Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
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About Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Formula:
Mg2BeAl6O12
Colour:
Colorles to pale shades of olive-green
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Hardness:
8 - 8½
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Re-defined by Armbruster et al. (2002) as a polysome of magnesiotaaffeite. Prior to that it was known as musgravite. The root name is in honor of Count Edward Charles Richard Taaffe, gemologist of Dublin (1898, Bohemia - 1967).
Classification of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Approved
4/B.07-30
4.FC.25
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
C : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
C : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing octahedra
7.2.12.1
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
2 : AB2X4
7 : MULTIPLE OXIDES
2 : AB2X4
7.4.6
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
4 : Oxides of Be, Mg and the alkaline earths
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
4 : Oxides of Be, Mg and the alkaline earths
Physical Properties of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorles to pale shades of olive-green
Streak:
colorless
Hardness:
8 - 8½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{0001}
{0001}
Optical Data of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.739 nε = 1.735
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.004

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:
High
Chemical Properties of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Formula:
Mg2BeAl6O12
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.67 Å, c = 41.09 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 7.247
Unit Cell V:
1,144.02 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Type Occurrence of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
General Appearance of Type Material:
Light colored vitreous translucent mineral
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Other Language Names for Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Relationship of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Ferrotaaffeite-2N’2S | Be(Fe,Mg,Zn)3Al8O16 | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
Ferrotaaffeite-6N'3S | (Be,Zn,Mg)FeAl4O8 | Trig. |
Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S | Mg3Al8BeO16 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) |
Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S2 | Mg3BeAl8O16 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
4.FC.05 | Bernalite | Fe(OH)3 · nH2O (n = 0.0 to 0.25) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn |
4.FC.05 | Dzhalindite | In(OH)3 | Iso. |
4.FC.05 | Söhngeite | Ga(OH)3 | Tet. |
4.FC.10 | Burtite | Ca[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. |
4.FC.10 | Mushistonite | (Cu,Zn,Fe2+)[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m |
4.FC.10 | Natanite | Fe2+[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m |
4.FC.10 | Schoenfliesite | Mg[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pn3 |
4.FC.10 | Vismirnovite | Zn[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. |
4.FC.10 | Wickmanite | Mn2+[Sn(OH)6] | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pn3 |
4.FC.15 | Jeanbandyite | Fe3+xFe2+1-xSn(OH)6-xOx | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
4.FC.15 | Mopungite | Na[Sb5+(OH)6] | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
4.FC.15 | Stottite | Fe2+[Ge4+(OH)6] | Tet. |
4.FC.15 | Tetrawickmanite | Mn2+[Sn4+(OH)6] | Tet. 4/m : P42/n |
4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-2N1S | (Al,Fe,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-6N6S | (Mg,Al,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-2N1S | (Mg,Al,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-6N6S | (Al,Fe,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-2N1S | (Zn,Al,Mg)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-6N6S | Zn3Sn2Al16O30(OH)2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FC.25 | Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S | Mg3Al8BeO16 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
7.2.12.2 | Ferrotaaffeite-6N'3S | (Be,Zn,Mg)FeAl4O8 | Trig. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
7.4.1 | Bromellite | BeO | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
7.4.2 | Behoite | Be(OH)2 | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
7.4.3 | Clinobehoite | Be(OH)2 | Mon. 2 : P21 |
7.4.4 | Chrysoberyl | BeAl2O4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.4.5 | Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S | Mg3Al8BeO16 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.4.7 | Periclase | MgO | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
7.4.8 | Brucite | Mg(OH)2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3m1 |
7.4.9 | Spinel | MgAl2O4 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
7.4.10 | Meixnerite | Mg6Al2(OH)16(OH)2 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
7.4.11 | Lime | CaO | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) |
7.4.12 | Portlandite | Ca(OH)2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) |
7.4.13 | Chlormayenite | Ca12Al14O32[◻4Cl2] | Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d |
7.4.14 | Hydrocalumite | Ca4Al2(OH)12(Cl,CO3,OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
7.4.15 | Marokite | CaMn3+2O4 | Orth. |
7.4.16 | Ranciéite | (Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
7.4.17 | Hollandite | Ba(Mn4+6Mn3+2)O16 | Mon. 2/m |
7.4.18 | Romanèchite | (Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10 | Mon. 2/m |
7.4.19 | Todorokite | (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
Fluorescence of Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Unknown if any has been tested in UV
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.
References for Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Nuber, B., Schmetzer, K. (1983) Crystal structures of ternary Be-Mg-Al oxides: taaffeite, BeMg3Al8O16, and musgravite, BeMg2Al6O12. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte: 1983: 393-402.
Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen: 146: 15-28.
Kiefert, L. and Schmetzer, K. (1998) Distinction of taaffeite and musgravite. Journal of Gemmology: 26: 165-167.
Armbruster, T. (2002) Revised nomenclature of högbomite, nigerite, and taafeite minerals. European Journal of Mineralogy: 14: 389-395.
Schmetzer, K. Kiefert, L., Bernhardt, H.-J., Burford, M. (2005) Musgravites from Sri Lanka. Neues Jahrbuch Miner. Abh.: 181(3): 265-270 (localities).
Schmetzer, K. Krzemnicki, M.S., Hanni, H.A., Bernhardt, H.-J., Pettke, T. (2005) Gem-quality musgravite from Sri Lanka. Journal of Gemmology: 29: 281-289.
Internet Links for Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2816.html
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Localities for Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| PLEASE ADD REFERENCE |
Grew, E. S. (1981): Surinamite, taafeite and beryllian sapphirine from pegmatites in granulite-facies rocks of Casey Bay, Enderby Land, Antarctica. American Mineralogist, 66, 1022-1033 | |
Australia (TL) | |
| MM 1967, 305-10 |
Austria | |
| Bernhard, F. et al. (2008) |
France | |
| Dubru. M, (1986) Pétrologie et géochimie du marbre à brucite et des borates associés au gisement de tungstène de Costabonne, (Pyrénées orientales, France) 930p |
Greenland | |
| Chadwick, B., Friend, C. R. L, George, M.C. and Perkins, W.T. (1993): A New Occurrence of Musgravite, a Rare Beryllium Oxide, in the Caledonides of North-East Greenland.Mineralogical Magazine. 57 : 121-129. ; Friend, C., George, M., & Perkins, W. (1993). A new occurrence of musgravite, a rare beryllium oxide, in the Caledonides of North-East Greenland. Mineralogical Magazine, 57, 121-129. |
Madagascar | |
| Devouard, B. et al. (2002): Occurrence of musgravite in anorthite-corundum-spinel-sapphirine rocks ("sakenites") from South Madagascar : Evidence for a high-grade metasomatic event. 18th General Meeting of the IMA, Sept. 2002, Edinburgh, Scotland. |
| http://fonjatany-mth.com/pdf/etudes/annexes_rapport.pdf |
Tanzania | |
| Schmetzer,k.,Krzemnicki,M.,Hanni,H.,Bernhardt,H., and Pettke, T., (2007) Gem-quality taaffeites and musgravites from Africa, Journal of Gemmology, 30(7/8), 367-382. |
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Zircon point pegmatite, Khmara Bay, Casey Bay, Napier Complex, Enderby Land, Eastern Antarctica, Antarctica