Billietite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Billietite
Formula:
Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O
Colour:
Yellow to golden-yellow, amber-yellow, orange-yellow
Lustre:
Adamantine
Specific Gravity:
5.28 - 5.36
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1947 by Johannes F. Vaes in honor of Valère Louis Billiet, born Ghent, Belgium, February 14 1903; was in the resistance during WWII but was arrested; killed on May 3 1945 by an SS officer on board of the SS Ancona in the Bay of Neustedt, near Lubeck. Belgian crystallographer, University of Ghent, Belgium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Billietite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
674
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:674:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
4eee2516-3b5a-4172-8c22-1043279adc97
IMA Classification of Billietite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O
Classification of Billietite
4.GB.10
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
5.7.1.3
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
7 : AX6O19·xH2O
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
7 : AX6O19·xH2O
7.16.15
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
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 |
---|---|---|
Bil | 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 Billietite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Yellow to golden-yellow, amber-yellow, orange-yellow
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}, imperfect on {110} and {010}
on {001}, imperfect on {110} and {010}
Density:
5.28 - 5.36 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.3 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Billietite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.725 - 1.730 nβ = 1.780 - 1.822 nγ = 1.790 - 1.829
2V:
Measured: 36°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.065 - 0.099
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
r > v, very strong
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = colourless to pale yellow; Y = Z = greenish yellow to deep golden yellow, amber-brown
Orientation: X = c, Y = a, Z = b
Orientation: X = c, Y = a, Z = b
Chemistry of Billietite
Mindat Formula:
Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Ca,Si
Crystallography of Billietite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.072 Å, b = 30.167 Å, c = 7.1455 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.4 : 1 : 0.237
Unit Cell V:
2,602.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals pseudohexagonal, tabular on {001}, may be elongated along [110], to 5 mm
Twinning:
Very common, on {110} and {111}, the latter producing sector-twinned aragonite-like groups
Comment:
Space Group: Pbn21
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0001133 | Billietite | Pagoaga M K, Appleman D E, Stewart J M (1987) Crystal structures and crystal chemistry of the uranyl oxide hydrates becquerelite, billietite, and protasite match those published American Mineralogist 72 1230-1238 | 1987 | Shinkolobwe mine, Shaba, Zaire | 0 | 293 | |
0006120 | Billietite | Finch R J, Burns P C, Hawthorne F C, Ewing R C (2006) Refinement of the crystal structure of billietite, Ba [(UO2)6 O4 (OH)6] (H2O)8 The Canadian Mineralogist 44 1197-1205 | 2006 | Shaba, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
7.53 Å | (10) |
3.77 Å | (9) |
3.17 Å | (8) |
2.03 Å | (6) |
3.54 Å | (5) |
2.49 Å | (4) |
2.56 Å | (3) |
Comments:
Recorded on material from Shinkolobwe, Congo
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] |
Geological Setting:
An uncommon alteration product of uraninite
Type Occurrence of Billietite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crystals pseudohexagonal
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (No. 104455);
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 160496)
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 160496)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
An alteration product of uraninite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Vaes, J.F. (1947) Six nouveaux minéraux d'urane provenant de Shinkolobwe (Katanga). Annales de la Société Géologique Belge: 70: B212-B229, esp. B214-B217 (in French).
Other Language Names for Billietite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
21 photos of Billietite associated with Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
14 photos of Billietite associated with Rutherfordine | (UO2)CO3 |
9 photos of Billietite associated with Cuprosklodowskite | Cu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
6 photos of Billietite associated with Vandenbrandeite | Cu(UO2)(OH)4 |
6 photos of Billietite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
6 photos of Billietite associated with Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O |
4 photos of Billietite associated with Roubaultite | Cu2(UO2)3(CO3)2O2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
4 photos of Billietite associated with Sklodowskite | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
4 photos of Billietite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
3 photos of Billietite associated with Soddyite | (UO2)2SiO4 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
4.GB.05 | Agrinierite | K2(Ca,Sr)[(UO2)3O3(OH)2]2 · 5H2O |
4.GB.05 | Compreignacite | K2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2O |
4.GB.05 | Rameauite | K2Ca(UO2)6O6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
4.GB.10 | Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O |
4.GB.10 | Protasite | Ba(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
4.GB.15 | Richetite | (Fe3+,Mg)Pb 8.6(UO2)36O36(OH)24 · 41H2O |
4.GB.20 | Bauranoite | Ba(UO2)2(OH)6 · 1-2H2O |
4.GB.20 | Calciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb)U2O7 · 5H2O |
4.GB.20 | Metacalciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb,K2)U2O7 · 2H2O |
4.GB.25 | Fourmarierite | Pb(UO2)4O3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
4.GB.30 | Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
4.GB.35 | Masuyite | Pb(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
4.GB.40 | Metavandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · nH2O n < 12 |
4.GB.40 | Vandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · 12H2O |
4.GB.45 | Vandenbrandeite | Cu(UO2)(OH)4 |
4.GB.50 | Sayrite | Pb2(UO2)5O6(OH)2 · 4H2O |
4.GB.55 | Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
4.GB.60 | Iriginite | (UO2)Mo2O7 · 3H2O |
4.GB.65 | Uranosphaerite | Bi(UO2)O2(OH) |
4.GB.70 | Holfertite | CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O |
4.GB.75 | Carlosbarbosaite | (UO2)2Nb2O6(OH)2 · 2H2O |
4.GB.80 | Gauthierite | KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7] · 8H2O |
4.GB.85 | Kroupaite | KPb0.5[(UO2)8O4(OH)10] · 10H2O |
4.GB.90 | Leesite | K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2O |
4.GB.95 | Shinkolobweite | Pb1.25[U5+(H2O)2(U6+O2)5O8(OH)2](H2O)5 |
4.GB.95 | Nollmotzite | Mg[U5+(U6+O2)2O4F3] · 4H2O |
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 Billietite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-674.html
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References for Billietite
Reference List:
Frondel, Judith W., Cuttitta, Frank (1953) Studies of uranium minerals (XII) : The status of billietite and Becquerelite. American Mineralogist, 38 (11-12) 1019-1024
(1958) Systematic mineralogy of uranium and thorium. Bulletin Vol. 1064. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b1064 pp.68-72
Christ, C. L., Clark, J. R. (1960) Crystal chemical studies of some uranyl oxide hydrates. American Mineralogist, 45 (9-10) 1026-1061
Pagoaga, M. Katherine, Appleman, Daniel E., Stewart, James M. (1987) Crystal structures and crystal chemistry of the uranyl oxide hydrates becquerelite, billietite, and protasite. American Mineralogist, 72 (11-12) 1230-1238
Vochten, R., Van Haverbeke, L. (1990) Transformation of schoepite into the uranyl oxide hydrates: Becquerelite, billietite and wölsendorfite. Mineralogy and Petrology, 43 (1) 65-72 doi:10.1007/bf01164222
Burns, Peter C. (2005) U6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (6) 1839-1894 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.6.1839
Finch, R. J., Burns, P. C., Hawthorne, F. C., Ewing, R. C. (2006) Refinement of the crystal structure of billietite, Ba[(UO2)6O4(OH)6](H2O)8. The Canadian Mineralogist, 44 (5) 1197-1205 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.44.5.1197
Frost, Ray L., Čejka, Jiří, Weier, Matt L. (2007) Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl oxyhydroxide hydrates: becquerelite, billietite, curite, schoepite and vandendriesscheite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 38 (4). 460-466 doi:10.1002/jrs.1669
Localities for Billietite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Brugger et al. (2003) +1 other reference |
Brazil | |
| Pires et al. (2014) |
China | |
| Dahlkamp (2009) |
Czech Republic | |
| Pauliš P. et al. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
| Collected by Jan Hloušek +2 other references |
| Pauliš P. et al. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
| Pauliš P. et al. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
DR Congo (TL) | |
| 304 [278]. +4 other references |
Deliens | |
| Deliens +1 other reference |
| Specimen in the collection of Brent ... +1 other reference |
| Anthony (1997) +1 other reference |
France | |
| Meisser (2012) |
| Denis Vernet - personnal |
| OLLIC Pascal Collection +1 other reference |
| - (1998) |
- (1998) +1 other reference | |
| - (1998) |
| P Haas collection |
| Anthony (1997) |
| "minéraux uranifères +2 other references |
| Bariand et al. (1993) +2 other references |
Germany | |
| Kolitsch (1997) +1 other reference |
| |
| |
| |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Collection Elmar Lackner. |
Anthony (1997) +1 other reference | |
| N. Jb. Miner. Abh. 115 (1971) |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1991) +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Ciriotti et al. (2010) |
| Campostrini I. (2013) |
| Campostrini et al. (2006) |
Peru | |
| Li (2016) |
Spain | |
| Abella et al. (2009) |
Sweden | |
| |
Switzerland | |
| |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
Meisser (2012) | |
| Wulser P.A. et al. 2005 |
USA | |
| Geyer et al. (1976) |
| Anthony (1997) |
| Min News 16:1 p1 |
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Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo