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Benstonite

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Big Photo

Minerva No. 1 Mine (Ozark-Mahoning No. 1 Mine) Ozark-Mahoning Group, Cave-in-Rock Sub-District, Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District, Hardin Co., Illinois, USA
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13
System:TrigonalColour:White to Ivory, very ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:3 - 4
Name:Named after Orlando J. Benston (1901-1966), an ore dressing metallurgist with the University of Illinois.
This page provides mineralogical data about Benstonite.

Classification of Benstonite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.03-80
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AB.55

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.2.3.1

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.5.7

11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
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Type Occurrence of Benstonite

Type Locality:Baroid Sales Division pit, Baroid Mine (Chamberlain Creek Barite Mines), Chamberlain Creek Valley, Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co., Arkansas, USA
Year of Discovery:1961

Occurrences of Benstonite

Geological Setting:Barite deposits

Physical Properties of Benstonite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White to Ivory, very pale yellow, pale yellowish brown
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on (31_42)
Density (measured):3.956 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.695 g/cm3

Crystallography of Benstonite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:R3
Cell Parameters:a = 18.280Å, c = 8.652Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.473
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,503.80 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Rhombohedral crystals to 1cm.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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

Optical Data of Benstonite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.690 nε = 1.527
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.163

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

Chemical Properties of Benstonite

Formula:
(Ba,Sr)
 
6
(Ca,Mn)
 
6
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
13
Essential elements:Ba, C, Ca, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:Ba, C, Ca, Mg, Mn, O, Sr

Relationship of Benstonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.AB.05Calcite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.05Gaspéite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)CO
 
3
5.AB.05Magnesite
MgCO
 
3
5.AB.05Otavite
CdCO
 
3
5.AB.05Rhodochrosite
MnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Siderite
FeCO
 
3
5.AB.05Smithsonite
ZnCO
 
3
5.AB.05Spherocobaltite
CoCO
 
3
5.AB.10Ankerite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Dolomite
CaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Kutnohorite
Ca(Mn,Mg,Fe)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.10Minrecordite
CaZn(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.15Aragonite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.15Cerussite
PbCO
 
3
5.AB.15Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
5.AB.15Witherite
BaCO
 
3
5.AB.20Vaterite
CaCO
 
3
5.AB.25Huntite
CaMg
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
5.AB.30Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.35Alstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Olekminskite
Sr(Sr,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.40Paralstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.45Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.50Carbocernaite
(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AB.60Juangodoyite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.5.1Strontianite
SrCO
 
3
11.5.2Witherite
BaCO
 
3
11.5.3Norsethite
BaMg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.4Alstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.5Paralstonite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.5.6Barytocalcite
BaCa(CO
 
3
)
 
2

Other Names for Benstonite

Other Languages:
German:Benstonit
Russian:Бенстонит
Simplified Chinese:菱碱土矿
Spanish:Benstonita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Red or yellow in SW and LW and X-rays.
Red phosphorescence
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 Benstonite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 47: 585-598.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 136: 326-327.

Internet Links for Benstonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Benstonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Specimens:The following Benstonite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
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    • Localities for Benstonite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Yukon Territory
      • Watson Lake Mining District
        • Macmillan Pass
    		Econ Geol (1985) 80:1257-1276
    Econ Geol (1989)84:841-856
    China
     
    • Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
      • Baotou League (Baotou Prefecture)
        • Bayan Obo Mining District
          • Bayan Obo
            • Bayan Obo (Bayun-Obo; Baiyunebo) deposit
    		Youbin Liang, Zhonglong Xu, and Zhiyin Hu (1981): Geology and Prospecting 17(9), 29-33
    India
     
    • Karnataka
      • Jogipatti
    		Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Lucca Province
        • Apuan Alps
          • Stazzema
            • Sant'Anna di Stazzema
    		Biagioni, C. & Orlandi, P. (2010). Cymrite and benstonite from the Monte Arsiccio mine (Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy): first Italian occurrence. Plinius, 36, 365.
    Namibia
     
    • Karas Region
      • Lüderitz District
        • Rosh Pinah
    		Econ Geol (1985) 80:1257-1276
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Vitim Plateau
            • Biraya and Bya Rivers confluence area (Chara Basin)
              • Biraya Fe-REE ore occurrence
    		C. Lemanski, Jr. (re-entry of lost Mindat data).
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
    		[World of Stones 12:49]
    Sweden
     
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
    		Nysten, P., Holtstam, D. and Jonsson, E. (1999) The Långban minerals. In Långban - The mines,their minerals, geology and explorers (D. Holtstam and J. Langhof, eds.), Swedish Museum of Natural History and Raster Förlag, Stockholm & Chr. Weise Verlag, Munich, pp. 89-183.
    USA
     
    • Arkansas
      • Hot Spring Co.
        • Magnet Cove
          • Chamberlain Creek Valley
    		Rocks & Min.:63:108; Scull(1959).
    American Mineralogist: 47: 585-598.
    Smith, A.E., Jr., 1996: Collecting Arkansas Minerals: A Reference and Guide
    • Illinois
      • Hardin Co.
        • Illinois - Kentucky Fluorspar District
          • Cave-in-Rock Sub-District
    		Mineralogical Record, v. 28, no. 1, 1997
    Rocks & Minerals: 63: 217.; Mineralogical Record (1997) 28:3-49
    • Texas
      • Houston Co.
    		R&M 66:3 pp 196-224
    R&M 66:3 pp 196-224
    R&M 66:3 pp 196-224
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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. 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.
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