Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (6 online) Mindat Auctions

Rhodizite

Big Photo

Antandrokomby pegmatite, Manandona Valley, Sahatany Pegmatite Field (Mt Bity (Ibity) area), Vakinankaratra Region (Betafo - Antsirabé region), Antananarivo Province, Madagascar
© Collectors Edge

Show Rhodizite Photos (37)
Formula:
(K,Cs)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, white, ...
Lustre:Adamantine, VitreousHardness:8
Name:From the Greek, "rhodizein," = "to be rose-coloured" in allusion to its property of turning a blowpipe flame red. Do not confuse with Rhodesite.


The potassium analogue of Londonite. Londonite-Rhodizite Series.

Classification of Rhodizite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/L.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.GC.05

6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:25.8.2.1

25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.1.16

9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3405.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Rhodizite

Co-type Localities:Mor's Pit, Shaitanka District, Rezh District, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Ministerskaya Yama Pit, Sarapulka (Murzinka) District, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Middle Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1834
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Tourmaline

Physical Properties of Rhodizite

Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, greyish, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):8
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {111} and {1¯11}, difficult.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.305 - 3.38 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.24 g/cm3

Crystallography of Rhodizite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:P4 3m
Cell Parameters:a = 7.31Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 390.62 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals dodecahedral, also tetrahedral. "o" usually smooth and shining and "d" frequently uneven.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Rhodizite

Type:Isotropic
Comments:Exhibits weak anomalous double refraction distributed in sectors with Z(+) inclined about 10° to [110].

Chemical Properties of Rhodizite

Formula:
(K,Cs)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
Essential elements:Al, B, Be, K, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Be, Cs, K, O
Common Impurities:Rb,Na,K

Relationship of Rhodizite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Londonite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.GC.05Londonite
(Cs,K,Rb)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.1.1Sassolite
H
 
3
BO
 
3
9.1.2Metaborite
HBO
 
2
9.1.3Diomignite
Li
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
9.1.4Biringuccite
Na
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH)·H
 
2
O
9.1.5Nasinite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
·5H
 
2
O
9.1.6Kernite
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.7Ezcurrite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
·7H
 
2
O
9.1.8Tincalconite
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.1.9Borax
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 10H
 
2
O
9.1.10Ameghinite
Na(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
9.1.11Sborgite
Na[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.12Aristarainite
Na
 
2
MgB
 
12
O
 
20
·8H
 
2
O
9.1.13Santite
K[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.1.14Larderellite
(NH
 
4
)B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
9.1.15Ammonioborite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O

Other Names for Rhodizite

Synonyms:
Rhodicite
Other Languages:
German:Rhodicit
Rhodizit
Rhodozit
Russian:Родицит
Spanish:Rhodicita
Rhodizita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:None
Electrical:Pyroelectric.
Other Information:Insoluble in acids.
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 Rhodizite

Reference List:Rose (1834) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 33: 253.

Rose (1836) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 39: 321.

Ries and Rose (1843) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 59: 353.

Bertrand (1882) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 5: 31, 72.

Damour (1882) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 5: 98.

Klein (1891) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: I: 65.

Pisani (1910) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 33: 37.

Dupare, Wunder, and Sabot (1911) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 34: 131.

Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 7: 123.

Strunz (1938) Doctoral dissertation.

Strunz (1943) Naturwissenschaften: 31, No. 5.

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: 329-330.

American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 533-534.

Mineralogical Magazine (1986): 50: 163-172.

American Mineralogist (1987): 72: 1028.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Rhodizite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Rhodizite on Google
  • Look for Rhodizite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Rhodizite on Webmineral
  • Look for Rhodizite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Rhodizite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Rhodizite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Rhodizite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Rhodizite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Search for - Rhodizite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Rhodizite specimens
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Rhodizite

    Show Locality List (17 Items)
    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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 5th Nov 2009 09:44:02