMg2(Si4O10)F2 |
9.EC.15 | Ganterite | (Ba,Na,K)(Al,Mg)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.15 | UM1988-22-SiO:AlCaFFeHKLiMg | KLiMgAl2Si3O10F2 |
9.EC.15 | Kreiterite | CsLi2Fe3+(Si4O10)F2 |
9.EC.20 | Annite | KFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Ephesite | NaLiAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Hendricksite | KZn3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Masutomilite | (K,Rb)(Li,Mn3+,Al)3(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Norrishite | KLiMn3+2(Si4O10)O2 |
9.EC.20 | Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Polylithionite | KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Preiswerkite | NaMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Siderophyllite | KFe2+2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Tetraferriphlogopite | KMg3(Fe3+Si3O10)(OH,F)2 |
9.EC.20 | Fluorotetraferriphlogopite | KMg3(Fe3+Si3O10)F2 |
9.EC.20 | Wonesite | (Na,K)(Mg,Fe,Al)6((Al,Si)4O10)2(OH,F)4 |
9.EC.20 | Eastonite | KMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Tetraferriannite | KFe2+3(Si3Fe3+)O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Trilithionite | K(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Fluorannite | KFe2+3(Si3Al)O10F2 |
9.EC.20 | Shirokshinite | K(NaMg2)(Si4O10)F2 |
9.EC.20 | Shirozulite | KMn2+3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Sokolovaite | CsLi2Al(Si4O10)F2 |
9.EC.20 | Aspidolite | NaMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Fluorophlogopite | KMg3(Si3Al)O10F2 |
9.EC.20 | UM2004-49-SiO:AlCsFHKLi | (Cs,K)(Al,Li)2.6((Si,Al)4O10)(F,OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Suhailite | (NH4)Fe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.20 | Yangzhumingite | KMg2.5(Si4O10)F2 |
9.EC.20 | Orlovite | KLi2Ti(Si4O10)OF |
9.EC.20 | Oxyphlogopite | K(Mg,Ti,Fe)3[(Si,Al)4O10](O,F)2 |
9.EC.20 | Chloroferrokinoshitalite | (Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3(Al2Si2O10)(Cl,OH,F)2 |
9.EC.22 | Pimelite | Ni3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O |
9.EC.30 | Chlorophaeite | (Ca,Mg,Fe)2Fe2Si4O13 · 10H2O |
9.EC.30 | Margarite | CaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.35 | Anandite | (Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3((Si,Al,Fe)4O10)(S,OH)2 |
9.EC.35 | Bityite | CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.35 | Clintonite | CaAlMg2(SiAl3O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.35 | Kinoshitalite | (Ba,K)(Mg,Mn2+,Al)3(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.35 | Ferrokinoshitalite | (Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3(Al2Si2O10)(OH,F)2 |
9.EC.35 | Oxykinoshitalite | (Ba,K)(Mg,Ti,Fe3+,Fe2+)3((Si,Al)4O10)(O,OH,F)2 |
9.EC.35 | Fluorokinoshitalite | BaMg3(Al2Si2O10)F2 |
9.EC.40 | Beidellite | (Na,Ca0.5)0.3Al2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
9.EC.40 | Kurumsakite | (Zn,Ni,Cu)8Al8V5+2Si5O35 · 27H2O (?) |
9.EC.40 | Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
9.EC.40 | Nontronite | Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
9.EC.40 | Volkonskoite | Ca0.3(Cr,Mg,Fe)2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2O |
9.EC.40 | Yakhontovite | (Ca,Na)0.5(Cu,Fe,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · 3H2O |
9.EC.45 | Hectorite | Na0.3(Mg,Li)3(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 |
9.EC.45 | Saponite | Ca0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
9.EC.45 | Sauconite | Na0.3Zn3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2O |
9.EC.45 | Spadaite | MgSiO2(OH)2 · H2O (?) |
9.EC.45 | Stevensite | (Ca,Na)xMg3-x(Si4O10)(OH)2 |
9.EC.45 | Swinefordite | Li(Al,Li,Mg)3((Si,Al)4O10)2(OH,F)4 · nH2O |
9.EC.45 | Zincsilite | Zn3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O (?) |
9.EC.45 | Ferrosaponite | Ca0.3(Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2O |
9.EC.45 | Hanjiangite | Ba2CaV3+Al(H2AlSi3O12)(CO3)2F |
9.EC.50 | Vermiculite | Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O |
9.EC.52 | Tarasovite | near NaKAl11Si13O40(OH)9 · 3H2O |
9.EC.55 | Baileychlore | (Zn,Fe2+,Al,Mg)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Chamosite | (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
9.EC.55 | Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Cookeite | (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Franklinfurnaceite | Ca2Fe3+Mn2+3Mn3+(Zn2Si2O10)(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Gonyerite | (Mn2+,Mg)5Fe3+(Fe3+Si3O10)(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Nimite | (Ni,Mg,Al)6((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Orthochamosite | (Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH,O)8 |
9.EC.55 | Pennantite | Mn2+5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Sudoite | Mg2Al3(Si3Al)O10)(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Donbassite | Al4.33(Si3Al)O10(OH)8 |
9.EC.55 | Glagolevite | Na(Mg,Al)6(AlSi3O10)(OH,O)8 |
9.EC.55 | Borocookeite | (LiAl4◻)[BSi3O10](OH)8 |
9.EC.60 | Aliettite | Ca0.2Mg6((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 4H2O |
9.EC.60 | Corrensite | (Mg,Fe)9((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)10 · nH2O |
9.EC.60 | Dozyite | Mg7Al2(Al2Si4O15)(OH)12 |
9.EC.60 | Hydrobiotite | K(Mg,Fe2+)6((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · nH2O |
9.EC.60 | Karpinskite | (Ni,Mg)2Si2O5(OH)2 (?) |
9.EC.60 | Kulkeite | Mg8Al(AlSi7O20)(OH)10 |
9.EC.60 | Lunijianlaite | Li0.7Al6.2(AlSi7O20)(OH,O)10 |
9.EC.60 | Rectorite | (Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
9.EC.60 | Saliotite | (Li,Na)Al3(AlSi3O10)(OH)5 |
9.EC.60 | Tosudite | Na0.5(Al,Mg)6((Si,Al)8O18)(OH)12 · 5H2O |
9.EC.60 | Brinrobertsite | Na0.3Al4(Si4O10)2(OH)4 · 3.5 H2O |
9.EC.65 | Macaulayite | (Fe,Al)24Si4O43(OH)2 |
9.EC.70 | Burckhardtite | Pb2(Fe3+Te6+)[AlSi3O8]O6 |
9.EC.75 | Ferrisurite | (Pb,Ca)2.4Fe3+2(Si4O10)(CO3)1.7(OH)3 · nH2O |
9.EC.75 | Surite | (Pb,Ca)3(Al,Fe2+,Mg)2((Si,Al)4O10)(CO3)2(OH)2 |
9.EC.75 | Niksergievite | (Ba,Ca)2Al3(AlSi3O10)(CO3)(OH)6 · nH2O |
9.EC.80 | Kegelite | Pb8Al4(Si8O20)(SO4)2(CO3)4(OH)8 |
Other Information
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 Balestraite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-45970.html
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References for Balestraite
Localities for Balestraite
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).
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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Italy (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
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Cerchiara Mine, Borghetto di Vara, La Spezia Province, Liguria, Italy