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Buddingtonite

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Sharon Heights, Menlo Park, San Mateo Co., California, USA
© Caltech




Formula:
(NH
 
4
)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
System:MonoclinicColour:Colorless
Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, EarthyHardness:5½
Member of:Feldspar Group
Name:
Named in 1964 by Richard C. Erd, D. E. White, Joseph J. Fahey, and D. E. Lee in honor of Arthur Francis Buddington [November 29, 1890 Wilmington, Delaware - December 25, 1980 Quincy, Massachusetts]. Buddington was a mineralogist and petrologist, first at the Carnegie Geophysical Laboratory in Washington, DC and later professor at Princeton University, New Jersey.
Isostructural with:Feldspar Group
This page provides mineralogical data about Buddingtonite.

Classification of Buddingtonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered" 1963
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.06-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FA.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
Dana 8th edition ID:76.1.2.1

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
1 : Al-Si Framework with Al-Si frameworks
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.5.3

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
5 : Aluminosilicates of Cs, NH4 and Cu
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Type Occurrence of Buddingtonite

Type Locality:Sulphur Bank Mine (Sulfur Bank Mine; Sulphur Bank deposits), Clear Lake Oaks, Sulphur Creek District (Sulfur Creek District; Wilbur Springs District), Lake Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1964

Physical Properties of Buddingtonite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Comment:Usually very fine grained.
Colour:Colorless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5½
Hardness Data:Estimated
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
{001}, {010}
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.32 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.38 g/cm3

Crystallography of Buddingtonite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2 - Sphenoidal
Space Group:P21 {P1 1 21} {P21} {P1 21 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 8.57Å, b = 13.03Å, c = 7.18Å
β = 112.73°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.658 : 1 : 0.551
Unit Cell Volume:V 739.50 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Usually fine-grained, anhedral. When developed, crystals typical of orthoclase.
Comment:Possibly prismatic class
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
6.52 (100)
5.91 (40)
4.33 (70)
3.81 (100)
3.38 (70)
3.26 (60)
3.23 (70)
3.01 (40)
Comments:17-517

Optical Data of Buddingtonite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.530 nβ = 1.531 nγ = 1.534
2V:Calculated: 60°
Birefringence:0.004
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.004

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:weak
Optical Extinction:X' to a = 0 degrees
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Buddingtonite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Essential elements:Al, H, N, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, N, O, Si
Common Impurities:Mg,Ca,Ba,Na,K

Relationship of Buddingtonite to other Species

Member of:Feldspar Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Albite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Andesine
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Anorthite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Anorthoclase
(Na,K)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
Bytownite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Celsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Dmisteinbergite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Labradorite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Microcline
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Oligoclase
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Orthoclase
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Paracelsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
Sanidine
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
Svyatoslavite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.FA.05Kaliophilite
KAlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Kalsilite
KAlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Nepheline
(Na,K)AlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Panunzite
(Na,K)AlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Trikalsilite
(Na,K)AlSiO
 
4
9.FA.05Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
9.FA.05Megakalsilite
KAlSiO
 
4
9.FA.10Malinkoite
NaBSiO
 
4
9.FA.15Virgilite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.FA.25Lisitsynite
KBSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.FA.30Adularia
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Anorthoclase
(Na,K)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Celsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.30Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Microcline
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Orthoclase
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Sanidine
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Rubicline
(Rb,K)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Monalbite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.35Albite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.35Andesine
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Anorthite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.35Bytownite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Labradorite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Oligoclase
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.40Paracelsian
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.45Svyatoslavite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.45Kumdykolite
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.50Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.55Lisetite
CaNa
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
9.FA.60Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
9.FA.60Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
9.FA.65Danburite
CaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.65Maleevite
BaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.65Pekovite
SrB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.70Lingunite
(Na,Ca)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.75Kokchetavite
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.5.1Pollucite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
) · 2H
 
2
O
16.5.2Nanpingite
CsAl
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH,F)
 
2
16.5.4Ammonioleucite
(NH
 
4
,K)(AlSi
 
2
O
 
6
)
16.5.5Tobelite
(NH
 
4
,K)Al
 
2
(AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
16.5.6Ajoite
(K,Na)Cu
 
7
AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
16.5.7Papagoite
CaCu[H
 
3
AlSi
 
2
O
 
9
]

Other Names for Buddingtonite

Synonyms:
IMA1963-001
Other Languages:
German:Buddingtonit
Russian:Баддингтонит
Spanish:Buddingtonita

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 Buddingtonite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 49: 831-850.

American Mineralogist: 78: 204-209.

Internet Links for Buddingtonite

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

    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.
    Argentina
     
    • Mendoza
      • San Rafael Department
    		RUBINSTEIN, N. y GARGIULO, M.F.. Análisis textural de cuarzo hidrotermal del depósito El Pantanito, provincia de Mendoza: Nuevos aportes sobre su génesis. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2005, vol.60, n.1, pp. 096-103.
    Japan
     
    • Kyushu Region
      • Saga Prefecture
        • Arita
    		Nakagawa et al. (1995) Nendo Kagaku, 35, 1-14.
    New Zealand
     
    • North Island
      • Northland
    		Railton, G.L. & Watters, W.A., Minerals of New Zealand, New Zealand Geological Survey Bull. #104 (1990).
    Ukraine
     
    • Zhytomyr Oblast' (Zhitomir Oblast')
    		Lyckberg, P., Chornousenko, V. & Wilson, W. E. (2009): Volodarsk-Volynski, Zhitomir Oblast, Ukraine. Mineralogical Record, 40, 473-506.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Lake Co.
        • Sulphur Creek District (Sulfur Creek District; Wilbur Springs District)
          • Clear Lake Oaks
    		Erd, R.C., D.E. White, J.J. Fahey & D.E. Lee (1964), Buddingtonite, an ammonium feldspar with zeolitic water: American Mineralogist: 49: 831, 833; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 279, 360.
      • Napa Co.
        • Knoxville District
          • Knoxville
    		Journal of Volcanology & Geothermal Resources 56: 401-414.
      • San Mateo Co.
        • Atherton
    		Pampeyan, E.H. (2010): USGS Open-File Report 10-1053
        • Menlo Park
          • Sharon Heights
    		Pampeyan, E.H. (2010): USGS Open-File Report 10-1053
    Pampeyan, E.H. (2010): USGS Open-File Report 10-1053
    Pampeyan, E.H. (2010): USGS Open-File Report 10-1053
    Pampeyan, E.H. (2010): USGS Open-File Report 10-1053
    Pampeyan, E.H. (2010): USGS Open-File Report 10-1053
        • Palo Alto area
    		Pecora, W.T. and Staff (1965) Mineral Resources. Geological Survey Research, 1965. USGS Professional Paper 525-A, 376 pp.: 6; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 365.
    • Nevada
      • Elko Co.
    		Jour.Volcanology & Geothermal Res. 56:401-414
      • Esmeralda Co.
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Opalite District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • Wyoming
      • Park Co.
        • Yellowstone National Park
          • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
    		2009 Portland GSA Annual Meeting (18-21 October 2009) Paper No. 26-23
    Mineral and/or Locality
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