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Balestraite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About BalestraiteHide

01994470014946974804414.jpg
Corrado Balestra
Formula:
KLi2V5+Si4O12
Colour:
Pale yellow
Lustre:
Silky
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.946
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
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.
A mica-group mineral characterized by a high V content and free of Al. A 1M trioctahedral mica.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
45970
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:45970:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
455c77fd-2327-4196-8aa7-2b1fe9945db1

IMA Classification of BalestraiteHide

Approved
Approval year:
2013
First published:
2014

Classification of BalestraiteHide

9.EC.

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets

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
BlsIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
BlsWarr (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 BalestraiteHide

Silky
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale yellow
Streak:
Colorless
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.946 g/cm3 (Measured)    

Optical Data of BalestraiteHide

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.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r<v
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
pale gray in thin section

Chemistry of BalestraiteHide

Mindat Formula:
KLi2V5+Si4O12

Crystallography of BalestraiteHide

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)°
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 DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
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 EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits

Type Occurrence of BalestraiteHide

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 BalestraiteHide

Relationship of Balestraite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of this group:
AspidoliteNaMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
EphesiteNaLiAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Tric. 1 : P1
GarmiteCsLiMg2(Si4O10)F2Mon.
HendricksiteKZn3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
KreiteriteCsLi2Fe3+(Si4O10)F2Mon.
LepidoliteA Li-rich mica in, or close to, the so-called Polylithionite-Trilithionite series.Mon.
Masutomilite(K,Rb)(Li,Mn3+,Al)3(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2Mon. 2 : B2
NorrishiteKLiMn3+2(Si4O10)O2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
OrloviteKLi2Ti(Si4O10)OFMon. 2 : B2
PolylithioniteKLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
PreiswerkiteNaMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
ShirokshiniteK(NaMg2)(Si4O10)F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
ShirozuliteKMn2+3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
SokolovaiteCsLi2Al(Si4O10)F2Mon.
Suhailite(NH4)Fe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
TainioliteKLiMg2(Si4O10)F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
TrilithioniteK(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
Wonesite(Na,K)(Mg,Fe,Al)6((Al,Si)4O10)2(OH,F)4Mon. 2/m : B2/m
ZinnwalditeMica Group.

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Balestraite associated with QuartzSiO2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.EC.MeifuiteKFe6(Si7Al)O19(OH)4Cl2Tric. 1 : P1
9.EC.05MinnesotaiteFe2+3Si4O10(OH)2Tric. 1 : P1
9.EC.05TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2Tric. 1 : P1
9.EC.05WillemseiteNi3Si4O10(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.9.EC.VoloshiniteRb(LiAl1.50.5)(Al0.5Si3.5)O10F2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.10FerripyrophylliteFe3+Si2O5(OH)Mon. 2/m
9.EC.10PyrophylliteAl2Si4O10(OH)2Tric. 1
9.EC.10LuanshiweiiteKLiAl1.5(Si3.5Al0.5)O10(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.10FluorluanshiweiiteKLiAl1.5(Si3.5Al0.5)O10F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.10ManganiceladoniteK(MgMn3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.10GarmiteCsLiMg2(Si4O10)F2Mon.
9.EC.10GorbunoviteCsLi2(Ti,Fe)Si4O10(F,OH,O)2Mon.
9.EC.15BoromuscoviteKAl2(BSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m
9.EC.15CeladoniteK(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.15Chernykhite(Ba,Na)(V3+,Al,Mg)2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.15Montdorite(K,Na)2(Fe2+,Mn2+,Mg)5(Si4O10)2(OH,F)4Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.15MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.15NanpingiteCsAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.15ParagoniteNaAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.15RoscoeliteK(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.15Tobelite(NH4,K)Al2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.15AluminoceladoniteK(MgAl◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.15ChromphylliteK(Cr,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH,F)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.15FerroaluminoceladoniteK(Fe2+Al◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.15FerroceladoniteK(Fe2+Fe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.15ChromceladoniteK(MgCr◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2Mon. 2 : B2
9.EC.15TainioliteKLiMg2(Si4O10)F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.15Ganterite(Ba,Na,K)(Al,Mg)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.15UM1988-22-SiO:AlCaFFeHKLiMgKLiMgAl2Si3O10F2Mon.
9.EC.15KreiteriteCsLi2Fe3+(Si4O10)F2Mon.
9.EC.20AnniteKFe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20EphesiteNaLiAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Tric. 1 : P1
9.EC.20HendricksiteKZn3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20Masutomilite(K,Rb)(Li,Mn3+,Al)3(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2Mon. 2 : B2
9.EC.20NorrishiteKLiMn3+2(Si4O10)O2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20PhlogopiteKMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20PolylithioniteKLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.20PreiswerkiteNaMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.20SiderophylliteKFe2+2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.20TetraferriphlogopiteKMg3(Fe3+Si3O10)(OH,F)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20FluorotetraferriphlogopiteKMg3(Fe3+Si3O10)F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20Wonesite(Na,K)(Mg,Fe,Al)6((Al,Si)4O10)2(OH,F)4Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20EastoniteKMg2Al(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.20TetraferrianniteKFe2+3(Si3Fe3+)O10(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20TrilithioniteK(Li1.5Al1.5)(AlSi3O10)(F,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.20FluoranniteKFe2+3(Si3Al)O10F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20ShirokshiniteK(NaMg2)(Si4O10)F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20ShirozuliteKMn2+3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20SokolovaiteCsLi2Al(Si4O10)F2Mon.
9.EC.20AspidoliteNaMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20FluorophlogopiteKMg3(Si3Al)O10F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20UM2004-49-SiO:AlCsFHKLi(Cs,K)(Al,Li)2.6((Si,Al)4O10)(F,OH)2
9.EC.20Suhailite(NH4)Fe2+3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20YangzhumingiteKMg2.5(Si4O10)F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20OrloviteKLi2Ti(Si4O10)OFMon. 2 : B2
9.EC.20OxyphlogopiteK(Mg,Ti,Fe)3[(Si,Al)4O10](O,F)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.20Chloroferrokinoshitalite(Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3(Al2Si2O10)(Cl,OH,F)2
9.EC.22PimeliteNi3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2OHex.
9.EC.30Chlorophaeite(Ca,Mg,Fe)2Fe2Si4O13 · 10H2O
9.EC.30MargariteCaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.35Anandite(Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3((Si,Al,Fe)4O10)(S,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.35BityiteCaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.EC.35ClintoniteCaAlMg2(SiAl3O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.35Kinoshitalite(Ba,K)(Mg,Mn2+,Al)3(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.35Ferrokinoshitalite(Ba,K)(Fe2+,Mg)3(Al2Si2O10)(OH,F)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.35Oxykinoshitalite(Ba,K)(Mg,Ti,Fe3+,Fe2+)3((Si,Al)4O10)(O,OH,F)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.35FluorokinoshitaliteBaMg3(Al2Si2O10)F2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.40Beidellite(Na,Ca0.5)0.3Al2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.40Kurumsakite(Zn,Ni,Cu)8Al8V5+2Si5O35 · 27H2O (?)Orth.
9.EC.40Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.40NontroniteNa0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.40VolkonskoiteCa0.3(Cr,Mg,Fe)2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2OMon.
9.EC.40Yakhontovite(Ca,Na)0.5(Cu,Fe,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · 3H2OMon.
9.EC.45HectoriteNa0.3(Mg,Li)3(Si4O10)(F,OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.45SaponiteCa0.25(Mg,Fe)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2OMon.
9.EC.45SauconiteNa0.3Zn3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2OMon.
9.EC.45SpadaiteMgSiO2(OH)2 · H2O (?)
9.EC.45Stevensite(Ca,Na)xMg3-x(Si4O10)(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.45SwineforditeLi(Al,Li,Mg)3((Si,Al)4O10)2(OH,F)4 · nH2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.45ZincsiliteZn3Si4O10(OH)2 · 4H2O (?)Mon.
9.EC.45FerrosaponiteCa0.3(Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)3((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · 4H2OMon.
9.EC.45HanjiangiteBa2CaV3+Al(H2AlSi3O12)(CO3)2FMon. 2 : B2
9.EC.50VermiculiteMg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2OMon. 2/m
9.EC.52Tarasovitenear NaKAl11Si13O40(OH)9 · 3H2O
9.EC.55Baileychlore(Zn,Fe2+,Al,Mg)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8Tric. 1
9.EC.55Chamosite(Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.55ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.55Cookeite(LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8Mon. 2/m
9.EC.55FranklinfurnaceiteCa2Fe3+Mn2+3Mn3+(Zn2Si2O10)(OH)8Mon. 2 : B2
9.EC.55Gonyerite(Mn2+,Mg)5Fe3+(Fe3+Si3O10)(OH)8Orth.
9.EC.55Nimite(Ni,Mg,Al)6((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)8Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.55Orthochamosite(Fe2+,Mg,Fe3+)5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH,O)8
9.EC.55PennantiteMn2+5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8Tric.
9.EC.55SudoiteMg2Al3(Si3Al)O10)(OH)8Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.55DonbassiteAl4.33(Si3Al)O10(OH)8Mon. 2 : B2
9.EC.55GlagoleviteNa(Mg,Al)6(AlSi3O10)(OH,O)8Tric. 1 : P1
9.EC.55Borocookeite(LiAl4◻)[BSi3O10](OH)8Mon. m : Bb
9.EC.60AliettiteCa0.2Mg6((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 4H2OMon.
9.EC.60Corrensite(Mg,Fe)9((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)10 · nH2OOrth.
9.EC.60DozyiteMg7Al2(Al2Si4O15)(OH)12Mon.
9.EC.60HydrobiotiteK(Mg,Fe2+)6((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · nH2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.60Karpinskite(Ni,Mg)2Si2O5(OH)2 (?)Mon.
9.EC.60KulkeiteMg8Al(AlSi7O20)(OH)10Mon.
9.EC.60LunijianlaiteLi0.7Al6.2(AlSi7O20)(OH,O)10Mon.
9.EC.60Rectorite(Na,Ca)Al4((Si,Al)8O20)(OH)4 · 2H2OMon.
9.EC.60Saliotite(Li,Na)Al3(AlSi3O10)(OH)5Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.EC.60TosuditeNa0.5(Al,Mg)6((Si,Al)8O18)(OH)12 · 5H2OMon. 2 : B2
9.EC.60BrinrobertsiteNa0.3Al4(Si4O10)2(OH)4 · 3.5 H2OMon.
9.EC.65Macaulayite(Fe,Al)24Si4O43(OH)2Mon.
9.EC.70BurckhardtitePb2(Fe3+Te6+)[AlSi3O8]O6Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m
9.EC.75Ferrisurite(Pb,Ca)2.4Fe3+2(Si4O10)(CO3)1.7(OH)3 · nH2OMon.
9.EC.75Surite(Pb,Ca)3(Al,Fe2+,Mg)2((Si,Al)4O10)(CO3)2(OH)2Mon. 2 : P21
9.EC.75Niksergievite(Ba,Ca)2Al3(AlSi3O10)(CO3)(OH)6 · nH2OMon.
9.EC.80KegelitePb8Al4(Si8O20)(SO4)2(CO3)4(OH)8Mon.

Other InformationHide

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 BalestraiteHide

References for BalestraiteHide

Localities for BalestraiteHide

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.
Italy (TL)
 
  • Liguria
    • La Spezia Province
      • Borghetto di Vara
Williams et al. (2013) +1 other reference
 
Mineral and/or Locality  
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