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Benitoite

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Dallas Gem Mine (Benitoite Mine; Benitoite Gem Mine), New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA
© 1995-2001 Trinity Mineral Co.

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Formula:
BaTi[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
System:HexagonalColour:Sapphire blue, white to ...
Hardness:6 - 6½
Name:After the type locality in San Benito County, California, USA.


Benitoite Group. The titanium analogue of Pabstite.

Classification of Benitoite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CA.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
A : [Si3O9]6- 3-membered single rings (dreier-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
Dana 8th edition ID:59.1.1.2

59 : CYCLOSILICATES Three-Membered Rings
1 : Three-Membered Rings, anhydrous, no other anions
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.9.9

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
9 : Silicates of Ti
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Type Occurrence of Benitoite

Type Locality:Dallas Gem Mine (Benitoite Mine; Benitoite Gem Mine), New Idria District, Diablo Range, San Benito Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1907

Physical Properties of Benitoite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Sapphire blue, white to colorless, pink
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 6½
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {1011}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.65 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.68 g/cm3

Crystallography of Benitoite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6 m2 - Ditrigonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P62c
Cell Parameters:a = 6.641Å, c = 9.7597(10) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.47
Unit Cell Volume:V 372.76 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Flat pyramidal crystals
Twinning:By rotation around [0001]
Crystal Atlas:
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Benitoite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Benitoite no.9 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Benitoite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.756 - 1.757 nε = 1.802 - 1.804
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.046

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:O= colorless
E= purple, indigo, greenish blue

Chemical Properties of Benitoite

Formula:
BaTi[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
Essential elements:Ba, O, Si, Ti
All elements listed in formula:Ba, O, Si, Ti
Common Impurities:Na

Relationship of Benitoite to other Species

Member of Group:
Benitoite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.CA.05Bazirite
BaZr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.CA.05Pabstite
Ba(Sn,Ti)[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.CA.10Wadeite
K
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.CA.15Calciocatapleiite
CaZrSi
 
3
O
 
9
·2H
 
2
O
9.CA.15Catapleiite
Na
 
2
Zr[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]·2H
 
2
O
9.CA.20Pseudowollastonite
CaSiO
 
3
9.CA.25Margarosanite
Pb(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.CA.25Walstromite
BaCa
 
2
[Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.CA.30Bobtraillite
(Na,Ca)
 
13
Sr
 
11
(Zr,Y,Nb)
 
14
[(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
10
|(H
 
2
BSi
 
2
O
 
9
)
 
6
] · 12H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.9.1Natisite
Na
 
2
Ti[O|SiO
 
4
]
14.9.2Lorenzenite
Na
 
2
Ti
 
2
[O
 
3
|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.9.3Lintisite
LiNa
 
3
Ti
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
14.9.4Davanite
K
 
2
TiSi
 
6
O
 
15
14.9.5Kazakovite
Na
 
6
Ti[Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
]
14.9.6Titanite
CaTi[O|SiO
 
4
]
14.9.7Ohmilite
Sr
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)[(O,OH)|(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
 
2
] · 2-3H
 
2
O
14.9.8Lamprophyllite
(Sr,K,Ba)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Ti
 
2
[O|(O,OH,F)|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
14.9.10Batisite
Na
 
2
BaTi
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
14.9.11Fresnoite
Ba
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.9.12Joaquinite-(Ce)
Ba
 
2
NaCe
 
2
FeTi
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH,F) · H
 
2
O
14.9.13Orthojoaquinite-(Ce)
Ba
 
2
NaCe
 
2
FeTi
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(O,OH) · H
 
2
O
14.9.14Strontiojoaquinite
Sr
 
2
Ba
 
2
(Na,Fe)
 
2
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
14.9.15Bario-orthojoaquinite
(Ba,Sr)
 
4
Fe
 
2
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
·H
 
2
O
14.9.16Strontio-orthojoaquinite
Sr
 
2
Ba
 
2
(Na,Fe)
 
2
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
14.9.17Bafertisite
Ba(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|(O,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.9.18Hejtmanite
Ba(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|(OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.9.19Delindeite
(Na,K)
 
2.7
(Ba,Ca)
 
4
(Ti,Fe,Al)
 
6
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
14
14.9.20Barytolamprophyllite
(Ba,Na)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Ti
 
2
[O|(OH,F)|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
14.9.21Trimounsite-(Y)
Y
 
2
Ti
 
2
[O
 
5
|SiO
 
4
]
14.9.22Perrierite-(Ce)
Ce
 
4
MgFe
3+
2
Ti
4+
2
O
 
8
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
14.9.23Chevkinite
(Ca,Ce,Th)
 
4
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Ti,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
22
14.9.24Strontiochevkinite
(Sr,La,Ce,Ca)
 
4
Fe
3+
 
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
14.9.25Tisinalite
Na
 
3
H
 
3
(Mn,Ca,Fe)TiSi
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
·2H
 
2
O
14.9.26Neptunite
Na
 
2
KLi(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
14.9.27Manganoneptunite
Na
 
2
KLi(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
14.9.28Kupletskite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
4
F
14.9.29Astrophyllite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
7
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH)
 
7
14.9.30Hydroastrophyllite
(H
 
3
O,K,Ca)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
5-65
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
31
14.9.31Magnesioastrophyllite
(Na,K)
 
4
Mg
 
2
(Fe,Fe,Mn)
 
5
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
14.9.32Baratovite
KCa
 
7
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
36
F
 
2
14.9.34Aenigmatite
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
5
TiO
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
14.9.35Schorlomite
Ca
 
3
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)O
 
4
]
 
3
14.9.36Tinaksite
K
 
2
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
14.9.37Janhaugite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
(Ti,Zr,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
15
(OH,F,O)
 
3
14.9.38Koashvite
Na
 
6
(Ca,Mn)(Ti,Fe)Si
 
6
O
 
18
·H
 
2
O

Other Names for Benitoite

Synonyms:
Benitoide
Other Languages:
Dutch:Benitoiet
Finnish:Benitoiitti
French:Benitoïte
German:Benitoit
Italian:Benitoite
Lithuanian:Benitoitas
Polish:Benitoit
Portuguese:Benitoíte
Russian:Бенитоит
Spanish:Benitoita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Invariably fluorescent blue in SW UV.
Other Information:Cathodoluminescent
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 Benitoite

Reference List:Louderback, G.D. & W.C. Blasdale (1907), Benitoite, a new California gem mineral, with chemical analysis by Walter C. Blasdale, University of California, Department of Geological Science Bull.: 5: 149-153.

Kraus, E.H. (1908), Interpretation of the chemical composition of the mineral benitoite, Science, new series: 7: 710-711.

Louderback, G.D. & W.C. Blasdale (1908), Benitoite, its mineralogy, paragenesis, and geological occurrence (abstract), Science, new series: 27: 411.

Louderback, G. D. (1910): Benitoite, its Paragenesis and Mode of Occurrence. Univ. Calif. Pub. 5, 331.

Blasdale, W.C. (1908), Chemical formula of the mineral benitoite: Science, new series: 28: 233-234.

Hlawatsch, C. (1909), Bemerkungen, von über die Krystallklasse des Benitoit: Tschermak's Mitt., Band 28, pp. 178-181, 1909…(abstract): Zeitschr. Kristallographic, Band 50, p. 617, 1912.

Hlawatsch, C. (1909), Die Kristalform des Benitoit: Centralbl. Mineralogie, 1909, pp. 293-302, 410.

Hlawatsch, C. (1909), Bemerkungen über den Benitoit: Zeitschr. Kristallographic, Band 46, p. 602, 1909.

Louderback, G.D. & W.C. Blasdale (1909), Benitoite, its paragenesis and mode of occurrence, University of California, Departmenty of Geologic Science Bull.: 5: 331-380.

Palache, Charles (1909), Note on a crystal form of benitoite: Am. Jour. Sci., 4th. series: 27: 398; …(abstract): Zeitschr. Kristallographie, Band 46: 379.

Valeton, J.J.P. (1927), Über die Struktur des Benitoits: Fortschr. Mineralogie, Band 12: 91-92.

Zachariasen, W.H. (1930), The crystal structure of benitoite, BaTiSi3O9: Zeitschr. Kristallographie, Band 74: 139-146

Fischer, K. (1969), Verfeinerung der Kristallstructur von Benitoite: Zeits. Krist.: 129: 222-243.

Laird, J. & A.L. Albee (1972), Chemical composition and physical, optical, and structural properties of benitoite, neptunite and joaquinite: American Mineralogist: 57: 85-102.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1987): 16-30.

Gaft, M., Nagli, L., Waychunas, G., and Weiss, D. (2004) The nature of blue luminescence from natural benitoite BaTiSi3O9. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 31: 365-373.

Articles/Blogs about Benitoite

Article entries:
The Care and Feeding of Your Benitoite SpecimenRick Kennedy

Internet Links for Benitoite

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    Localities for Benitoite

    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.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Niigata Prefecture
          • Itoigawa
    		The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) Matsubara
    USA
     
    • Arkansas
      • Hot Spring Co.
        • Magnet Cove
    		Barwood, H (1995), Benitoite and Joaquinite in Arkansas, Min.News: 11(5):2, 5.
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Big Creek
    		[MinRec 33:161]
        • Rush Creek
      • Kern Co.
        • Lost Hills
    		Reed, Ralph Daniel & J.P. Bailey (1927), Subsurface correlation by means of heavy minerals: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin: 11: 363; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 288; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California: 466, 484.
    Reed, Ralph Daniel & J.P. Bailey (1927), Subsurface correlation by means of heavy minerals: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin: 11: 363; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 102.
      • Mariposa Co.
        • Incline
    		[MinRec 30:414]
    No reference listed
        • Diablo Range
          • New Idria District
            • Clear Creek area
    		American Mineralogist, Volume 69, pages 358-373, 1984
    NJMMh, 16 (1987) / Wise, W.S & Gill, R.H. (1977): Minerals of the Benitoite Gem mine. Mineralogical Record 8, 442-452
    www.benitoitemine.com
    No reference listed
    • Montana
      • Meagher Co.
    		Chakhmouradian A.R. & Mitchell R.H. (2002) The mineralogy of Ba- and Zr-rich alkaline pegmatites from Gordon Butte, Crazy Mountains (Montana, USA): comparisons between potassic and sodic agpaitic pegmatites. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 143, 93-114. ; Chakhmouradian, A. R. & Mitchell, R. H. (2002): The mineralogy of Ba- and Zr-rich alkaline pegmatites from Gordon Butte, Crazy Mountains (Montana, USA): comparisons between potassic and sodic agpaitic pegmatites. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 143, 93-114.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the 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 hundreds of members and supporters. 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 Oct 2009 07:52:43