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Billietite

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Krunkelbach Valley Uranium deposit, Menzenschwand, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

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Formula:
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 4-8H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Yellow to golden-yellow, ...
Name:For Valère Louis Billiet (1903-1944), Belgian crystallographer, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Billietite.

Classification of Billietite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/H.03-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.GB.10

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
Dana 8th edition ID:5.7.1.3

5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
7 : AX6O19·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.16.15

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
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Type Occurrence of Billietite

Type Locality:Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (No. 104455);
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 160496)
Geological Setting of type material:An alteration product of uraninite

Occurrences of Billietite

Geological Setting:An uncommon alteration product of uraninite

Physical Properties of Billietite

Lustre:Adamantine
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Yellow to golden-yellow, amber-yellow, orange-yellow
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
on {001}, imperfect on {110} and {010}
Density (measured):5.28 - 5.36 g/cm3
Density (calculated):5.3 g/cm3

Crystallography of Billietite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 12.072Å, b = 30.167Å, c = 7.1455Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.4 : 1 : 0.237
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,602.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals pseudohexagonal, tabular on {001}, may be elongated along [110], to 5 mm
Twinning:Very common, on {110} and {111}, the latter producing sector-twinned aragonite-like groups
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
7.53 (10)
3.77 (9)
3.17 (8)
2.03 (6)
3.54 (5)
2.49 (4)
2.56 (3)
Comments:Recorded on material from Shinkolobwe, Congo

Optical Data of Billietite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.725 - 1.730 nβ = 1.780 - 1.822 nγ = 1.790 - 1.829
2V:Measured: 36°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.065 - 0.099

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r > v, very strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = colourless to pale yellow; Y = Z = greenish yellow to deep golden yellow, amber-brown
Orientation: X = c, Y = a, Z = b

Chemical Properties of Billietite

Formula:
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 4-8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ba, H, O, U
All elements listed in formula:Ba, H, O, U
Analytical Data:Chemical analysis of material from Shaba Province, Congo
UO3  (82.76)
SiO2  (0.76)
CaO   (0.30)
BaO   (6.88)
H2O   (8.97)

sum   99.67 wt.-%
Common Impurities:Ca,Si

Relationship of Billietite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.GB.05Agrinierite
K
 
2
(Ca,Sr)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.GB.05Compreignacite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 7H
 
2
O
4.GB.05Rameauite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(OH)
 
16
 · H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Becquerelite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 8H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Protasite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.15Richetite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
4
O
 
5
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Bauranoite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Calciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Metacalciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb,K
 
2
)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 2H
 
2
O
4.GB.25Fourmarierite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
4
O
 
3
(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.GB.30Wölsendorfite
(Pb,Ca)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 2H
 
2
O
4.GB.35Masuyite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.40Metavandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
 · nH
 
2
O n < 12
4.GB.40Vandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
 · 12H
 
2
O
4.GB.45Vandenbrandeite
Cu(UO
 
2
)(OH)
 
4
4.GB.50Sayrite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.GB.55Curite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
8
O
 
8
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.60Iriginite
(UO
 
2
)Mo
 
2
O
 
7
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.65Uranosphaerite
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)
4.GB.70Holfertite
Ca
 
x
U
6+
2-x
Ti(O
 
8-x
OH
 
4x
) · 3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
7.16.1Uraninite
UO
 
2
7.16.2Schoepite
(UO
 
2
)
 
8
O
 
2
(OH)
 
12
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.16.3Paraschoepite
UO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.16.4Metaschoepite
UO
 
3
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
7.16.5Metastudtite
UO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.16.6Studtite
[(UO
 
2
)(O
 
2
)(H
 
2
O)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
7.16.7Ianthinite
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
5
O
 
7
 · 10H
 
2
O
7.16.8Compreignacite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.16.9Vandenbrandeite
Cu(UO
 
2
)(OH)
 
4
7.16.10Roubaultite
Cu
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(OH)
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.16.11Becquerelite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.16.12Rameauite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(OH)
 
16
 · H
 
2
O
7.16.13Agrinierite
K
 
2
(Ca,Sr)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.16.14Protasite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.16.16Bauranoite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
7.16.17Metacalciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb,K
 
2
)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.16.18Calciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.16.19Orthobrannerite
U
4+
 
U
6+
 
Ti
 
4
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
7.16.20Thorutite
(Th,U,Ca)Ti
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
7.16.21Davidite-(La)
(La,Ce)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
 
20
(O,OH)
 
38
7.16.22Davidite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
 
20
(O,OH)
 
38
7.16.23Brannerite
(U
4+
 
,REE,Th,Ca)(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
7.16.24Fourmarierite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
4
O
 
3
(OH)
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.16.25Richetite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
4
O
 
5
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.16.26Curite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
8
O
 
8
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.16.27Masuyite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.16.28Vandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.16.29Metavandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
 · nH
 
2
O n < 12
7.16.30Sayrite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.16.31Wölsendorfite
(Pb,Ca)U
 
2
O
 
7
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.16.32Clarkeite
(Na,Ca,Pb)(UO
 
2
)O(OH) · 0-1H
 
2
O
7.16.33Uranosphaerite
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)

Other Names for Billietite

Other Languages:
German:Billietit
Russian:Биллиетит
Simplified Chinese:黄钡铀矿
Spanish:Billietita

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 Billietite

Reference List:

- +
Vaes, J. F. (1947): Six nouveaux minéraux d'urane provenant de Shinkolobwe (Katanga). Annales de la Société Géologique Belge 70, B212-B229, esp. B214-B217 (in French). - Mineralogical Abstracts (1947), 10, 146 (abstract). - American Mineralogist (1948), 33, 384 (abstract).

Frondel, J. W. and Cuttitta, F. (1953): Studies of uranium minerals (XII): the status of billietite and becquerelite. American Mineralogist 38, 1019-1024.

Frondel, C. (1958): Systematic mineralogy of uranium and thorium. U.S. Geol. Sur. Bull. 1064, 68-72.

Christ, C. L. and Clark, J. R. (1960): Crystal chemical studies of some uranyl oxide hydrates. American Mineralogist 45, 1026-1061.

Pagoaga, M. K., Appleman, D. E. and Stewart, J. M. (1987): Crystal structures and crystal chemistry of the uranyl oxide hydrates becquerelite, billietite, and protasite. American Mineralogist 72, 1230-1238.

Vochten, R. and van Haverbeeke, L. (1990): Transformation of schoepite into the uranyl oxide hydrates: becquerelite, billietite and wölsendorfite. Mineralogy and Petrology 43, 65-72.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 56.

Burns, P. C. (2005) U6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. Canadian Mineralogist 43, 1839-1894.

Internet Links for Billietite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Billietite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Billietite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Flinders Ranges
        • North Flinders Ranges
          • Arkaroola Region (Arkaroola Station)
            • Mt Painter area
    		2003, Brugger, J., Ansermet, S. & Pring, A. ' Uranium minerals from Mt Painter, Northern Flinders ranges, South Australia' Australian Journal of Mineralogy, vol. 9, n°1, pp 15-31
    China
     
    • Liaoning Province (Manchuria; Dongbei Region)
      • Benxi Prefecture
        • Nanfen District
    		Dahlkamp, F.J. (2009): Uranium Deposits of the World. Springer (Berlin, Heidelberg), pp. 31-156
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Hradec Králové Region
        • Krkonoše Mts (Riesengebirge)
          • Špindlerův Mlýn
    		Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1)
      • Ústí Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Dubí
    		Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1)]
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Vysočina Region
        • Nové Město na Moravě
    		Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1)
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Kolwezi District
          • Kamoto
    		B Thorne collection
    Specimen in the collection of Brent Thorne
          • Kolwezi
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 56
        • Lubumbashi (Elizabethville)
        • Shinkolobwe
    		Mineralogical Record: 8: 390; Mineralogical Record: 9: 33; Mineralogical Record: 20: 278.
        • Swambo
    France
     
    • Alsace
      • Haut-Rhin
        • Thur valley (Thann valley)
          • Kruth
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV (1998)
    • Brittany
      • Côtes-d'Armor
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
        • Collinée
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    • Burgundy
      • Nièvre
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Hérault
        • Lodève
    		[Le Règne Minéral 1997, 13, p.5-18]
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Compreignac
    		P Haas collection
        • Saint-Sylvestre
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 56
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Loire
        • Saint-Just-en-Chevalet
          • Saint-Priest-la-Prugne
            • Les Bois-Noirs Mining Claim
    		Denis Vernet - personnal
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Menzenschwand
    		Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
            • Böckelsbach valley
    		No reference listed
            • Burgfelsen
    		No reference listed
            • Heubach Valley
    		No reference listed
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		KOLITSCH, U. (1997): Ianthinit und weitere Neufunde aus der Grube Clara im mittleren Schwarzwald. - Erzgräber 11 (2), 76-88; WALENTA, K. (1999): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara. 8. Folge, 1. Teil. Lapis 24 (11), 34-37.
    • Bavaria
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Schwandorf
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 56
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Bad Kreuznach
        • Niederhausen
          • Lemberg
    		N. Jb. Miner. Abh. 115, 1-30 (1971)
    • Saxony
      • Vogtland
        • Zobes-Bergen District
          • Bergen U deposit
            • Bergen
    		Schnorrer-Köhler, G. (1991): Mineralogische Notizen V. Aufschluss 42, 155-171.; Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Italy
     
    • Trentino-Alto Adige
      • Trento Province
        • Condino
    		Campostrini, I., Demartin, F., & Gramaccioli, C. M. (2006). Rio Giulis. Minerali secondari del giacimento uranifero presso Condino, Trento. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 30(3), 152-165.
        • Rendena Valley
    		Vincentini M. (1980): Primo ritrovamento di Billietite in Italia - Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, Milano, fasc. 4, pp. 129-130
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Lleida (Lérida)
        • El Pallars Jussà
          • La Torre de Cabdella
            • La Plana de Mont-ros
              • Castell-estaó
    		MTI Mineralogía Topográfica Ibérica, 2009
    Sweden
     
    • Dalsland
      • Bengtsfors
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Anniviers Valley
        • Saint-Luc
    		Wulser P.A. et al. 2005, Eur. J. Mineral. 17, 933-942
      • Le Trient Valley
        • Les Marécottes
    Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Verlag Wepf & Co. (Basel), p. 77
    USA
     
    • Pennsylvania
      • Carbon Co.
        • Jim Thorpe (Mauch Chunk)
    		Geyer, A.R., Smith, R.C. & Barnes, J.H. (1976) Mineral Collecting in Pennsylvania.
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 56
    • Utah
      • Emery Co.
        • San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell)
          • Delta
    		Min News 16:1 p1
    Mineral and/or Locality
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