Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Bikitaite

Big Photo

Foote Lithium Co. Mine (Foote Mine), Kings Mountain District, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA
© 2004 JBS

Show Bikitaite Photos (10)
Formula:
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
·H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Colorless, White
Hardness:6
Name:Named for the type locality at Bikita, Masvingo (Fort Victoria), Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
This page provides mineralogical data about Bikitaite.

Classification of Bikitaite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.15-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GD.55

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
Dana 7th edition ID:77.2.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:77.2.1.1

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
2 : Zeolite group - related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.1.6

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
1 : Aluminosilicates of Li
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-670.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Bikitaite

Type Locality:Nolan property, Bikita, Masvingo (Fort Victoria), Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Physical Properties of Bikitaite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colorless, White
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on the {100}, Good on the {001}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.28 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.3 g/cm3

Crystallography of Bikitaite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pedial
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 8.606Å, b = 4.9573Å, c = 7.597Å
α = 89.89°, β = 114.42°, γ = 89.96°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.736 : 1 : 1.532
Unit Cell Volume:V 295.11 ų
Z:1
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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 Bikitaite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.510 nβ = 1.521 nγ = 1.523
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.013

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Bikitaite

Formula:
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
·H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, Li, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Li, O, Si

Relationship of Bikitaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.GD.05Gmelinite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.05Gmelinite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.05Gmelinite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Willhendersonite
KCa[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca,Sr,Mg)
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.10Chabazite-Sr
Sr
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
9.GD.15Lévyne-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.15Lévyne-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Bellbergite
(K,Ba,Sr)
 
2
Sr
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Ca,Na)
 
4
[Al
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-Ca
(Ca,K
 
2
,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-K
(K
 
2
,Ca,Na
 
2
)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.20Erionite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
2
[Al
 
4
Si
 
14
O
 
36
] · 15H
 
2
O
9.GD.25Offretite
KCaMgAl
 
5
Si
 
13
O
 
36
·16H
 
2
O or near
9.GD.25Wenkite
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Ca,Na)
 
6
[(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(Si,Al)
 
20
O
 
39
(OH)
 
2
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,Ca)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.30Faujasite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,Mg)
 
3.5
[Al
 
7
Si
 
17
O
 
48
] · 32H
 
2
O
9.GD.35Maricopaite
Pb
 
7
Ca
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
48
O
 
100
·32H
 
2
O
9.GD.35Mordenite
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
·7H
 
2
O
9.GD.40Dachiardite-Ca
(Ca,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
·25H
 
2
O
9.GD.40Dachiardite-Na
(Na
 
2
,Ca,K
 
2
)
 
5
Al
 
10
Si
 
38
O
 
96
·25H
 
2
O
9.GD.45Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·5H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-K
(K
 
2
,Na
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-Mg
(Mg,Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
9.GD.50Ferrierite-Na
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Mg,Ca)
 
3-5
Mg[Al
 
5-7
Si
 
27.5-31
O
 
72
]·18H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.1.1Petalite
LiAlSi
 
4
O
 
10
16.1.2Spodumene
LiAl[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.1.3Eucryptite
LiAl[SiO
 
4
]
16.1.4Virgilite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
16.1.5Cookeite
LiAl
 
4
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
16.1.7Lunijianlaite
Li
 
0.7
Al
 
6.2
(Si
 
7
AlO
 
20
)(OH,O)
 
10
16.1.8Swinefordite
Li(Al,Li,Mg)
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
,(OH,F)
 
4
·xH
 
2
O
16.1.9Holmquistite
☐[Li
 
2
][Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
16.1.13Clinoferroholmquistite
[ ][Li
 
2
][Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
16.1.14Magnesioholmquistite
16.1.15Bityite
CaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.1.16Sogdianite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Li,Fe)
 
3
(Zr,Ti,Fe)Si
 
12
O
 
30
16.1.17Sugilite
KNa
 
2
(Fe,Mn,Al)
 
2
Li
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30

Other Names for Bikitaite

German names:
Bikitait
Russian names:
Бикитаит
Spanish names:
Bikitaita

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 Bikitaite

Reference List:Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1986): 241-252.

Comodi, P., G.D. Gatta, & P.F. Zanazzi (2003), Effects of pressure on the structure of bikitaite: European Journal of Mineralogy: 15: 247-255.

Internet Links for Bikitaite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Bikitaite on Google
  • Look for Bikitaite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Bikitaite on Webmineral
  • Look for Bikitaite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Bikitaite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Bikitaite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Bikitaite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Bikitaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Search for Bikitaite on minvision.com
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Search for Bikitaite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Find Bikitaite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Bikitaite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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.
    USA
     
    • North Carolina
      • Cleveland Co.
        • Kings Mountain District
    		Mineralogical Record: 1: 92.
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Masvingo
      • Masvingo (Fort Victoria)
        • Bikita
    		Amer.Min.(1957) 42, 792-797
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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.