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Betpakdalite

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Sadisdorf, Schmiedeberg, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
{Mg(H
 
2
O)
 
6
}Ca
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
13
[Mo
6+
8
As
5+
2
Fe
3+
3
O
 
36
(OH)](H
 
2
O)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Yellow
Lustre:WaxyHardness:3
Name:After the locality, the Kara-Oba West deposit, Betpakdala Desert (Bet-Pak-Dal Desert), Qaraghandy Oblysy, Kazakhstan.


Betpakdalite Group.

Classification of Betpakdalite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.33-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DM.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
M : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 > 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:49.4.1.1

49 : HYDRATED MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
4 : Compound Molybdates and Tungstates
Hey's CIM Ref.:22.5.8

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
5 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chromate, molybdate, niobate or tantalate
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Type Occurrence of Betpakdalite

Type Locality:Kara-Oba W deposit, Betpakdala Desert (Bet-Pak-Dal Desert), Qaraghandy Oblysy (Karaganda Oblast'), Kazakhstan
Year of Discovery:1961

Physical Properties of Betpakdalite

Lustre:Waxy
Colour:Yellow
Hardness (Mohs):3

Crystallography of Betpakdalite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.1Å, b = 19.44Å, c = 22.93Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.571 : 1 : 1.18
Unit Cell Volume:V 0.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Betpakdalite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.782 nβ = 1.797 nγ = 1.850
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.068

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

Chemical Properties of Betpakdalite

Formula:
{Mg(H
 
2
O)
 
6
}Ca
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
13
[Mo
6+
8
As
5+
2
Fe
3+
3
O
 
36
(OH)](H
 
2
O)
 
4
Essential elements:As, Ca, Fe, H, Mg, Mo, O
All elements listed in formula:As, Ca, Fe, H, Mg, Mo, O

Relationship of Betpakdalite to other Species

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

- +
8.DM.05Morinite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
[(F,OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DM.05Esperanzaite
NaCa
 
2
Al
 
2
[F
 
4
|OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DM.10Clinotyrolite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
[(OH,O)
 
10
|(AsO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 10H
 
2
O
8.DM.10Tyrolite
Ca
 
2
Cu
 
9
[(OH)
 
4
|(H
 
2
O)
 
11
|CO
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 0-1H
 
2
O
8.DM.15Melkovite
CaFeH
 
6
(MoO
 
4
)
 
4
PO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O or near·
8.DM.15Natrobetpakdalite
(Na
 
2
,Ca)Fe
 
2
(As
 
2
Mo
 
6
O
 
28
)·15H
 
2
O
8.DM.20Phosphovanadylite
(Ba,Ca,K,Na)x[(V,Al)4P2(O,OH)16]·12(H2O) x~0.66
8.DM.25Yukonite
Ca
 
3
Fe
3+
 
[(OH)
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DM.30Uduminelite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
12
·2H
 
2
O
8.DM.35Delvauxite
CaFe
 
4
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
·4-6H
 
2
O not confirmed·
8.DM.40Santafeite
(Ca,Sr,Na)
 
12
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al,Mg)
 
8
Mn
4+
8
(VO
 
4
)
 
16
(OH,O)
 
20
 · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
22.5.1Vauquelinite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|PO
 
4
|CrO
 
4
]
22.5.2Embreyite
Pb
 
5
[PO
 
4
|CrO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
22.5.3Cassedanneite
Pb
 
5
[VO
 
4
|CrO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
22.5.4Fornacite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|AsO
 
4
|CrO
 
4
]
22.5.5Molybdofornacite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)|(MoO
 
4
,CrO
 
4
)]
22.5.6Mendozavilite
Na(Ca,Mg)
 
2
[Fe
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(PMo
 
11
O
 
39
)(OH,Cl)
 
10
]·33H
 
2
O
22.5.7Paramendozavilite
NaAl
 
4
[Fe
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
5
(PMo
 
12
O
 
40
)(OH)
 
16
]·56H
 
2
O
22.5.9Natrobetpakdalite
(Na
 
2
,Ca)Fe
 
2
(As
 
2
Mo
 
6
O
 
28
)·15H
 
2
O
22.5.10Obradovicite
H
 
4
(K,Na)CuFe
 
2
AsO
 
4
(MoO
 
4
)
 
5
·12H
 
2
O
22.5.11Melkovite
CaFeH
 
6
(MoO
 
4
)
 
4
PO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O or near·
22.5.12Rankachite
(V
4+
 
,V
5+
 
)(W
6+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
8
(OH)•(Ca
 
x
H
 
2
O
 
y
) with x ~ 0.5, y ~ 2.
22.5.13Olmsteadite
KFe
2+
2
(Nb
5+
 
,Ta
5+
 
)[O|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
22.5.14Johnwalkite
K(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Nb
5+
 
,Ta
5+
 
)[O|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)

Other Names for Betpakdalite

Other Languages:
German:Betpakdalit
Russian:Бетпакдалит
Spanish:Betpakdalita

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 Betpakdalite

Reference List:Ermilova, L. P. & Senderova, V. M. (1961): Betpakdalite, a new mineral from the oxidation zone of the wolframite ore deposit of Karaoba (Central Kazakhstan). Zapiski Vserossiiskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva 90, 425-430. (in Russian)

American Mineralogist: 47: 172.

Schmetzer, K., Nuber, B. & Tremmel, G. (1984): Betpakdalite from Tsumeb, Namibia: mineralogy, crystal chemistry and structure. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1984, 393-403. (in German.)

American Mineralogist: 70: 1333.

Moore, P. B. (1992): Betpakdalite unmasked, and a comment on bond valences. Australian Journal of Chemistry 45, 1335-1354.

American Mineralogist: 78: 849.

Cooper, M. A. & Hawthorne, F. C. (1999): The crystal structure of betpakdalite, and a new chemical formula: {Mg (H2O)6} Ca2 (H2O)13 [Mo6+8 As5+2 Fe3+3 O36 (OH)] (H2O)4. Canadian Mineralogist: 37, 61-66.

Internet Links for Betpakdalite

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    Localities for Betpakdalite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Gough Co.
        • Elsmore
    		No reference listed
        • Kingsgate
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Chuquicamata District
    • Atacama Region
      • Copiapó Province
        • Tierra Amarilla
          • Pampa Larga district
    		analysed with Edx, Pdf and Microprobe (by dr. Jochen Scluter)
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Horní Slavkov (Schlaggenwald)
          • Krásno
    		Sejkora, J., Ondruš, P., Fikar, M., Veselovský, F., Mach, Z., Gabašová, A., Skoda, R. & Beran, P. (2006): Supergene minerals at the Huber stock and Schnöd stock deposits, Krásno ore District, the Slavkovský les area, Czech Republic. Journal of the Czech Geological Society 51, 57-101.
      • Ústí Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Krupka (Graupen)
            • Knöttel (Knötel; Knödel) area
    		Lapis 23(4), 18-34 (1998)
    France
     
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Nantiat
          • Vaulry
    		[MinRec 23:434]
    Queneau Patrice collection MinRec 23:434
    Germany
     
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Schmiedeberg
    		Thomas Witzke
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chugoku region
        • Hiroshima prefecture
          • Ikuchi Island
    		The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed) Matsubara
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Qaraghandy Oblysy (Karaganda Oblast')
      • Betpakdala Desert (Bet-Pak-Dal Desert)
    		[Nickel & Nichols, 1991 - "Mineral Reference Manual", p22]; Ermilova, L. P. & Senderova, V. M. (1961): Betpakdalite, a new mineral from the oxidation zone of the wolframite ore deposit of Karaoba (Central Kazakhstan). Zapiski Vserossiiskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva 90, 425-430. (in Russian)
    • Zhezqazghan Oblysy (Dzezkazgan Oblast'; Dzhezkazgan Oblast'; Djezkazgan Oblast'; Jezkazgan Oblast')
      • Balqash (Balkhash; Karatas; Prebalkhashie) Region
        • Chu-Ili Mts
          • Alakol' Lake
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    Namibia
     
    • Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region
      • Tsumeb
    		Schmetzer, K. et al., Neues Jahrbuch Min., Monarshefte 1984, 393-403
    Mineral and/or Locality
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