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Benitoite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Jim Bean
About Benitoite
Seal of San Benito County
Formula:
BaTi(Si3O9)
Colour:
Sapphire blue, white to colorless, pink
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
3.65
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
After the type locality, "as it occurs near the head waters of the San Benito River in San Benito County", California, USA.
Benitoite Group. The titanium analogue of Pabstite.
Related to Rogermitchellite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Benitoite.
Related to Rogermitchellite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Benitoite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
624
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:624:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
a6074f57-ca6c-4fa0-9959-9a05e7f36ad8
IMA Classification of Benitoite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
BaTiSi3O9
First published:
1907
Classification of Benitoite
9.CA.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
A : [Si3O9]6- 3-membered single rings (dreier-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
A : [Si3O9]6- 3-membered single rings (dreier-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
59.1.1.2
59 : CYCLOSILICATES Three-Membered Rings
1 : Three-Membered Rings, anhydrous, no other anions
59 : CYCLOSILICATES Three-Membered Rings
1 : Three-Membered Rings, anhydrous, no other anions
14.9.9
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
9 : Silicates of Ti
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
9 : Silicates of Ti
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bni | 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 Benitoite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Sapphire blue, white to colorless, pink
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {1011}
Poor on {1011}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.65 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.68 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Benitoite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.756 - 1.757 nε = 1.802 - 1.804
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.046
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
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
O= colorless
E= purple, indigo, greenish blue
E= purple, indigo, greenish blue
Chemistry of Benitoite
Mindat Formula:
BaTi(Si3O9)
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Na
Crystallography of Benitoite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6 m2 - Ditrigonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P62c
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.641 Å, c = 9.7597(10) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.47
Unit Cell V:
372.76 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Flat pyramidal crystals.
Twinning:
By rotation around [0001]
Crystallographic forms of Benitoite
Crystal Atlas:
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Benitoite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Benitoite no.9 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019506 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 0.0001 | 293 | |
| 0019507 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 1.12 | 293 | |
| 0019508 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 2.14 | 293 | |
| 0019509 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 3.56 | 293 | |
| 0019510 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 4.01 | 293 | |
| 0019511 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 4.28 | 293 | |
| 0019512 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 4.75 | 293 | |
| 0019513 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 5.29 | 293 | |
| 0019514 | Benitoite | Hejny C, Miletich R, Jasser A, Schouwink P, Crichton W, Kahlenberg V (2012) Second-order P6c2-P31c transition and structural crystallography of the cyclosilicate benitoite, BaTiSi3O9, at high pressure American Mineralogist 97 1749-1763 | 2012 | San Benito, California, USA | 6.14 | 293 | |
| 0010497 | Benitoite | Zachariasen W H (1930) The crystal structure of benitoite, BaTiSi3O9 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 74 139-146 |  | 1930 | Dallas Gem Mine, San Benito, Ca | 0 | 293 |
| 0017678 | Benitoite | Zachariasen W (1930) The crystal structure of Benitoite Ba Ti Si3 O9 _cod_database_code 1010959 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 74 139-146 | | 1930 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0010684 | Benitoite | Fisher V K (1969) Verfeinerung der kristallstruktur von benitoit BaTi[Si3O9] Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 129 222-243 | | 1969 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.71 Å | (100) |
| 2.72 Å | (90) |
| 2.86 Å | (75) |
| 5.73 Å | (65) |
| 2.169 Å | (60) |
| 3.30 Å | (50) |
| 3.13 Å | (50) |
Comments:
San Benito Co., California, USA. ICDD 26-1036.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4a: Earth’s earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
| 19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Benitoite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No defined type material.
Reference:
Louderback, G.D. and W.C. Blasdale (1907) Benitoite, a new California gem mineral, with chemical analysis by Walter C. Blasdale, University of California, Department of Geological Science Bull.: 5: 149-153.
Synonyms of Benitoite
Other Language Names for Benitoite
Relationship of Benitoite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 499 photos of Benitoite associated with Neptunite | KNa2Li(Fe2+)2Ti2[Si4O12]2 |
| 451 photos of Benitoite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| 187 photos of Benitoite associated with Joaquinite-(Ce) | NaBa2Ce2FeTi2[Si4O12]2O2(OH,F) · H2O |
| 91 photos of Benitoite associated with Crossite | |
| 14 photos of Benitoite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 13 photos of Benitoite associated with Joaquinite Group | |
| 10 photos of Benitoite associated with Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| 6 photos of Benitoite associated with Glaucophane | ◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Benitoite associated with Serandite | NaMn2+2Si3O8(OH) |
| 4 photos of Benitoite associated with Digenite | Cu9S5 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CA. | UM1975-18-SiO:Mn | α-MnSiO3 |
| 9.CA.05 | Bazirite | BaZr(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.05 | Pabstite | Ba(Sn,Ti)(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.10 | Wadeite | K2Zr(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.15 | Calciocatapleiite | CaZr(Si3O9) · 2H2O |
| 9.CA.15 | Catapleiite | Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O |
| 9.CA.20 | Pseudowollastonite | CaSiO3 |
| 9.CA.25 | Margarosanite | Pb(Ca,Mn2+)2(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.25 | Walstromite | BaCa2(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.25 | Breyite | Ca3Si3O9 |
| 9.CA.30 | Bobtraillite | (Na,◻)12(◻,Na)12Sr12Zr14(Si3O9)10[Si2BO7(OH)2]6 · 12H2O |
| 9.CA.35 | Rogermitchellite | Na6Sr12Ba2Zr13Si39B4O123(OH)6 · 20H2O |
Fluorescence of Benitoite
Invariably fluorescent blue in SW UV.
Blue shortwave-excited luminescence excited by SW UV caused by titanate groups (TiO6)
Blue shortwave-excited luminescence excited by SW UV caused by titanate groups (TiO6)
Other Information
Notes:
Cathodoluminescent
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 Benitoite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-624.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Benitoite
Reference List:
Hlawatsch, C. (1909) Die Kristalform des Benitoit. Centralblatt für Mineralogie: 1909: 293-302, 410.
Laird, Jo, Albee, Arden L. (1972) Chemical composition and physical, optical, and structural properties of benitoite, neptunite, and joaquinite. American Mineralogist, 57 (1-2) 85-102
Localities for Benitoite
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.
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California State Gem Mine, Santa Rita Peak, San Benito County, California, USA