Bertossaite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Bertossaite
Formula:
(Li,Na)2(Ca,Fe2+,Mn2+)Al4(PO4)4(OH,F)4
Colour:
Pale pink
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
3.10
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Antonio Bertossa, past director of the Geological Survey of Rwanda, the country in which it was first found. It was first recognized as an unnamed phase by von Knorring (1965) and described by von Knorring & Mrose (1966).
Bertossaite-Palermoite Series. The calcium analogue of Palermoite. May be confused with amblygonite which has a more pronounced cleavage. Masses of bertossaite up to 50 kg are known from the type locality, the Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
641
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:641:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
84cde0e0-dee9-4695-be9c-94cb581987bd
IMA Classification of Bertossaite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Li2CaAl4(PO4)4(OH)4
Approval year:
1965
First published:
1965
Classification of Bertossaite
8.BH.25
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
H : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 = 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
H : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH,etc.):RO4 = 1:1
41.7.1.2
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)7(XO4)4Zq
19.8.5
19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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 |
---|---|---|
Bts | 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 Bertossaite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pale pink
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
(100)
(100)
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
3.10 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.183 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Bertossaite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.624 nβ = 1.636 nγ = 1.642
2V:
Calculated: 53°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.018
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:
weak
Optical Extinction:
Parallel. X = a; Y = c; Z = b.
Comments:
2Vmeas: moderately large.
Chemistry of Bertossaite
Mindat Formula:
(Li,Na)2(Ca,Fe2+,Mn2+)Al4(PO4)4(OH,F)4
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mn
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
1 | |
---|---|
P2O5 | 45.24 % |
Al2O3 | 33.42 % |
FeO | 0.98 % |
MnO | 0.76 % |
CaO | 8.36 % |
Na2O | 0.34 % |
Li2O | 4.21 % |
H2O+ | 5.36 % |
H2O- | 0.07 % |
F | 1.68 % |
Insol | 0.27 % |
Total: | 100.69 % |
Sample references:
ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Buranga pegmatite, Muhororo, Ngororero District, Western Province, Rwanda | The sample also contained MgO, SrO, BaO, and K2O, all in trace amounts. |
Crystallography of Bertossaite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.476(1) Å, b = 15.744(2) Å, c = 7.228(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.729 : 1 : 0.459
Unit Cell V:
1,305.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Massive
Comment:
Space Group: Imcb. Cell parameters from Hatert et al. (2011).
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0018635 | Bertossaite | Hatert F, Lefevre P, Fransolet A M (2011) The crystal structure of bertossaite, CaLi2[Al4(PO4)4(OH,F)4] The Canadian Mineralogist 49 1079-1087 | 2011 | Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.059 Å | (100) |
3.104 Å | (84) |
2.411 Å | (63) |
3.295 Å | (60) |
2.881 Å | (57) |
2.577 Å | (40) |
4.32 Å | (33) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Bertossaite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium, RMB11232; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 141000.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A lithium pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Von Knorring, O. and Mrose, M.E. (1966) Bertossaite (Li,Na)2(Ca,Fe,Mn)Al4 (PO4)(OH,F)4, a new mineral from Rwanda (Africa). (Abstr.) Canadian Mineralogist: 8: 668.
Synonyms of Bertossaite
Other Language Names for Bertossaite
Relationship of Bertossaite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Natropalermoite | Na2SrAl4(PO4)4(OH)4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Palermoite | (Li,Na)2(Sr,Ca)Al4(PO4)4(OH)4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.BH. | Crimsonite | PbFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH. | Reznitskyite | CaMg(VO4)F |
8.BH. | Cuprozheshengite | Pb4CuZn2(AsO4)2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH. | Zheshengite | Pb4ZnZn2(AsO4)2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH. | Peterchinite | Zn3Zn2(OH)6As[O3(OH)3] |
8.BH.05 | Thadeuite | Ca(Mg,Fe2+)3(PO4)2(OH,F)2 |
8.BH.10 | Durangite | NaAl(AsO4)F |
8.BH.10 | Isokite | CaMg(PO4)F |
8.BH.10 | Lacroixite | NaAl(PO4)F |
8.BH.10 | Maxwellite | NaFe3+(AsO4)F |
8.BH.10 | Panasqueiraite | CaMg(PO4)(OH,F) |
8.BH.10 | Kononovite | NaMg(SO4)F |
8.BH.10 | Arsenatrotitanite | NaTi(AsO4)O |
8.BH.15 | Drugmanite | Pb2(Fe3+,Al)(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)2 |
8.BH.20 | Bjarebyite | (Ba,Sr)(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
8.BH.20 | Cirrolite | Ca3Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 (?) |
8.BH.20 | Kulanite | Ba(Fe2+,Mn2+,Mg)2(Al,Fe3+)2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
8.BH.20 | Penikisite | Ba(Mg,Fe2+,Ca)2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
8.BH.20 | Perloffite | Ba(Mn2+,Fe2+)2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
8.BH.20 | Johntomaite | BaFe2+2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
8.BH.20 | Bjarebyite Group | |
8.BH.20 | Strontioperloffite | SrMn2+2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
8.BH.20 | Plumboperloffite | PbMn2+2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH)3 |
8.BH.25 | Palermoite | (Li,Na)2(Sr,Ca)Al4(PO4)4(OH)4 |
8.BH.25 | Natropalermoite | Na2SrAl4(PO4)4(OH)4 |
8.BH.30 | Carminite | PbFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH.30 | Sewardite | CaFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH.35 | Adelite | CaMg(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Arsendescloizite | PbZn(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Austinite | CaZn(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Cobaltaustinite | CaCo(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Conichalcite | CaCu(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Duftite | PbCu(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Gabrielsonite | PbFe3+(As3+O3)O |
8.BH.35 | Nickelaustinite | CaNi(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Tangeite | CaCu(VO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Duftite-alpha | PbCu(AsO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Gottlobite | CaMg(VO4)(OH) |
8.BH.35 | Hermannroseite | CaCu(PO4)(OH) |
8.BH.40 | Čechite | PbFe2+(VO4)(OH) |
8.BH.40 | Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
8.BH.40 | Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
8.BH.40 | Pyrobelonite | PbMn2+(VO4)(OH) |
8.BH.40 | Khorixasite | (Bi0.67◻0.33)Cu(VO4)(OH) |
8.BH.45 | Bayldonite | PbCu3(AsO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH.45 | Vésigniéite | BaCu3(VO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH.50 | Paganoite | NiBi(AsO4)O |
8.BH.55 | Harrisonite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)6(PO4)2(SiO4)2 |
8.BH.55 | Jagowerite | BaAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
8.BH.60 | Attakolite | CaMn2+Al4(SiO3OH)(PO4)3(OH)4 |
8.BH.65 | Leningradite | PbCu3(VO4)2Cl |
8.BH.70 | Katiarsite | KTiO(AsO4) |
8.BH.70 | Yurgensonite | K2SnTiO2(AsO4)2 |
8.BH.75 | Melanarsite | K3Cu7Fe3+O4(AsO4)4 |
8.BH.80 | Moraskoite | Na2Mg(PO4)F |
8.BH.80 | Evseevite | Na2Mg(AsO4)F |
8.BH.85 | Piccoliite | NaCaMn3+2(AsO4)2O(OH) |
Fluorescence of Bertossaite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Dissolves very slowly in HNO3
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Bertossaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-641.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Bertossaite
Reference List:
Localities for Bertossaite
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 | |
| Eagle et al. (2015) |
| Birch (2018) |
Eagle et al. (2015) +1 other reference | |
Museum Victoria Natural Sciences ... | |
China | |
| Yunxiang Ni et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
Rao +6 other references | |
Rwanda | |
| Lefèvre +1 other reference |
| von Knorring (1965) +2 other references |
Uganda | |
Quick NavTopAbout BertossaiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Chemical AnalysisCrystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Buranga pegmatite, Muhororo, Ngororero District, Western Province, Rwanda