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Barnesite

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Cactus Rat Mine, Cisco, Yellow Cat District (W. part of Thompsons District), Grand Co., Utah, USA
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Na
 
2
[V
 
2
O
 
6
|V
 
4
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Brilliant dark red; ...
Hardness:3
Name:For Dr. William H. Barnes (b. 1903), National Research Council of Canada Ottawa, Canada, authority on the crystallography of many vanadium minerals.


Hewettite Group.

Classification of Barnesite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/G.12-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.HG.45

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
G : Unclassified V oxides
Dana 8th edition ID:47.3.1.3

47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
3 : Hydrated Normal Vanadium Oxysalts
Hey's CIM Ref.:21.1.3

21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
1 : Vanadates of the alkalis and Cu
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Type Occurrence of Barnesite

Type Locality:Cactus Rat Mine, Cisco, Yellow Cat District (W. part of Thompsons District), Grand Co., Utah, USA
Geological Setting of type material:In small cavities and fractures and as interstitial filling in sandstone in the oxidized zone of a vanadiferous uranium deposit
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ThenarditeMetahewettite

Physical Properties of Barnesite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Brilliant dark red; brownish red on exposure
Hardness (Mohs):3
Tenacity:Fragile
Cleavage:Perfect
on {001}, fair on {100} and {010}
Density (measured):3.09 - 3.15 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.23 g/cm3

Crystallography of Barnesite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P2/m {P1 1 2/m} {P2/m} {P1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 12.17Å, b = 3.602Å, c = 7.78Å
β = 95.03°
Ratio:a:b:c = 3.379 : 1 : 2.16
Unit Cell Volume:V 339.73 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Subparallel to radiating aggregates of bladed to fibrous crystals, elongated along [010], to 0.5 mm; also as botryoidal to velvety coatings.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
7.90 (100)
3.12 (70)
3.45 (35)
12.2 (25)
2.27 (25)
1.800 (25)
Comments:Recorded on type material

Optical Data of Barnesite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.797 - 1.800 nβ = 2.010 - 2.040 nγ = 2.040 - 2.080
2V:Measured: 60°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.243 - 0.280

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r << v
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:X = yellow, Y = yellow-orange, Z = red; Orientation: Y = a, Z = b, X vs. c = 5°

Chemical Properties of Barnesite

Formula:
Na
 
2
[V
 
2
O
 
6
|V
 
4
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Na, O, V
All elements listed in formula:H, Na, O, V
Analytical Data:Analysis of material from Cactus Rat Mine, Utah, USA. Material from Kazakhstan has a distinct calcium content, and V4+ replacing V5+.
V2O5 (82.40)
SiO2 (0.40)
Na2O (9.10)
H2O (7.72)

sum 99.63 wt.-%
Common Impurities:Ca

Relationship of Barnesite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.HG.05Fervanite
Fe
 
4
(VO
 
4
)
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
4.HG.10Huemulite
Na
 
4
Mg[V
 
10
O
 
28
] · 24H
 
2
O
4.HG.15Vanalite
NaAl
 
8
V
 
10
O
 
38
·30H
 
2
O
4.HG.20Simplotite
CaV
 
4
O
 
9
·5H
 
2
O
4.HG.25Vanoxite
V
 
6
O
 
13
·8H
 
2
O
4.HG.30Navajoite
V
 
2
O
 
5
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.HG.35Delrioite
CaSr[(OH)
 
2
|V
 
2
O
 
6
] · 3H
 
2
O
4.HG.40Metadelrioite
CaSr[(OH)
 
2
|V
 
2
O
 
6
]
4.HG.50Hendersonite
(Ca,Sr)
 
x
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
12
O
 
32
·12H
 
2
O (x about 2.6)
4.HG.55Grantsite
(Na
 
2
,Ca)[V
 
2
O
 
6
|(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
4.HG.60Lenoblite
V
 
2
O
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
4.HG.65Satpaevite
Al
 
12
V
 
2
V
 
6
O
 
37
·30H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
21.1.1Metamunirite
NaVO
 
3
21.1.2Munirite
NaVO
 
3
·2H
 
2
O
21.1.4Bannermanite
(Na,K)
 
0.7
V
4+
0.7
V
5+
5.3
O
 
15
21.1.5Howardevansite
NaCuFe
 
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
21.1.6Huemulite
Na
 
4
Mg[V
 
10
O
 
28
] · 24H
 
2
O
21.1.7Blossite
α-Cu
 
2
[V
 
2
O
 
7
]
21.1.8Ziesite
β-Cu
 
2
[V
 
2
O
 
7
]
21.1.9Stoiberite
Cu
 
5
[O
 
2
|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
21.1.10Mcbirneyite
Cu
 
3
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
21.1.11Fingerite
Cu
 
11
[O
 
2
|(VO
 
4
)
 
6
]
21.1.12Volborthite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|V
 
2
O
 
7
] · 2H
 
2
O
21.1.13Tangeite
CaCu[OH|VO
 
4
]
21.1.14Vésigniéite
BaCu
 
3
[OH|VO
 
4
]
 
2
21.1.15Lyonsite
Cu
 
3
Fe
 
4
(VO
 
4
)
 
6

Other Names for Barnesite

Other Languages:
German:Barnesit
Spanish:Barnesita

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 Barnesite

Reference List:Weeks, A. D., Ross, D. R. and Marvin, R. F. (1963): The occurence and properties of barnesite, Na2V6O16.3H2O, a new hydrated sodium vanadate mineral from Utah. American Mineralogist 48, 1187-1195.

Evans, H. T., Jr. and Hughes, J. M. (1990): Crystal chemistry of the natural vanadium bronzes. American Mineralogist 75, 508-521, esp. 514-515.

Akinovich, E. A. and Podlipaeva, N. I. (1986): A Ca-variety of barnesite from rocks of a carbonaceous-siliceous vanadium-bearing formation in southern Kazakhstan. Zap. Vses. Mineral. Obshch. 115, 345-351.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 43

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    Localities for Barnesite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Ongtüstik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Southern-Kazakhstan Oblast')
      • Karatau Range
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 43
        • Kurumsak River Valley
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 43
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Mesa Co.
        • Uravan District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Montrose Co.
        • Uravan District
          • Bull Canyon
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
          • Paradox Valley
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
        • Gibellini District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 43
    • New Mexico
      • Cibola Co.
        • Grants District
    		Northrup, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
      • McKinley Co.
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    • Utah
      • Grand Co.
        • Yellow Cat District (W. part of Thompsons District)
          • Cisco
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • San Juan Co.
        • Paradox Valley
          • Paradox Valley District
            • La Sal Creek Canyon
    		collection Leon Hupperichs
    Mineral and/or Locality
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