Holfertite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Holfertite
Formula:
CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O
Colour:
Canary yellow to orange yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
4.22
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in honor of John W. Holfert (b. 1949), for his significant contributions to the mineralogy and geology of the Thomas Range, USA.
A hydrated Ca-U-Ti oxide/hydroxide.
May not be the same material per Foord from location.
May not be the same material per Foord from location.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
11514
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:11514:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
02c40aa7-1bc3-4d9f-a89f-895d9f06fd91
IMA Classification of Holfertite
Classification of Holfertite
4.GB.70
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hlf | 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 Holfertite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Canary yellow to orange yellow
Streak:
Pale yellow
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
(110)
(110)
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
4.22 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.26 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Holfertite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.815(8) nε = 1.910(8)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.095
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:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Holfertite
Mindat Formula:
CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O
Crystallography of Holfertite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
P3
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.824 Å, c = 7.549 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.697
Unit Cell V:
765.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Hollow elongated prisms.
Crystal Structure
Load
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0006067 | Holfertite | Sokolova E, Hawthorne F C, Belakovskiy D I, Pautov L A (2005) The OD (order-disorder) structure of holfertite, a hydrated uranyl titanate mineral from Searle Canyon, Thomas Range, Utah, USA The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1545-1552 |  | 2005 | Searle Canyon, Thomas Range, Utah, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.60 Å | (100) |
| 2.90 Å | (80) |
| 1.87 Å | (30) |
| 1.747 Å | (30) |
| 1.211 Å | (30) |
Comments:
From type description.
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] |
Type Occurrence of Holfertite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Minute yellow, rod-like needles sparsely.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (#91374).
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washongton, D.C., USA.
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washongton, D.C., USA.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In vesicles in rhyolite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Holfertite
Other Language Names for Holfertite
German:Holfertit
Russian:Холфертит
Simplified Chinese:羟水钙钛铀石
Spanish:Holfertita
Traditional Chinese:羥水鈣鈦鈾石
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 35 photos of Holfertite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 11 photos of Holfertite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 8 photos of Holfertite associated with Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
| 6 photos of Holfertite associated with Sanidine | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 6 photos of Holfertite associated with Rhyolite | |
| 5 photos of Holfertite associated with Red Beryl | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| 4 photos of Holfertite associated with Bixbyite-(Mn) | Mn3+2O3 |
| 2 photos of Holfertite associated with Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| 2 photos of Holfertite associated with Pseudobrookite | Fe2TiO5 |
| 1 photo of Holfertite associated with Niobium-bearing Rutile | (Ti,Nb)O2 |
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 | Billietite | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O |
| 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.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 |
Fluorescence of Holfertite
None
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 Holfertite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-11514.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Holfertite
Reference List:
Localities for Holfertite
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.
USA | |
| In the collection of Alex Earl +1 other reference |
| Belakovskiy et al. (2006) | |
| Belakovskiy et al. (2006) |
| Collected by and in the collection of ... | |
| In the collection of Alex Earl | |
| In the personal collection of Alex Earl |
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Holfertite pit, Starvation Canyon, Thomas Range, Juab County, Utah, USA