Betafite
Betafite is an extremely gem that is rare is highly radioactive. It is especially for enthusiasts of extremely uncommon gems or gems which can be radioactive. It really is one of the uranium that is few minerals to form also shaped crystals. Betafite is one of several so called Rare Earth Oxides. Other earth that is unusual such as Aeschynite-(Y), Euxenite-(Y), Fergusonite-(Ce) and Samarskite-(Y) have similar properties but never form as well shaped crystals like those typical of Betafite. Betafite was discovered in 1912 at Ambolotara, Betafo District, Madagascar. It’s a member of the Pyrochlore Group that typically occurs as a mineral that is primary granite pegmatites, rarely in carbonates.
Sources of Betafite: In Madagascar, large crystals at a wide range of localities, including: from Ambolotara, west of Betafo; Ambatolampikely; Ambatofotsy; Ambatomboahangy; Ambalahazo; Tomboarivo; and Antanifotsy. In Norway, at Höysjåen, near Kragerø; Landsverk quarry, near Evje; and Ljosland. From Slyudyanka, near Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia. In the Silver Crater mine, Wilberforce, Ontario, and elsewhere in Canada. Into the United States Of America, into the Brown Derby pegmatite, Gunnison County, Colorado; in the Pidlite pegmatite, Mora County, brand new Mexico; and through the Cady Mountains, San Bernardino County, Ca.
Betafite is a mineral that is highly radioactive should be kept away from other minerals and gems that would be damaged by radioactivity. Human exposure and contact to Thorite mineral specimens or gems should be limited!
|
Category: |
Oxide minerals |
|
Chemical Formula: |
(Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) |
| Calcium Uranium Titanium Niobium Tantalum Oxide Hydroxide | |
| Molecular Weight: | 415.12 gm |
| Composition: | 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 % | 100.00 % | = TOTAL OXIDE |
| Crystallography: | Isometric – Hexoctahedral |
| Crystal Habit: | Crystals commonly octahedra modified by [110], [100], [113], [233], and [230]; some crystals elongated k [001] or [111]; to 15 cm. |
| Twinning: | None |
| Cleavage: | None observed |
| Fracture: | Conchoidal to Irregular/Uneven |
| Tenacity: | Brittle |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 3.0 – 5.5 |
| Density: | 3.70 – 4.90 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | Radioactive |
| Radioactivity: | Very Strong; GRapi = 1,310,418.25 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) |
| Health Warning: | Contains Uranium – always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in a proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas. |
| Colour: | Red; Greenish Brown, Dark Brown to Black when metamict, commonly superficially altered Yellow; almost Colourless in transmitted light. |
| Transparency: | Translucent to Opaque |
| Luster: | Waxy, Greasy to Adamantine, Semimetallic |
| Refractive Index: | 1.910 – 2.197 Isotropic |
| Birefringence: | 0.000 (Isotropic) |
| Dispersion: | None |
| Pleochroism: | None |
| Reflectivity: |
(400) 13.5, (420) 13.2, (440) 13.0, (460) 12.8, (480) 12.6, (500) 12.4, (520) 12.3, (540) 12.2, (560) 12.0, (580) 11.9, (600) 11.7, (620) 11.6, (640) 11.6, (660) 11.6, (680) 11.5, (700) 11.5 |
