Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Messageboard The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Bechererite

This page kindly sponsored by Branko Rieck
Big Photo

Frongoch Mine (Bron-y-Goch Mine; Llawynwnwch Mine), Pontrhydygroes, Upper Llanfihangell-y-Creuddyn, Ceredigion (Dyfed; Cardiganshire), Wales, UK
© Steve Rust

Show Bechererite Photos (30)



Formula:
(Zn,Cu)
 
6
Zn
 
2
(SO
 
4
,HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
12
System:TrigonalColour:Light green, Ice Blue, ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2 - 3
Name:
Named in honour of Dr. Karl Becherer (b. 1926), mineralogist at the University of Vienna, Austria.


There is a new secondary slag phase closely related to bechererite, but without SiO4 groups (U. Kolitsch, 2010; to be published).

Classification of Bechererite

IMA status:Approved 1994
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.08-05
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DD.55

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 7th edition ID:4.0.0.0
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-593.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Bechererite

Type Locality:Tonopah-Belmont Mine (East Vulture Mine; Belmont-McNeil Mine; Economy Mining Co. Mine), Belmont Mountain, Tonopah, Osborn District, Big Horn Mts, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA

Physical Properties of Bechererite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Light green, Ice Blue, Colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3

Crystallography of Bechererite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:P3
Cell Parameters:a = 8.319(2) Å, c = 7.377(1) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.887
Unit Cell Volume:V 442.13 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Hemimorphic elongate trigonal pyramids.

Optical Data of Bechererite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.705 nε = 1.611
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.094

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

Chemical Properties of Bechererite

Formula:
(Zn,Cu)
 
6
Zn
 
2
(SO
 
4
,HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
12
Essential elements:H, O, S, Zn
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, S, Si, Zn

Relationship of Bechererite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DD.05Felsőbányaite
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Langite
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Posnjakite
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · H
 
2
O
7.DD.10Wroewolfeite
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.15Spangolite
Cu
 
6
Al(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
Cl · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.20Ktenasite
Zn(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.25Christelite
Cu
 
2
Zn
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Campigliaite
Mn
2+
 
Cu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Devilline
CaCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Orthoserpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Serpierite
Ca(Cu,Zn)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Niedermayrite
CdCu
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.30Edwardsite
Cu
 
3
Cd
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
·4H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Carrboydite
[(Ni
 
1-x
Al
 
x
)(OH)
 
2
][SO
 
4
]
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Glaucocerinite
(Zn
 
1-x
Al
 
x
)(OH)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Honessite
(Ni
 
1-x
Fe
3+
x
)(OH)
 
2
[SO
 
4
]
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Hydrohonessite
(Ni
 
1-x
Fe
3+
x
)(OH)
 
2
[SO
 
4
]
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Motukoreaite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
18
[Na(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Mountkeithite
[(Mg
 
1-x
Fe
3+
x
)(OH)
 
2
][SO
 
4
]
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Shigaite
Mn
 
6
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
18
[Na(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Wermlandite
Mg
 
7
Al
 
2
(OH)
 
18
[Ca(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Woodwardite
Cu
 
1-x
Al
 
x
(OH)
 
2
[SO
 
4
]
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Zincaluminite
Zn
 
6
Al
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
16
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Hydrowoodwardite
(Cu
 
1-x
Al
 
x
)(OH)
 
2
[SO
 
4
]
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Zincowoodwardite
Zn
 
1-x
Al
 
x
(OH)
 
2
[SO
 
4
]
 
x/2
 · nH
 
2
O
7.DD.35Natroglaucocerinite
Na
 
x
Zn
 
8-y
Al
 
y
(SO
 
4
)
 
(x+y)/2
(OH)
 
16
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.35Nikischerite
Fe
2+
6
Al
 
3
(OH)
 
18
[Na(H
 
2
O)
 
6
][SO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.40Lawsonbauerite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
9
Zn
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
22
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.40Torreyite
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
9
Zn
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
22
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.45Mooreite
(Mg,Zn,Mn
2+
 
)
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
26
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.50Namuwite
(Zn,Cu)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.DD.60Ramsbeckite
(Cu,Zn)
 
15
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
22
 · 6H
 
2
O
7.DD.65Vonbezingite
Ca
 
6
Cu
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
12
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.DD.70Redgillite
Cu
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
 · H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Chalcoalumite
CuAl
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Nickelalumite
(Ni,Cu)Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
,(NO
 
3
)
 
2
)(OH)
 
12
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.75Kyrgyzstanite
ZnAl
 
4
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
·3H
 
2
O
7.DD.80Guarinoite
(Zn,Co,Ni)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH,Cl)
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.DD.80Schulenbergite
(Cu,Zn)
 
7
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.80Thérèsemagnanite
(Co,Zn,Ni)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH,Cl)
 
10
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.DD.80UM1992-30-SO:CCuHZn
(Zn,Cu)
 
7
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.DD.85Montetrisaite
Cu
 
6
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
10
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
4.0.0.0Polymignite
(Ca,Fe,Y,Th)(Nb,Ti,Ta,Zr)O
 
4

Other Names for Bechererite

Synonyms:
IMA1994-005
Other Languages:
German:Bechererit
Russian:Бехерерит
Spanish:Bechererita

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 Bechererite

Reference List:

- +
Mineralogical Record: 27: 393.

Giester, G. and Rieck, B. (1996): Bechererite, (Zn,Cu)6Zn2(OH)13[(S,Si)(O,OH)4]2, a novel mineral species from the Tonopah-Belmont mine, Arizona: American Mineralogist 81, 244-248.

Hoffmann, Ch., Armbruster, Th., Giester, G (1997): Acentric structure (P3) of bechererite, Zn7Cu(OH)13[SiO(OH)3SO4]: American Mineralogist 82, 1014-1018.

Rust, S.A., Bell, R. & Green, D.I. (2003): The occurrence of bechererite in the British Isles. UK Journal of Mines and Minerals, 23, 37-38.

Internet Links for Bechererite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Bechererite on Google
  • Look for Bechererite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Bechererite on Webmineral
  • Look for Bechererite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Bechererite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Bechererite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Bechererite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • webminerals
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Bechererite specimens
  • Search for - Bechererite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Search for Bechererite on Well-Arranged Molecules
  • Find Bechererite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Bechererite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
    		Elliott, P. (1997): Minerals of the slags from Broken Hill, New South Wales. Australian J. of Mineralogy 3 (1), 77-83.
    M.E. Ciriotti, 2006 (EDS- and XRD-analysed)
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Siegerland
        • Wilnsdorf
    		Mineralien-Welt 17, (4), 36-37
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Genova
          • Varenna Valley
    		Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 22 (3), 39-41.
    Romania
     
    • Bihor Co.
      • Brusturi
    		G.Koller,2009
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Mount's Bay District
          • Perranuthnoe
    		Bechererite from Leadhills, South Lanarkshire and the Charlotte United Mines, Perranuthnoe, Cornwall. UK Journal of Mines & Minerals pp7-8, No28, 2007.
      • Cumbria
        • North and Western Region (Cumberland)
          • Caldbeck Fells
    		UKJMM.23.2003
            • Roughton Gill
    		Pluth, J. J., Steele, I. M., Kampf, A. R. & Green, D. I. (2005): Redgillite, Cu6(OH)10(SO4)•H2O, a new mineral from Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England: description and crystal structure. Mineralogical Magazine, 69, 973-980.
    Tindle, A.G. (2008) Minerals of Britian and Ireland
      • Strathclyde (Lanarkshire)
        • South Lanarkshire
          • Leadhills
            • Mine Hill-Broad Law
    		Bechererite From Leadhills, South Lanarkshire and the Charlotte United Mines, Perranuthnoe, Cornwall. UK Journal of Mines and Minerals pp7-8, No28, 2007.
    • Wales
      • Ceredigion (Dyfed; Cardiganshire)
        • Ceulanymaesmawr
          • Talybont
            • Nant-y-Moch Reservoir area
    		UKJMM.23.2003
    UKJMM.23.2003
        • Trefeirig
          • Pen-bont Rhydybeddau
    		UKJMM.23.2003
        • Upper Llanfihangell-y-Creuddyn
          • Pontrhydygroes
    		UKJMM 17
      • Powys (Montgomeryshire)
        • Llangynog
    		S Rust collection
        • Machynlleth
          • Dylife
    		UKJMM.23.2003
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Maricopa Co.
        • Big Horn Mts
          • Osborn District
            • Tonopah
              • Belmont Mountain
    		Giester, G. and B. Rieck (1996) Bechererite, (Zn,Cu)6Zn2(OH)13[(S,Si)(O,OH)4]2, a novel mineral species from the Tonopah-Belmont mine, Arizona, American Mineralogist: 81: 244-248. Grant, Raymond W., Richard A. Bideaux & Sidney A. Williams (2006), Minerals Added to the Arizona List 1995 to 2005: 1.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
    Current server date and time: 25th May 2013 04:09:05
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds