Barentsite
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About Barentsite
Formula:
Na7Al(HCO3)2(CO3)2F4
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly, Dull
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.56
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named after Willem Barents (1550–1597), the famous Dutch seafarer, for whom the Barents Sea, northeast of the Kola Peninsula, was named.
Type Locality:
Alters superficially to a white powder in air. Slowly decomposed by water.
Classification of Barentsite
Approved
5/C.02-10
5.BB.05
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
B : With alkalies, etc.
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
B : With alkalies, etc.
13.1.8.1
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
12.1.2
12 : Carbonates with other anions
1 : Carbonates with halides
12 : Carbonates with other anions
1 : Carbonates with halides
Physical Properties of Barentsite
Vitreous, Pearly, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Pearly on cleavages, dull if weathered
Colour:
Colourless
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=86 - 172 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}{110}
on {001}{110}
Density:
2.56 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.55 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Barentsite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.358 nβ = 1.479 nγ = 1.530
2V:
Measured: 62° , Calculated: 60°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.172

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:
r < v weak
Chemical Properties of Barentsite
Formula:
Na7Al(HCO3)2(CO3)2F4
Crystallography of Barentsite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.472 Å, b = 6.735 Å, c = 8.806 Å
α = 92.5°, β = 97.33°, γ = 119.32°
α = 92.5°, β = 97.33°, γ = 119.32°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.961 : 1 : 1.307
Unit Cell V:
329.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Granular to 5mm.
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0012474 | Barentsite | Tjy C T L, Pobedimskaya E A, Fundamenskii V S, Nadezhina T N, Khomyakov A P (1983) The crystal structure of barentsite Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 273 699-704 | 1983 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Geological Environment
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermal veinlets in alkalic pegmatites.
Type Occurrence of Barentsite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Fernsman museum 82753
Synonyms of Barentsite
Other Language Names for Barentsite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
12.1.1 | Northupite | Na3Mg(CO3)2Cl | Iso. m3 (2/m 3) : Fd3 |
12.1.3 | Rouvilleite | Na3(Ca,Mn,Fe)2(CO3)3F | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
12.1.4 | Chlormagaluminite | Mg4Al2(OH)12Cl2 · 3H2O | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm |
12.1.5 | Defernite | Ca6(CO3)2-x(SiO4)x(OH)7(Cl,OH)1-2x (x | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
12.1.6 | Brenkite | Ca2(CO3)F2 | Orth. |
12.1.7 | Stenonite | (Sr,Ba,Na)2Al(CO3)F5 | Mon. 2/m |
12.1.8 | Bastnäsite-(Ce) | Ce(CO3)F | Hex. 6 m2 : P6c2 |
12.1.9 | Bastnäsite-(La) | La(CO3)F | Hex. |
12.1.10 | Bastnäsite-(Y) | Y(CO3)F | Hex. 6 m2 : P62c |
12.1.11 | Parisite-(Ce) | CaCe2(CO3)3F2 | Mon. m : Bb |
12.1.12 | Parisite-(Nd) | Ca(Nd,Ce,La)2(CO3)3F2 | |
12.1.13 | Synchysite-(Ce) | CaCe(CO3)2F | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
12.1.14 | Synchysite-(Y) | CaY(CO3)2F | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
12.1.15 | Synchysite-(Nd) | CaNd(CO3)2F | Orth. |
12.1.16 | Röntgenite-(Ce) | Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
12.1.17 | Cordylite-(Ce) | NaBaCe2(CO3)4F | Hex. |
12.1.19 | Huanghoite-(Ce) | BaCe(CO3)2F | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
12.1.20 | Zhonghuacerite-(Ce) | Ba2Ce(CO3)3F | Trig. |
12.1.21 | Cebaite-(Ce) | Ba3Ce2(CO3)5F2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
12.1.22 | Thorbastnäsite | ThCa(CO3)2F2 · 3H2O | Hex. 6 m2 : P62c |
12.1.23 | Phosgenite | Pb2CO3Cl2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mbm |
12.1.24 | Barstowite | Pb4Cl6(CO3) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
12.1.25 | Albrechtschraufite | Ca4Mg(UO2)2(CO3)6F2 · 17-18H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
12.1.26 | Kettnerite | CaBiCO3OF | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Alters to a white powder in air, slowly decomposed by water.
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 Barentsite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
American Mineralogist: 69: 565.
Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 273: 699-704.
Internet Links for Barentsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-520.html
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Localities for Barentsite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Russia (TL) | |
| Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow |
Restin'yun Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia