Cafetite
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Formula:
CaTi2O5 · H2O
Originally reported as (Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)2Ti4O12.4H2O; name reflects Fe content, since found to be non-essential.
Colour:
yellow, colourless
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
4 - 5
Specific Gravity:
3.28
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in allusion to the composition, containing CAlcium, iron (Latin = FErrum), and TItanium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cafetite.
Classification of Cafetite
Approved
4/D.05-10
4.FL.75
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
L : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
L : Hydroxides with H2O +- (OH); sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
8.7.3.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
7 : Miscellaneous
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
7 : Miscellaneous
7.9.24
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
9 : Oxides of Ti
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
9 : Oxides of Ti
Physical Properties of Cafetite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
yellow, colourless
Streak:
white
Hardness:
4 - 5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Two cleavage planes
Two cleavage planes
Density:
3.28 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.14 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Cafetite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.950 nβ = 2.080 nγ = 2.110
2V:
Measured: 36.5° to 39°, Calculated: 48°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.160

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:
strong
Optical Extinction:
Z
∧
c=2
◦
–4
Z ^ c = 2-4°
Chemical Properties of Cafetite
Formula:
CaTi2O5 · H2O
Originally reported as (Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)2Ti4O12.4H2O; name reflects Fe content, since found to be non-essential.
Originally reported as (Ca,Mg)(Fe,Al)2Ti4O12.4H2O; name reflects Fe content, since found to be non-essential.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Cafetite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.9436(15) Å, b = 12.109(4) Å, c = 15.911(5) Å
β = 98.937(5)°
β = 98.937(5)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.408 : 1 : 1.314
Unit Cell V:
940.9 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Columnar to acicular crystals, elongated || z and with striated prism faces. Forms {100}, {520}, {210}. Fibrous masses, radiating aggregates.
Comment:
Space group setting is P21/n !
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
7.86 | (100) |
3.27 | (80) |
2.63 | (40) |
2.562 | (80) |
2.108 | (40) |
1.914 | (70) |
1.573 | (40) |
Type Occurrence of Cafetite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Museum, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, 13420-21;
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 72024.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 72024.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Late hydrothermal mineral in miarolitic cavities, in pegmatite that cuts pyroxenite.
Other Language Names for Cafetite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Lizardite | 4 photos of Cafetite associated with Lizardite on mindat.org. |
Perovskite | 3 photos of Cafetite associated with Perovskite on mindat.org. |
Calcite | 3 photos of Cafetite associated with Calcite on mindat.org. |
Kassite | 3 photos of Cafetite associated with Kassite on mindat.org. |
Titanite | 2 photos of Cafetite associated with Titanite on mindat.org. |
Natrolite | 1 photo of Cafetite associated with Natrolite on mindat.org. |
Pyroaurite-2H | 1 photo of Cafetite associated with Pyroaurite-2H on mindat.org. |
Knopite | 1 photo of Cafetite associated with Knopite on mindat.org. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
4.FL. | Trébeurdenite | Fe2+2Fe3+4O2(OH)10CO3·3H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FL.05 | Woodallite | Mg6Cr2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O | Trig. |
4.FL.05 | Iowaite | Mg6Fe3+2(OH)16Cl2 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FL.05 | Jamborite | Ni2+1-xCo3+x(OH)2-x(SO4)x · nH2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FL.05 | Meixnerite | Mg6Al2(OH)16(OH)2 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FL.05 | Muskoxite | Mg7Fe4O13 · 10H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) |
4.FL.05 | Fougèrite | Fe2+4Fe3+2(OH)12[CO3]·3H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
4.FL.10 | Hydrocalumite | Ca4Al2(OH)12(Cl,CO3,OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
4.FL.15 | Kuzelite | Ca4Al2(OH)12[SO4] · 6H2O | Trig. |
4.FL.20 | Aurorite | (Mn2+,Ag,Ca)Mn4+3O7 · 3H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.FL.20 | Chalcophanite | (Zn,Fe,Mn)Mn3O7 · 3H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.FL.20 | Ernienickelite | NiMn3O7 · 3H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.FL.20 | Jianshuiite | (Mg,Mn,Ca)Mn3O7 · 3H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
4.FL.25 | Woodruffite | Zn2+x/2(Mn4+1-xMn3+x)O2·yH2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
4.FL.30 | Asbolane | (Ni,Co)2-xMn4+(O,OH)4 · nH2O | Hex. |
4.FL.35 | Buserite | Na4Mn14O27 · 21H2O | |
4.FL.40 | Ranciéite | (Ca,Mn2+)0.2(Mn4+,Mn3+)O2 · 0.6H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
4.FL.40 | Takanelite | (Mn,Ca)Mn4O9 · H2O | Hex. |
4.FL.45 | Birnessite | (Na,Ca)0.5(Mn4+,Mn3+)2O4 · 1.5H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
4.FL.55 | Cianciulliite | Mn(Mg,Mn)2Zn2(OH)10 · 2-4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
4.FL.60 | Jensenite | Cu3[TeO6] · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
4.FL.65 | Leisingite | CuMg2Te6+O6 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
4.FL.70 | Akdalaite | 5Al2O3 · H2O | Hex. |
4.FL.80 | Mourite | UMo5O12(OH)10 | Mon. |
4.FL.85 | Deloryite | Cu4(UO2)(MoO4)2(OH)6 | Mon. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
7.9.1 | Hongquiite | TiO | |
7.9.2 | Rutile | TiO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
7.9.3 | Anatase | TiO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
7.9.4 | Brookite | TiO2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.9.5 | Geikielite | MgTiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
7.9.6 | Perovskite | CaTiO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.9.7 | Kassite | CaTi2O4(OH)2 | Orth. |
7.9.8 | Tausonite | SrTiO3 | Iso. 4 3m |
7.9.9 | Crichtonite | Sr(Mn,Y,U)Fe2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH)38 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
7.9.10 | Lucasite-(Ce) | CeTi2(O,OH)6 | Mon. |
7.9.11 | Hibonite | (Ca,Ce)(Al,Ti,Mg)12O19 | Hex. |
7.9.12 | Yttrocrasite-(Y) | (Y,Th,Ca,U)(Ti,Fe)2(O,OH)6 | Amor. |
7.9.13 | Pyrophanite | Mn2+TiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
7.9.14 | Iwakiite | Mn2+Fe3+2O4 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
7.9.15 | Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
7.9.16 | Pseudobrookite | Fe2TiO5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.9.17 | Ulvöspinel | Fe2TiO4 | Iso. |
7.9.18 | Pseudorutile | Fe2Ti3O9 | Hex. |
7.9.19 | Freudenbergite | Na2(Ti,Fe)8O16 | Mon. |
7.9.20 | Kennedyite | Fe2TiO5 | |
7.9.21 | Armalcolite | (Mg,Fe2+)Ti2O5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
7.9.22 | Högbomite | (Mg,Fe)2(Al,Ti)5O10 | Hex. |
7.9.23 | Qandilite | (Mg,Fe3+)2(Ti,Fe3+,Al)O4 | |
7.9.25 | Loveringite | (Ca,Ce,La)(Zr,Fe)(Mg,Fe)2(Ti,Fe,Cr,Al)18O38 | Trig. |
7.9.26 | Lindsleyite | (Ba,Sr)(Zr,Ca)(Fe,Mg)2(Ti,Cr,Fe)18O38 | Trig. |
7.9.27 | Priderite | K(Ti4+7Fe3+)O16 | Tet. |
7.9.28 | Jeppeite | (K,Ba)2(Ti,Fe)6O13 | Mon. |
7.9.29 | Ankangite | Ba(Ti,V3+,Cr)8O16 | Tet. 4/m : I4/m |
7.9.30 | Ecandrewsite | (Zn,Fe2+,Mn2+)TiO3 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
7.9.31 | Landauite | NaMnZn2(Ti,Fe)6Ti12O38 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
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 Cafetite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
American Mineralogist: 45: 476.
Krivovichev S V, Yakovenchuk V N, Burns P C, Pakhomovsky Y A, Menshikov Y P (2003): Cafetite, Ca[Ti2O5](H2O): Crystal structure and revision of chemical formula. American Mineralogist, 88, 424-429.
Bortolozzi G., Boscardini M., Rocchetti I. and Bersani D. (2013): Cafetite e kassite della cava di Pilcante in Val d'Adige (Ala, Trento). Micro, 11 (1), 39-48.
Internet Links for Cafetite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-850.html
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Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Cafetite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Italy | |
| Bortolozzi, G., Boscardin, M., Rocchetti, I., Bersani, D. (2013): Cafetite e kassite della cava di Pilcante in Val d'Adige (Ala, Trento). Micro, 11, 1, 39-48. |
Russia (TL) | |
| Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow |
| Pekov, I.V. & Podlesnyi, A.S. (2004): Kukisvumchorr Deposit: Mineralogy of Alkaline Pegmatites and Hydrotermalites. Mineralogical Almanac, vol. 7, 140 pages + xxiv photo's pages |
| N.V. Chukanov et al.: Zap. Vses. Mineral. Obshch. 133(1):59-72 (2004) |
USA | |
| Chakhmouradian A.R., Mitchell R.H. (2002): The mineralogy of Ba- and Zr-rich alkaline pegmatites from Gordon Butte, Crazy Mountains (Montana, USA): comparisons between potassic and sodic agpaitic pegmatites. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 143, 93-114. |
Val di Serra Quarry, Pilcante, Ala, Lagarina Valley, Trento Province, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy