Betafite Mineral Data

Betafite Mineral Data +

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General Betafite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 415.12 gm

Calcium 1.93 % Ca 2.70 % CaO

Uranium 17.20 % U 20.67 % UO₃

Tantalum 21.79 % Ta 26.61 % Ta₂O₅

Titanium 9.23 % Ti 15.39 % TiO₂

Niobium 20.14 % Nb 28.81 % Nb₂O₅

Aluminum 0.65 % Al 1.23 % Al₂O₃

Iron 1.35 % Fe 1.92 % Fe₂O₃

Hydrogen 0.73 % H 6.51 % H₂O

Oxygen 26.98 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 103.85 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

U_0.3Ca_0.2Nb_0.9Ti_0.8Al_0.1Fe³⁺_0.1Ta_0.5O₄(OH)₃

Environment:

Typically a primary mineral in granite pegmatites, rare in carbonatites.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1912

Locality:

Betafo, Malagasy Republic. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its locality.

Synonym:

Blomstrandite

Mendeleyevite

Samiresite

Betafite Image

Images:

Betafite

Comments: Brown hexoctahedral crystal of betafite on greenish apatite crystals.
Location: Silver Crater Mine, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. Scale: 2-1/4 cm across.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Betafite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.31, Z = 10; V = 1,095.91 Den(Calc)= 6.29

Crystal System:

Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F d3m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.96(1), 1.814(0.45), 1.546(0.4),

Forms:

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Crystal Structure:

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Dickson F J , Hawkins K D , White T J , Journal of Solid State Chemistry , 82 (1989) p.146-150, Calcium uranium titanate - a new pyrochlore, Locality: synthetic

Physical Properties of Betafite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Brown, Black, Brownish green, Yellow, Greenish black.

Density:

3.7 - 4.9, Average = 4.3

Diaphaniety:

Translucent to Opaque

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).

Habit:

Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

5-5.5 - Apatite-Knife Blade

Luminescence:

Radioactive.

Luster:

Vitreous - Greasy

Streak:

yellowish white

Optical Properties of Betafite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.026 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.298 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1675,KPDmeas= 0.245,KC= 0.2387

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.91-2.197.

RL Color:

Almost colorless.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Betafite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	13.50
420 nm	13.20
440 nm	13.00
460 nm	12.80
480 nm	12.60
500 nm	12.40
520 nm	12.30
540 nm	12.20
560 nm	12.00
580 nm	11.90
600 nm	11.70
620 nm	11.60
640 nm	11.60
660 nm	11.60
680 nm	11.50
700 nm	11.50

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Betafite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	80%	100%	160%	240%	320%	400%	480%	560%	640%	720%	740%
R

Calculated Properties of Betafite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.84 gm/cc
note: r_Betafite=4.30 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.01363
Boson Index = 0.98637

Photoelectric:

PE_Betafite= 722.04 barns/electron
U=PE_Betafite x r_electron=2,774.78 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 1,310,418.25 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Betafite is Radioactive as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. Greater than 70 Bq / gram.

Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 10 cm box) 23.21 ± 5.80 grams of pure Betafite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 2321.1 ±580.29 grams of pure Betafite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Betafite** - very strong
Specimen Size Weight/Volume (Sphere) *	Calculated Activity Bequerols (Bq)	Calculated Activity Curies (Ci)	Estimated Activity GR(api)	Estimated Exposure (mRem**)/hr If Held in Hand For One Hour
1000 gm / 7.63 cm	30,791,419	8.32E-04	1,310,418.25	430.82
100 gm / 3.54 cm	3,079,142	8.32E-05	131,041.83	43.08
10 gm / 1.64 cm	307,914	8.32E-06	13,104.18	4.31
1 gm / 7.63 mm	30,791	8.32E-07	1,310.42	0.43
0.1 gm / 3.54 mm	3,079	8.32E-08	131.04	0.04
0.01 gm / 1.64 mm	308	8.32E-09	13.10	0.00
0.001 gm / 0.76 mm	31	8.32E-10	1.31	0.00

Weight of pure Betafite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 4.30 gm/cc.*
Goverment Estimate of Average Annual Exposure ( 360 mRem) **
Note: 10 microsieverts/hr = 1 mRem/hr **
Max Permissable Adult Dose 50,000 mRem/yr (hands), 15,000 mRem/yr (eyes)
Lethal Dose LD(50) Exposure 400,000 to 500,000 mRem

Betafite Classification

Dana Class:

8.2.3.1 (8)Multiple Oxides with Nb, Ta, and Ti

(8.2)where (A)2 (B2O6) (O,OH,F)

(8.2.3)Pyrochlore Group (Betafite Subgroup; 2(Ti)>(Ta+Nb)

8.2.3.1 Betafite (Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.3.2 Yttrobetafite-(Y) (Y,U,Ce)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.3.3 Plumbobetafite (Pb,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.3.4 Stibiobetafite (Sb,Ca)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.3.5 Calciobetafite Ca2(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

IV/C.16-10 IV - Oxides

IV/C - Oxides with metal : oxygen = 2:3 (M2O3 and related compounds)

IV/C.16 - Pyrochlore group, Betafite series with Ti > (Nb,Ta)

IV/C.16-10 Betafite (Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.16-20 Stibiobetafite (Sb,Ca)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.16-30 Yttrobetafite-(Y) (Y,U,Ce)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.16-40 Plumbobetafite (Pb,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

Other Betafite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic3) PHYS. PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic3)

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Betafite

(Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
Dana No: 8.2.3.1 Strunz No: IV/C.16-10
Locality:

Notes: