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Barberiite

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Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy
© Thomas Witzke

Show Barberiite Photos (5)
Formula:
(NH
 
4
)[BF
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless
Lustre:VitreousHardness:1
Name:For Franco Barberi, Professor of Volcanology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, who promoted studies of Vulcano Island.


Formed by fumarolic activity, stable only at ground temperatures between 200 and 600°C. Decomposes in humid air.

Classification of Barberiite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/B.01-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CA.10

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
A : Borofluorides
Dana 8th edition ID:11.2.4.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
2 : AmBX4
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Type Occurrence of Barberiite

Type Locality:La Fossa Crater, Vulcano Island, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Lipari, Messina Province, Sicily, Italy
General Appearance of Type Material:Globular aggregates to 2 mm, rarely as pseudohexagonal platy crystals to 300 µm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Bari University, Bari, Italy
Year of Discovery:1994
Geological Setting of type material:Sublimates in active fumaroles
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SulphurSphaleriteSassoliteSalammoniacRealgar
MalladriteGalenobismutiteCannizzariteBismuthinite

Physical Properties of Barberiite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1
Hardness (Vickers):VHN25=14.2 kg/mm2
Density (measured):1.89 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.9 g/cm3

Crystallography of Barberiite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 9.0615Å, b = 5.6727Å, c = 7.2672Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.597 : 1 : 1.281
Unit Cell Volume:V 373.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Commonly in globular aggregates; rarely as pseudohexagonal crystals, tabular to platy on {001}, typically elongated along [010] or [100]
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.183 (100)
3.540 (90)
2.898 (80)
4.472 (75)
2.163 (70)
2.536 (65)
Comments:Recorded on material from Vulcano Island, Italy

Optical Data of Barberiite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: n = 1.3081
2V:Measured: 90°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v, strong

Chemical Properties of Barberiite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)[BF
 
4
]
Essential elements:B, F, H, N
All elements listed in formula:B, F, H, N
Analytical Data:Analysis of material from Vulcano Island, Italy, by ion exchange chromatography; empirical formula calculated after deduction of some NH4, F, Cl and Br as sal ammoniac.
Na (0.4)
K (2.2)
NH4 (16.6)
BF4 (79.8)
F (0.3)
Cl (0.6)
Br (0.1)

sum 100.0 wt.-%
Empirical Formula:
[(NH4)
 
0.96
K
 
0.06
Na
 
0.02
]
 
=1.04
BF
 
4
Common Impurities:K,Na

Relationship of Barberiite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.CA.05Ferruccite
Na[BF
 
4
]
3.CA.10Avogadrite
(K,Cs)[BF
 
4
]

Other Names for Barberiite

Synonyms:
IMA1993-008
Other Languages:
German:Barberiit
Russian:Барбериит
Spanish:Barberiita

Other Information

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 Barberiite

Reference List:Caron, A. P. and Ragle, J. L. (1971): Refinement of the structure of orthorhombic ammonium tetrafluoroborate, NH4BF4. Acta Crystallographica 27, 1102-1107.

Garavelli, A. and Vurro, F. (1994): Barberiite, NH4BF4, a new mineral from Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. American Mineralogist 79, 381-384.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 38.

Internet Links for Barberiite

Search Engines:
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  • Look for Barberiite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Barberiite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Barberiite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Barberiite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    Localities for Barberiite

    (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
     
    • Sicily
      • Messina Province
        • Lipari
          • Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands)
            • Vulcano Island
    		GARAVELLI A., VURRO F. (1997): Barberiite, NH4BF4, a new mineral from Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. - American Mineralogist - 79, 381-384.
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd)
      • joint of Zeravshan and Gissar Range
        • Yagnob River
    		Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data
    Mineral and/or Locality
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