Burtite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Burtite
Donald L. Burt
Formula:
Ca[Sn(OH)6]
Colour:
colorless, pale yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.28
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named after Dr. Donald McLain Burt (1943– ), Professor of Mineralogy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA, authority on mineral equilibria in skarn and greisen deposits, who had predicted the natural occurrence of the compound.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
808
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:808:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
7967f31e-1159-4058-9ffe-d4e7baf9352d
IMA Classification of Burtite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CaSn4+(OH)6
Approval year:
1980
Classification of Burtite
4.FC.10
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
C : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
C : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing octahedra
6.3.6.5
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
3 : X(OH)3
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
3 : X(OH)3
7.11.5
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
11 : Oxides of Sn and Pb
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
11 : Oxides of Sn and Pb
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Bu | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Burtite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
surface typically earthy due to alteration.
Colour:
colorless, pale yellow
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Pseudocubic, good.
Pseudocubic, good.
Density:
3.28(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.22 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Burtite
Type:
Isotropic (+/-)
RI values:
nα = 1.630 nβ = 1.633
Birefringence:
Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Comments:
Uniaxial (+); sections exhibit very weak birefringence and interference figures; typically appears isotropic. n = 1.633(1)
Chemistry of Burtite
Mindat Formula:
Ca[Sn(OH)6]
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Burtite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.49 Å, c = 14.08 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.225
Unit Cell V:
1,609.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Hexagonal, pseudocubic. Point Group: 3 (probable).; Space Group: R3 probable, R3, R32, R3m, R3m possible; Pn3 actually observed, thought due to twinning.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005567 | Burtite | Basciano L C, Peterson R C, Roeder P L (1998) Description of schoenfliesite, MgSn(OH)6, and roxbyite, Cu1.72S, from a 1375 BC shipwreck, and rietveld neutron-diffraction refinement of synthetic schoenfliesite, wickmanite, MnSn(OH)6, and burtite, CaSn(OH)6 The Canadian Mineralogist 36 1203-1210 |  | 1998 | a 1375 BC shipwreck | 0 | 293 |
| 0012123 | Burtite | Cohen-Addad C (1967) Etude des hydroxystannates CaSn(OH)6 et ZnSn(OH)6 par diffraction des rayons X et resonance magnetique nucleaire Bulletin de la Societe Francaise de Mineralogie et de Cristallographie 90 32-35 | 1967 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.06 Å | (vs) |
| 1.814 Å | (s) |
| 1.657 Å | (s) |
| 0.9850 Å | (s) |
| 0.9576 Å | (s) |
| 4.68 Å | (ms) |
| 2.87 Å | (ms) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Burtite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As pseudo-octahedral crystals to 2 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium, EH80016.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
From a garnetite in a tin-bearing skarn
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Sonnet, P.M. (1981) Burtite, calcium hexahydroxostannate, a new mineral from El Hamman, central Morocco. The Canadian Mineralogist: 19: 397-401.
Synonyms of Burtite
Other Language Names for Burtite
Relationship of Burtite to other Species
Other Members of this group:
| Jeanbandyite | Fe3+xFe2+1-xSn(OH)6-xOx | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
| Mushistonite | (Cu,Zn,Fe2+)[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m |
| Natanite | Fe2+[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m |
| Schoenfliesite | Mg[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pn3 |
| Vismirnovite | Zn[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m |
| Wickmanite | Mn2+[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pn3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.FC.05 | Bernalite | Fe(OH)3 · nH2O (n = 0.0 to 0.25) |
| 4.FC.05 | Dzhalindite | In(OH)3 |
| 4.FC.05 | Söhngeite | Ga(OH)3 |
| 4.FC.10 | Mushistonite | (Cu,Zn,Fe2+)[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Natanite | Fe2+[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Schoenfliesite | Mg[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Vismirnovite | Zn[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.10 | Wickmanite | Mn2+[Sn(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.15 | Jeanbandyite | Fe3+xFe2+1-xSn(OH)6-xOx |
| 4.FC.15 | Mopungite | Na[Sb5+(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.15 | Stottite | Fe2+[Ge4+(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.15 | Tetrawickmanite | Mn2+[Sn4+(OH)6] |
| 4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-2N1S | (Al,Fe,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-6N6S | (Mg,Al,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-2N1S | (Mg,Al,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-6N6S | (Al,Fe,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-2N1S | (Zn,Al,Mg)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
| 4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-6N6S | Zn3Sn2Al16O30(OH)2 |
| 4.FC.25 | Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S | Mg2BeAl6O12 |
| 4.FC.25 | Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S | Mg3Al8BeO16 |
| 4.FC.25 | Ferrotaaffeite-2N’2S | Be(Fe,Mg,Zn)3Al8O16 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Burtite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-808.html
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References for Burtite
Localities for Burtite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Morocco | |
| Econ Geol (1989) |
| Ph. M. Sonnet : "Burtite |
Russia | |
| N.V. |
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Wadi Beht, Oulmès Cercle, Khémisset Province, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region, Morocco