Béhierite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Béhierite
Jean Béhier
Formula:
(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
Colour:
Greyish pink; pale lilac; colorless to white
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
7 - 7½
Specific Gravity:
7.86
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
After Jean [Jaques Francis] Béhier (2.Mars 1903-11.May 1965), French mineralogist, Service Géologique, Madagascar, who found the mineral in 1959 when he was examined material collected in 1953.
The tantalum analogue of schiavinatoite. The second mineral with essential tantalum and boron after holtite.
Possibly crystallochemically related to xenotime-(Y) (Ondrejka et al., 2022).
Possibly crystallochemically related to xenotime-(Y) (Ondrejka et al., 2022).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
602
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:602:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0e1f71cb-cdbf-42f3-8b2f-5236a246836a
IMA Classification of Béhierite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ta(BO4)
First published:
1960
Classification of Béhierite
6.AC.15
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
C : B(O,OH)4, without and with additional anions; 1(T), 1(T)+OH, etc
24.1.2.1
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
1 : A2XO4
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
1 : A2XO4
9.6.6
9 : Borates
6 : Borates of Ti, Sn and Ta
9 : Borates
6 : Borates of Ti, Sn and Ta
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Béh | 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 Béhierite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Greyish pink; pale lilac; colorless to white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7 - 7½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{110} and {010}
{110} and {010}
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
7.86(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 7.91 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Béhierite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
Comments:
nω and nε > 2
Chemistry of Béhierite
Mindat Formula:
(Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ta2O5 | 81.88 % | 63.95 % |
| Nb2O5 | 3.19 % | 21.73 % |
| B2O3 | 13.70 % | 15.77 % |
| Total: | 98.77 % | 101.45 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Ta0.939Nb0.061)1.000B1.000O4.000 |
| 2 | (Ta0.64Nb0.36)Σ=1.00BO4 |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animikie Red Ace pegmatite, Pine River pegmatites, Fern, Florence County, Wisconsin, USA | ||
| 2 | Antsongombato gem mine, Antsentsindrano, Anosiarivo Manapa, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascar | Analysis from a selected point (nr 13) in a behierite-schiavinatoite crystal |
Crystallography of Béhierite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/amd
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.206(5) Å, c = 5.472(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.882
Unit Cell V:
210.75 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Pseudo-octahedral crystals. Forms: {011}
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.10 Å | (100) |
| 3.10 Å | (71) |
| 2.327 Å | (71) |
| 2.478 Å | (50) |
| 1.600 Å | (50) |
| 1.93 Å | (35) |
Comments:
Very close to schiavinatoite.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Béhierite
General Appearance of Type Material:
4 grayish-pink pseudo-octahedral crystals, 0.5 to 7.0 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 139602.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A complex LCT granite pegmatite hosted in a marble
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Mrose M E, Rose H J (1961) Behierite, (Ta,Nb)BO4, a new mineral from Manjaka, Madagascar. Geological Society of America, Abstracts Annual Meetings 1961: 111A-111A
Synonyms of Béhierite
Other Language Names for Béhierite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 9 photos of Béhierite associated with Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| 8 photos of Béhierite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Béhierite associated with Schiavinatoite | (Nb,Ta)(BO4) |
| 4 photos of Béhierite associated with Rubellite | A(D3)G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| 4 photos of Béhierite associated with Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 4 photos of Béhierite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 2 photos of Béhierite associated with Rhodizite | (K,Cs)Al4Be4(B,Be)12O28 |
| 2 photos of Béhierite associated with Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| 2 photos of Béhierite associated with K Feldspar | |
| 2 photos of Béhierite associated with Manganese-bearing Fluorapatite | (Ca,Mn2+)5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) or Ca5([P,Mn5+]O4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.AC.05 | Sinhalite | MgAl(BO4) |
| 6.AC.10 | Pseudosinhalite | Mg2Al3(BO3)2(OH)O3 |
| 6.AC.15 | Schiavinatoite | (Nb,Ta)(BO4) |
| 6.AC.20 | Frolovite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 |
| 6.AC.25 | Hexahydroborite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 · 2H2O or CaB2O4 · 6H2O |
| 6.AC.30 | Henmilite | Ca2Cu[B(OH)4]2(OH)4 |
| 6.AC.35 | Bandylite | Cu[B(OH)4]Cl |
| 6.AC.40 | Teepleite | Na2[B(OH)4]Cl |
| 6.AC.45 | Moydite-(Y) | Y[B(OH)4](CO3) |
| 6.AC.50 | Carboborite | Ca2Mg[B(OH)4]2(CO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 6.AC.55 | Sulfoborite | Mg3[B(OH)4]2(SO4)(OH,F)2 |
| 6.AC.60 | Lüneburgite | Mg3[B2(OH)6](PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 6.AC.65 | Seamanite | Mn2+3[B(OH)4](PO4)(OH)2 |
| 6.AC.70 | Cahnite | Ca2[B(OH)4](AsO4) |
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in hot or cold acids.
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 Béhierite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-602.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Béhierite
Reference List:
Behier, Jean (1960) Travaux minéralogiques. Rapport Annuel du Service géologique, 1960. Republique Madagascar. 181-199Abstract in American Mineralogist 46 (1961), 767-8]
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2015) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2015, CNMNC Newsletter no 28. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (7) 1859-1864 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.7.18
Ondrejka, Martin, Molnárová, Alexandra, Putiš, Marián, Bačík, Peter, Uher, Pavel, Voleková, Bronislava, Milovská, Stanislava, Mikuš, Tomáš, Pukančík, Libor (2022) Hellandite-(Y)–hingganite-(Y)–fluorapatite retrograde coronae: a novel type of fluid-induced dissolution–reprecipitation breakdown of xenotime-(Y) in the metagranites of Fabova Hoľa, Western Carpathians, Slovakia. Mineralogical Magazine, 86 (4) 586-605 doi:10.1180/mgm.2022.7
Localities for Béhierite
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.
Madagascar | |
| Falster et al. (2002) |
| Bruno Tesseron (Mineralphil Madagascar) |
| Larsen (2003) +1 other reference | |
| Mrose et al. (1961) +1 other reference | |
| Pezzotta (2007) |
| Pezzotta (2007) | |
| Pezzotta (2007) | |
| Agakhanov et al. (2021) | |
| Demartin et al. (2001) |
USA | |
| Rocks & Min. (2002) |
| Falster et al. (2002) |
Quick NavTopAbout BéhieriteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Chemical AnalysisCrystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Manjaka, Sahatany Valley, Ibity, Antsirabe II District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascar