Weberite
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About Weberite
Formula:
Na2Mg[AlF6]F
Colour:
Grayish white; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.96
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Theobald Christian Fridrich Weber (September 13, 1823, København - September 3, 1886 Svendborg), a founder of the Danish cryolite industry in 1857.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Weberite.
Classification of Weberite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
3/C.03-30
3.CB.25
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides
11.6.13.1
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
8.6.8
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
Physical Properties of Weberite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Grayish white; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
On {101} poor; on {010} indistinct.
On {101} poor; on {010} indistinct.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.96 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.966 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Weberite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.344 - 1.346 nβ = 1.346 - 1.348 nγ = 1.347 - 1.350
2V:
Measured: 83° (3), Calculated: 88°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.003 - 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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
none
Chemical Properties of Weberite
Formula:
Na2Mg[AlF6]F
IMA Formula:
Na2MgAlF7
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Weberite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Immm
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.31 Å, b = 7.06 Å, c = 9.99 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.035 : 1 : 1.415
Unit Cell V:
515.57 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Irregular grains and masses. Inclusions in cryolite.
Twinning:
With [111] as twin axis and {011} as composition plane, commonly as contact twins
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0013477 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 293 | |
0013478 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 133 | |
0013479 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 293 | |
0013480 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 133 | |
0013481 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 293 | |
0013482 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 133 | |
0013483 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 293 | |
0013484 | Weberite | Knop O, Cameron T S, Jochem K (1982) What is the true space group of weberite? Journal of Solid State Chemistry 43 213-221 | 1982 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 133 | |
0015669 | Weberite | Giuseppetti G, Tadini C (1978) Re-examination of the crystal structure of weberite Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 25 57-62 | 1978 | Ivigtut, Greenland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
1.779 Å | (10) |
2.95 Å | (9) |
2.89 Å | (9) |
5.05 Å | (6) |
5.89 Å | (5) |
2.30 Å | (5) |
1.542 Å | (5) |
Type Occurrence of Weberite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1981.936
Geological Setting of Type Material:
cryolite deposit and overlying pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Weberite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
7 photos of Weberite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
6 photos of Weberite associated with Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
6 photos of Weberite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
6 photos of Weberite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
5 photos of Weberite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
5 photos of Weberite associated with Gearksutite | Ca[Al(F,OH)5(H2O)] |
5 photos of Weberite associated with Cryolite | Na2NaAlF6 |
5 photos of Weberite associated with Jørgensenite | Na2(Sr,Ba)14Na2Al12F64(OH,F)4 |
4 photos of Weberite associated with Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
3 photos of Weberite associated with Thomsenolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
3.CB.05 | Cryolithionite | Na3Al2(LiF4)3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
3.CB.15 | Cryolite | Na2NaAlF6 | Mon. 2/m |
3.CB.15 | Elpasolite | K2NaAlF6 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
3.CB.15 | Simmonsite | Na2LiAlF6 | Mon. |
3.CB.20 | Colquiriite | CaLi[AlF6] | Trig. |
3.CB.30 | Karasugite | SrCa[Al(F,OH)7] | Mon. |
3.CB.35 | Usovite | Ba2CaMgAl2F14 | Mon. |
3.CB.40 | Pachnolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O | Mon. 2/m |
3.CB.40 | Thomsenolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
3.CB.45 | Carlhintzeite | Ca2[AlF6]F · H2O | Tric. |
3.CB.50 | Yaroslavite | Ca3Al2F10(OH)2 · H2O | Orth. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
8.6.1 | Zharchikhite | AlF(OH)2 | Mon. |
8.6.2 | Chloraluminite | AlCl3 · 6H2O | Trig. |
8.6.3 | Cadwaladerite | Al5(H2O)3(OH)12 · n(Cl,H2O) | Amor. |
8.6.4 | Cryolithionite | Na3Al2(LiF4)3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
8.6.5 | Cryolite | Na2NaAlF6 | Mon. 2/m |
8.6.6 | Chiolite | Na5Al3F14 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mnc |
8.6.7 | Elpasolite | K2NaAlF6 | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Pa3 |
8.6.9 | Hydrokenoralstonite | Na0.5(Al,Mg)2(F,OH)6 · H2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
8.6.10 | Koenenite | Na4Mg9Al4Cl12(OH)22 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
8.6.11 | Chlor-manasseite | MgxAl(OH)2x+2Cl · (x-0.8)H2O x about 1.75 | |
8.6.12 | Gearksutite | Ca[Al(F,OH)5(H2O)] | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.6.13 | Prosopite | CaAl2F4[(OH)4-xFx] | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.6.14 | Yaroslavite | Ca3Al2F10(OH)2 · H2O | Orth. |
8.6.15 | Carlhintzeite | Ca2[AlF6]F · H2O | Tric. |
8.6.16 | Colquiriite | CaLi[AlF6] | Trig. |
8.6.17 | Thomsenolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.6.18 | Pachnolite | NaCa[AlF6] · H2O | Mon. 2/m |
8.6.19 | Zirklerite | (Fe,Mg,Ca)9Al4Cl18(OH)12 · 14H2O (?) | Trig. |
Other Information
Notes:
Slightly soluble in water. Readily soluble in an AlCl3 solution.
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 Weberite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Bøgvad, R. (1938) Weberite, a new mineral from Ivigtut. Meddelelser om Grønland: 119: 3-11.
Foshag, W.F. (1939) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 24: 278.
Brosset (1943) American Chemical Society: 37: 13.
Byström, A. (1944) The structure of weberite, Na2MgAlF7. Arkiv för kemi, mineralogi och geologi: 18(1).
Ferguson, R.B. (1948) Observations on weberite and jarlite. American Mineralogist: 33(3-4): 195-195.
Ferguson, R.B. (1949) Observations on some aluminium fluoride minerals. American Mineralogist: 34(5-6): 383-397.
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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 127-128.
Giuseppetti, G., Tadini, C. (1978) Re-examination of the crystal structure of weberite. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 25: 57-62.
Knop, O., Cameron, T.S., Jochem, K. (1982) What is the true space group of weberite?. Journal of Solid State Chemistry: 43(2): 213-221.
Caramanian, A., Souron, J.P., Gredin, P., de Kozak, A. (2001) The crystal structure of the weberite Na2MgInF7. Journal of Solid State Chemistry: 159: 234-238.
Internet Links for Weberite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4253.html
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Localities for Weberite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| Viramonte, J.G., Sureda, R.J., Bossi, G.E., Fourcade, N.H., Omarini, R.H., Geochemical and mineralogical study of the high temperature fumaroles from Decepcion Island, South Shetland, Antarctica. Inst. Assoc. of Volc. and chemistry of the erath interior. Symposium Andean and Antarctic Volcanology Problems. Chile (1974). |
Australia | |
| |
| Bottrill |
Finland | |
| Ilkka Mikkola collection; Lahti, Seppo I. 2012. Kotkan topaasilouhoksesta ja sen mineraaleista. Kivi-lehti 4. 6-23 |
Greenland (TL) | |
| Meddelelser om Grønland (1938), 119(7), 1; 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: 112, 128.;Petersen, O.V. and Secher, K. (1993): The minerals of Greenland. Mineralogical Record 24 (2): 1-65 (p.36) |
Kazakhstan | |
| Bailey, J. C: Formation of cryolite and other aluminofluorides: A petrologic review. Bull. geol. Soc. Denmark, vol. 29, pp. 1-45. Copenhagen, June 10th, 1980. |
Russia | |
| Starikova, Sharygin, V.V. (2015): Ba-dominant fluoroaluminates from the Katugin rare-metal deposit (Transbaikalia, Russia): chemical and Raman data. XXXII International Conference "Alkaline Magmatism of the Earth and Related Strategic Metal Deposits", August 7-14, Apatity, Kola, Russia; Starikova, A. E., Bazarova, E. P., Savel’eva, V. B., Sklyarov, E. V., Khromova, E. A., & Kanakin, S. V. (2019) Pyrochlore-Group Minerals in the Granite-Hosted Katugin Rare-Metal Deposit, Transbaikalia, Russia. Minerals, 9(8), 490. |
Ukraine | |
| Yurk Yu.Yu., Gurov E.P., Gurova E.P. (1973) Pecularities of fluorin mineralogy of Ukrainian crystalline shield, - Naukova Dumka, Kiev, pp.184 (in Russian).; Bailey, J. C: Formation of cryolite and other aluminofluorides: A petrologic review. Bull. geol. Soc. Denmark, vol. 29, pp. 1-45. Copenhagen, June 10th, 1980. |
USA | |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckel |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.; Am Min 51:299-323 |
| "Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 16, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997; Armbrustmacher, T. J. (1988) Geology and resources of thorium and associated elements in the Wet Mountains area, Fremont and Custer counties, Colorado. USGS Professional Paper: 1049-F |
| Mineralogical Record: 31: 204. |
Ivigtut Mine, Arsuk Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland