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Bertossaite

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Buranga pegmatite, Gatumba District, Western Province, Rwanda
© 2007, JGW

Formula:
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale pink
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6


Bertossaite-Palermoite Series. The calcium analogue of Palermoite

Classification of Bertossaite

IMA status:Approved 1965
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.28-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BH.25

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
H : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 = 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.7.1.2

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.8.5

19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Bertossaite

Type Locality:Buranga pegmatite, Gatumba District, Western Province, Rwanda
Year of Discovery:1966

Physical Properties of Bertossaite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Pale pink
Hardness (Mohs):6

Crystallography of Bertossaite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.48Å, b = 15.73Å, c = 7.23Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.73 : 1 : 0.46
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,305.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Bertossaite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.624 nβ = 1.636 nγ = 1.642
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.018

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

Chemical Properties of Bertossaite

Formula:
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
4
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, Li, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, F, Fe, H, Li, Mn, Na, O, P
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn

Relationship of Bertossaite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Palermoite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BH.05Thadeuite
Ca(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BH.10Durangite
NaAl[F|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.10Isokite
CaMg[F|PO
 
4
]
8.BH.10Lacroixite
NaAl[F|PO
 
4
]
8.BH.10Maxwellite
NaFe
3+
 
[F|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.10Panasqueiraite
CaMg[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
8.BH.10Tilasite
CaMg[F|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.15Drugmanite
Pb(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BH.20Bjarebyite
(Ba,Sr)(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
8.BH.20Cirrolite
near Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
8.BH.20Kulanite
Ba(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
8.BH.20Penikisite
Ba(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
8.BH.20Perloffite
Ba(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
8.BH.20Johntomaite
BaFe
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
8.BH.25Palermoite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
4
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
(OH)
 
4
8.BH.30Carminite
PbFe
3+
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BH.30Sewardite
CaFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
8.BH.35Adelite
CaMg[AsO
 
4
](OH)
8.BH.35Arsendescloizite
PbZn[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Austinite
CaZn[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Cobaltaustinite
CaCo[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Conichalcite
CaCu[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Duftite
PbCu[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Gabrielsonite
PbFe[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Nickelaustinite
Ca(Ni,Zn)[OH|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Tangeite
CaCu[OH|VO
 
4
]
8.BH.35Gottlobite
CaMg[OH|(VO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)]
8.BH.40Čechite
Pb(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)[OH|VO
 
4
]
8.BH.40Descloizite
Pb(Zn,Cu)[OH|VO
 
4
]
8.BH.40Mottramite
Pb(Cu,Zn)[OH|VO
 
4
]
8.BH.40Pyrobelonite
PbMn
2+
 
[OH|VO
 
4
]
8.BH.45Bayldonite
Cu
 
3
Pb[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BH.45Vésigniéite
BaCu
 
3
[OH|VO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BH.50Paganoite
NiBi[O|AsO
 
4
]
8.BH.55Jagowerite
BaAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.BH.60Attakolite
(Ca,Sr)Mn(Al,Fe)
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)|(HPO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
8.BH.65Leningradite
PbCu
 
3
[Cl|VO
 
4
]
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.8.1Montebrasite
LiAl[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.8.2Brazilianite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.8.3Wardite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.4Tancoite
LiNa
 
2
Al[OH|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
19.8.6Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.7Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
OH·9H
 
2
O
19.8.8Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
[(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.9Gordonite
MgAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.8.10Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
11
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 32H
 
2
O
19.8.11Overite
CaMgAl[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.8.12Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.14Foggite
CaAl[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.15Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.16Crandallite
CaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.17Matulaite
CaAl
 
18
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
4
 · 28H
 
2
O
19.8.19Lehiite
19.8.20Millisite
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
[(OH)
 
9
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.21Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
7
 · 26H
 
2
O
19.8.22Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.23Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 15H
 
2
O
19.8.24Paulkerrite
K(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O

Other Names for Bertossaite

Synonyms:
IMA1965-038
Other Languages:
German:Bertossait
Spanish:Bertossaita

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 Bertossaite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 52: 1583.

Internet Links for Bertossaite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Bertossaite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Bertossaite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Bertossaite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Bertossaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Find Bertossaite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
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  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
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    Localities for Bertossaite

    (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
     
    • Victoria
      • East Gippsland Shire
        • Omeo
          • Mt Wills Mining District
            • Glen Wills
    		Museum Victoria Natural Sciences Collection
    China
     
    • Fujian Province
      • Nanping Prefecture
        • Zhenghe Co.
    		Huan Hu, Rucheng Wang, Fontan, F., Aicheng Zhang, and Jiadeng Chen (2007): Presented at the International Symposium: Granitic Pegmatites: The State of the Art, May 06–12, 2007, Porto, Portugal.
    Rwanda
     
    • Western Province
      • Gatumba District
    		[Nickel & Nichols, 1991 - "Mineral Reference Manual", p21]
    F. Hatert, P. Lefèvre, A.M. Fransolet, M.R. Spirlet, F. Fontan, P. Keller : "Ferrorosemaryite, []NaFe2+Fe3+Al(PO4)3, a new phosphate mineral from the Rubindi pegmatite, Rwanda", Bull. Liaison S.F.M.C., Vol. 16, 2004, pp 44-45.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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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: 29th Oct 2009 02:49:09