Bernalite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Bernalite
Formula:
Fe(OH)3 · nH2O (n = 0.0 to 0.25)
Colour:
Dark bottle-green to yellow-green; yellowish bottle-green in thin section
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
3.32
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of John Desmond Bernal (10 May 1901, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland - 15 September 1971, London, England), eminent crystallographer and historian of science. He pioneered the use of X-ray crystallography in molecular biology and determined the structure of graphite. He also investigated the crystal chemistry of iron oxides and hydroxides.
Söhngeite Group.
A highly unusual, pseudo-cubic, bottle-green iron hydroxide. In bernalite, the iron containing octahedra units only share corners, while other iron hydroxides share both corners and edges, resulting in Fe-O distances in bernalite that are more consistent than other iron hydroxides. This causes a low crystal field stabilization energy which results in a green color as compared to the red yellow of other iron hydroxides.
A highly unusual, pseudo-cubic, bottle-green iron hydroxide. In bernalite, the iron containing octahedra units only share corners, while other iron hydroxides share both corners and edges, resulting in Fe-O distances in bernalite that are more consistent than other iron hydroxides. This causes a low crystal field stabilization energy which results in a green color as compared to the red yellow of other iron hydroxides.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
635
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:635:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8c57f88f-f743-4728-88e5-01b8d598740e
IMA Classification of Bernalite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Fe(OH)3
First published:
1992
Classification of Bernalite
4.FC.05
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
6.3.5.3
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
3 : X(OH)3
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
3 : X(OH)3
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 |
---|---|---|
Bnl | 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 Bernalite
Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Opaque
Colour:
Dark bottle-green to yellow-green; yellowish bottle-green in thin section
Streak:
Apple-green
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
3.32 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.35 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Bernalite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
n = 1.92 - 1.94
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.000
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
Dispersion:
r > v, strong
Chemistry of Bernalite
Mindat Formula:
Fe(OH)3 · nH2O (n = 0.0 to 0.25)
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
C,Pb,Si,Zn
Crystallography of Bernalite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pmmn
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.544 Å, b = 7.56 Å, c = 7.558 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.998 : 1 : 1
Unit Cell V:
431.05 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Flattened pyramidal crystals, pseudo-octahedral to pseudo-cubic, with slightly concave faces; also skeletal aggregates.
Twinning:
Polysynthetic, crosshatched, observed in thin section, probably pinacoidal.
Comment:
Pseudocubic. Originally described with space group Immm.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0001607 | Bernalite | Birch W D, Pring A, Reller A, Schmalle H W (1993) Bernalite, Fe(OH)3, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales: Description and structure American Mineralogist 78 827-834 | 1993 | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.784 Å | (100) |
1.692 Å | (17) |
2.393 Å | (16) |
2.676 Å | (15) |
1.892 Å | (10) |
1.545 Å | (9) |
2.023 Å | (6) |
Comments:
Recorded on type material
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Bernalite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Flattened pyramidal crystals and pseudo-octahedra, to 3 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia;
South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (No. G17627)
South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (No. G17627)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
On a museum specimen from a metamorphosed Pb-Zn deposit, probably from the surface oxidation zone
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Birch, W. D., Pring, A., Reller, A. and Schmalle, H. W. (1992) Bernalite: a new ferric hydroxide with perovskite structure. Naturwissenschaften: 79: 509-511.
Synonyms of Bernalite
Other Language Names for Bernalite
Relationship of Bernalite to other Species
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
4.FC.05 | Dzhalindite | In(OH)3 |
4.FC.05 | Söhngeite | Ga(OH)3 |
4.FC.10 | Burtite | Ca[Sn(OH)6] |
4.FC.10 | Mushistonite | (Cu,Zn,Fe2+)[Sn(OH)6] |
4.FC.10 | Natanite | Fe2+[Sn(OH)6] |
4.FC.10 | Schoenfliesite | Mg[Sn(OH)6] |
4.FC.10 | Vismirnovite | Zn[Sn(OH)6] |
4.FC.10 | Wickmanite | Mn2+[Sn(OH)6] |
4.FC.15 | Jeanbandyite | Fe3+xFe2+1-xSn(OH)6-xOx |
4.FC.15 | Mopungite | Na[Sb5+(OH)6] |
4.FC.15 | Stottite | Fe2+[Ge4+(OH)6] |
4.FC.15 | Tetrawickmanite | Mn2+[Sn4+(OH)6] |
4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-2N1S | (Al,Fe,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-6N6S | (Mg,Al,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) |
4.FC.20 | Magnesionigerite-2N1S | (Mg,Al,Zn)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
4.FC.20 | Ferronigerite-6N6S | (Al,Fe,Zn)3(Al,Sn,Fe)8O15(OH) |
4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-2N1S | (Zn,Al,Mg)2(Al,Sn)6O11(OH) |
4.FC.20 | Zinconigerite-6N6S | Zn3Sn2Al16O30(OH)2 |
4.FC.25 | Magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S | Mg2BeAl6O12 |
4.FC.25 | Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S | Mg3Al8BeO16 |
4.FC.25 | Ferrotaaffeite-2N’2S | Be(Fe,Mg,Zn)3Al8O16 |
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.
Industrial Uses:
None
Internet Links for Bernalite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-635.html
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References for Bernalite
Reference List:
Birch, W. D., Pring, A., Reller, A., Schmalle, H. (1992) Bernalite : a new ferric hydroxide with perovskite structure. Naturwissenschaften, 79 (11). 509-511 doi:10.1007/bf01135768
Birch, William D., Pring, Allan, Reller, Armin, Schmalle, Helmut W. (1993) Bernalite, Fe(OH)3, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales: Description and structure. American Mineralogist, 78 (7-8) 827-834
Localities for Bernalite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia (TL) | |
| Naturwiss. (1992) |
R&M. 71:160-161 (1996) +1 other reference | |
| Parbhakar-Fox (2016) |
Parbhakar-Fox (2016) | |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) +3 other references |
| Lapis 33 (10) |
| Thalheim et al. (2006) |
Iran | |
| Khorasanipour (2015) |
Italy | |
| Dott. Cristina Carbone-Dipteris-Genova: analysis June 2007 (paper in preparation) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Nagashima et al. (2016) |
Mexico | |
| Yta et al. (2005) |
Russia | |
| Sharygin +9 other references |
Spain | |
| Shuster et al. (2017) |
USA | |
| Pxrd and eds by Tony Kampf. Collected ... |
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Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany