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Butlerite

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Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, Chile
© 2005 - MMI

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Formula:
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Dark orange; light ...
Hardness:2½
Name:Named by Carl Lausen in 1928 in honor of Gurdon Montague "Monty" Butler (March 26, 1881 Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA - February 21, 1961 California, USA), mining geologist and professor, University of Arizona. The Butler Mountains of Camino del Diablo, Arizona were also named for Gurdon Montague Butler.
Dimorph of:Parabutlerite
This page provides mineralogical data about Butlerite.

Classification of Butlerite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:6/D.01-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:7.DC.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:31.9.1.1

31 : HYDRATED SULFATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
9 : (AB)(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:25.10.15

25 : Sulphates
10 : Sulphates of Fe alone
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Type Occurrence of Butlerite

Type Locality:United Verde Mine (The Big Hole; Big Hole property; Hull Mine; Hopewell tunnel; Patented claim 3480; Patented claim 2812; Patented claims 3348), Jerome, Verde District, Black Hills (Black Hill Range), Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
Year of Discovery:1928

Occurrences of Butlerite

Geological Setting:Oxidation of pyritic ore; may be formed under pseudo-fumarolic
conditions from mine fires.

Physical Properties of Butlerite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Dark orange; light yellow-orange in transmitted light.
Streak:Pale yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Perfect
On {100}, perfect.
Density (measured):2.55 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.53 g/cm3

Crystallography of Butlerite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m {P1 1 21/m} {P21/m} {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 6.51Å, b = 7.37Å, c = 5.85Å
β = 108.87°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.883 : 1 : 0.794
Unit Cell Volume:V 265.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals commonly tabular {001} or {100} with a propensity for elongation [010]; also octahedral (anthropogenic).
Twinning:Very common on {105}.

Epitaxial Relationships of Butlerite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Parabutlerite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
Epitaxi Comments:Oriented growths.

Optical Data of Butlerite

Type:Biaxial (+/-)
RI values: nα = 1.593 - 1.604 nβ = 1.665 - 1.674 nγ = 1.731 - 1.741
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.138

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r < v weak
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X ^c - 18° = Colourless
Y = Faint yellow
Z = b = Light yellow
Comments:2V large.

Chemical Properties of Butlerite

Formula:
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, O, S
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, O, S

Relationship of Butlerite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
7.DC.05Aluminite
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.05Meta-aluminite
Al
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.10Parabutlerite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
7.DC.15Fibroferrite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
7.DC.20Xitieshanite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)Cl · 6H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Botryogen
MgFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.25Zincobotryogen
(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
7.DC.30Chaidamuite
ZnFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
7.DC.30Guildite
CuFe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
25.10.1Szomolnokite
FeSO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
25.10.2Rozenite
FeSO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
25.10.3Siderotil
FeSO
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
25.10.4Ferrohexahydrite
FeSO
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
25.10.5Melanterite
FeSO
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
25.10.6Rhomboclase
(H
 
5
O
 
2
)Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
25.10.7Lausenite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
25.10.8Kornelite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 7H
 
2
O
25.10.9Coquimbite
Fe
 
2-x
Al
 
x
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O, x ~0.5
25.10.10Paracoquimbite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
25.10.11Quenstedtite
Fe
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 10H
 
2
O
25.10.12Ferricopiapite
Fe
 
5
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
O(OH) · 20H
 
2
O
25.10.13Metahohmannite
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 4H
 
2
O
25.10.14Hohmannite
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 8H
 
2
O
25.10.16Parabutlerite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
25.10.17Amarantite
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 7H
 
2
O
25.10.18Fibroferrite
Fe
3+
 
(SO
 
4
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
25.10.19Hydroniumjarosite
(H
 
3
O)Fe
3+
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
25.10.20Römerite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 14H
 
2
O
25.10.21Bílinite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 22H
 
2
O
25.10.22Copiapite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · 20H
 
2
O

Other Names for Butlerite

Other Languages:
German:Butlerit
Russian:Бутлерит
Spanish:Butlerita

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 Butlerite

Reference List:

- +
Posnjak and Merwin (1912) Journal of the American Chemical Society: 44: 1978.

Lausen (1928) American Mineralogist: 13: 203-229.

Bandy (1938) American Mineralogist: 23: 742.

Gordon (1941) Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia, Not. Nat., no. 89.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 608-609.

American Mineralogist (1971): 56: 751-757.

Internet Links for Butlerite

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

    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
     
    • San Juan
      • La Alcaparrosa
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 480, 609, 1014.
    Chile
     
    • Antofagasta Region
      • Antofagasta Province
        • Mejillones
          • Mejillones peninsula
    		Gunnar Farber specimens
        • Sierra Gorda District
          • Caracoles
    		Samples analysed by Dr. Jochen Schluter, Curator of Hamburg Mineralogical Museum, Germany
      • El Loa Province
        • Calama
          • Chuquicamata District
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 609.
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Pampa del Tamarugal
    		Peter G. Seroka collection
    China
     
    • Qinghai Province
      • Haixi Autonomous Prefecture
        • Da Qaidam (Dachaidan) Co.
    		Wanmao Li, Guoying Chen, and Zhizhong Peng (1986): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 6(2), 109-114
    Cuba
     
    • Isla de la Juventud special municipality
      • Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Pines; Island of Youth)
    		Zwahr, H. & Gonzales, R. (1999): Secondary sulfate mineralization of the kaolin deposit of Rio del Callejon, Cuba. Zeitschrift für Geologische Wissenschaften 27, 219-233.
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz
        • Goslar
          • Astfeld
    		Schnorrer-Köhler, G. (1988): Mineralogische Notizen IV. Der Aufschluss, 39, 153-168.
    Hungary
     
    • Baranya Co.
      • Mecsek Mts.
        • Pécs
    		Szakáll, S. & Kristály, F. (2008): Ammonium sulphates from burning coal dumps at Komló and Pécs-Vasas, Mecsek Mts., South Hungary. Mineralogia, Special Papers, Vol. 32 (2nd Central-European Mineralogical Conference 2008 (CEMC)), 154.
    Iran
     
    • Yazd Province
      • Saghand (Sagand; Saqand)
    		Bariand, P., Cesbron, F. & Berthelon, J. P. (1977): Iron sulfates of Saghand near Yazd (Iran). Memoire Hors-Série de la Société Géologique de France 8, 77-85.; Bariand, P., Berthelon, J. P., Cesbron, F. & Sadrzadeh, M. (1973): New aluminum sulfate hydrate, khademite of Saghand (Iran). Comptes Rendus des Seances de l'Académie des Sciences, Série C, 277, 1585-1588 (in French).
    Morocco
     
    • Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz Region
      • Marrakech Prefecture
        • Marrakech
    		Rachid Hakkou, Mostafa Benzaazoua and Bruno Bussière (2008): Acid Mine Drainage at the Abandoned Kettara Mine (Morocco): 1. Environmental Characterization. Mine Water and the Environment, 27, 145-159.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Sakhalinskaya Oblast'
        • Kuril Islands
          • Iturup Island
    		http://maurice.strahlen.org/kurilles/kurilles.htm
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai Co.
        • Black Hills (Black Hill Range)
          • Verde District
            • Jerome
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 149; Lausen, C. (1928), Hydrous sulphates formed under fumerolic conditions at the United Verde mine, AmMin: 13: 203-229; Cesbron, F. (1964), Contribution à la minéralogie des sulfates de fer hydraté, Bull. Soc. Franc. Min. Crist: 87:125-143; Fanfani, L.A., et al (1971), The crystal structure of butlerite, Am.Min.: 56: 751-757; Galbraith, F.W. & Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 66.
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
    		www.mineralsocal.org
    • Colorado
      • Gunnison Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • Nevada
      • Washoe Co.
        • Steamboat Springs District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Mexico
      • Santa Fe Co.
        • La Bajada District
    		Northrup, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    • Utah
      • Emery Co.
        • San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell)
          • Calf Mesa
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Am.Min.40:469
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