Atelestite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Atelestite
Formula:
Bi2(AsO4)O(OH)
Colour:
Sulphur-yellow to yellowish-green, wax-yellow, yellow-brown
Lustre:
Adamantine, Resinous
Hardness:
4½ - 5
Specific Gravity:
7.14
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
From the Greek άτελής for "incomplete," presumably because its composition was unknown when first described.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
407
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:407:5
IMA Classification of Atelestite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Bi3+2O(As5+O4)(OH)
First published:
1832
Classification of Atelestite
8.BO.15
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
O : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
O : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
Dana 7th ed.:
41.11.5.1
41.11.5.1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : Miscellaneous
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : Miscellaneous
20.6.4
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
6 : Arsenates of Bi
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
6 : Arsenates of Bi
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ale | 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 Atelestite
Adamantine, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Sulphur-yellow to yellowish-green, wax-yellow, yellow-brown
Comment:
Light yellow to colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
(not reported)
Hardness:
4½ - 5 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
On {001}, indistinct.
On {001}, indistinct.
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
7.14 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.95 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Atelestite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 2.14 nβ = 2.15 nγ = 2.18
2V:
Measured: 42° to 46°, Calculated: 62°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.040
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r < v, strong
Chemistry of Atelestite
Mindat Formula:
Bi2(AsO4)O(OH)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Atelestite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.88 Å, b = 7.42 Å, c = 6.98 Å
β = 107.2°
β = 107.2°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.466 : 1 : 0.941
Unit Cell V:
538.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals generally minute, tabular {100}, with a, g, d and q commonly prominent. q{313} somewhat rounded. Other faces smooth and brilliant. Also occurs as spherical or mammillary crystalline aggregates with smooth surfaces.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012025 | Atelestite | Mereiter K, Preisinger A (1986) Kristallstrukturdaten der wismutminerale atelestit, mixit und pucherit Anzeiger der Osterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften 123 79-81 | 1986 | Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.239 Å | (100b) |
| 6.62 Å | (20) |
| 4.233 Å | (20) |
| 3.116 Å | (40) |
| 2.725 Å | (30) |
| 2.526 Å | (20) |
| 2.201 Å | (20) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Geological Setting:
As a rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of bismuth- and arsenic-bearing mineral deposits.
Type Occurrence of Atelestite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Technische Universität, Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany, number 21749.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Atelestite
Other Language Names for Atelestite
Dutch:Atelestiet
French:Atélestite
Norwegian:Atelestitt
Russian:Ателестит
Spanish:Atalezita
Atelestita
Rhagita
Atelestita
Rhagita
Relationship of Atelestite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Atelestite Group:
| Hechtsbergite | Bi2(VO4)O(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Smrkovecite | Bi2(PO4)O(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 78 photos of Atelestite associated with Mixite | BiCu6(AsO4)3(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 45 photos of Atelestite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 28 photos of Atelestite associated with Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
| 9 photos of Atelestite associated with Walpurgite | (BiO)4(UO2)(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 9 photos of Atelestite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
| 7 photos of Atelestite associated with Zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
| 6 photos of Atelestite associated with Eulytine | Bi4(SiO4)3 |
| 6 photos of Atelestite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 6 photos of Atelestite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 5 photos of Atelestite associated with Bariopharmacosiderite | Ba0.5Fe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 5H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BO. | Ariegilatite | BaCa12(SiO4)4(PO4)2F2O |
| 8.BO. | Aravaite | Ba2Ca18(SiO4)6(PO4)3(CO3)F3O |
| 8.BO. | Theuerdankite | Ag3AsO4 |
| 8.BO.05 | Nacaphite | Na2Ca(PO4)F |
| 8.BO.10 | Petitjeanite | Bi3(PO4)2O(OH) |
| 8.BO.10 | Schumacherite | Bi3(VO4)2O(OH) |
| 8.BO.10 | Preisingerite | Bi3(AsO4)2O(OH) |
| 8.BO.15 | Hechtsbergite | Bi2(VO4)O(OH) |
| 8.BO.15 | Smrkovecite | Bi2(PO4)O(OH) |
| 8.BO.20 | Sahlinite | Pb14(AsO4)2O9Cl4 |
| 8.BO.20 | Kombatite | Pb14(VO4)2O9Cl4 |
| 8.BO.25 | Heneuite | CaMg5(CO3)(PO4)3(OH) |
| 8.BO.30 | Nefedovite | Na5Ca4(PO4)4F |
| 8.BO.35 | Kuznetsovite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+[AsO4]Cl |
| 8.BO.40 | Artsmithite | [Hg2]2+2Al(PO4)1.74(OH)1.78 |
| 8.BO.45 | Schlegelite | Bi7(AsO4)3(MoO4)2O4 |
| 8.BO.50 | Hereroite | [Pb32(O,◻)21](AsO4)2[(Si,As,V,Mo)O4]2Cl10 |
| 8.BO.50 | Erikjonssonite | (Pb32O21)[(V,Si,Mo,As)O4]4Cl9 |
| 8.BO.55 | Rudabányaite | (Ag2Hg2)(AsO4)Cl |
| 8.BO.60 | Segerstromite | Ca3(As5+O4)2[As3+(OH)3]2 |
| 8.BO.65 | Wiklundite | Pb2(Mn2+,Zn)3(Fe3+,Mn2+)2(Mn2+,Mg)19(As3+O3)2[(Si,As5+)O4]6(OH)18Cl6 |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in HCl; soluble with difficulty 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 Atelestite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-407.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Atelestite
Reference List:
Goldschmidt, Victor (1886) Index der Krystallformen der Mineralien Vol. 1. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-28591-6 p.265
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.42
Frondel, Clifford (1943) New data on agricolite, bismoclite, koechlinite, and the bismuth arsenates. American Mineralogist, 28 (9-10) 536-540 p.538 - (discreditation of rhagite)
Culver, K. B.; Berry, L. G. (1963) Flinkite and atelstite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 7 (3). 547-553
Frost, Ray L., Čejka, Jiří, Sejkora, Jiří, Plášil, Jakub, Reddy, B.J., Keeffe, Eloise C. (2011) Raman spectroscopic study of a hydroxy-arsenate mineral containing bismuth–atelestite Bi2O(OH)(AsO4) Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 78 (1) 494-496 doi:10.1016/j.saa.2010.11.016
Localities for Atelestite
Showing 68 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Austria | |
| BRANDSTÄTTER et al. (1990) |
| Auer Ch. (2026) |
Bolivia | |
| SEM-EDS & Raman confirmed by Joy Desor |
China | |
| Wang et al. (2025) |
Czech Republic | |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
| Řídkošil et al. (1996) +2 other references |
| Sejkora et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| Sejkora et al. (2019) |
Finland | |
| Luukkonen (1994) |
France | |
| Nicolas Meisser |
| Escande et al. (1973) +6 other references |
| Escande et al. (1973) +6 other references | |
| Queneau (n.d.) |
| Georges FAVREAU collection and EDX ... |
| Queneau (n.d.) |
| EDXS analysis by P. Roth in September ... +1 other reference |
| Favreau (n.d.) +2 other references | |
Germany | |
| Ko Jansen collection |
| Walenta (1992) +2 other references |
| |
| |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Information from Carsten Slotta. |
| Aufschluss 1981 (5) | |
| Dunn et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
| Walenta (1992) | |
| Walenta (1989) |
| Stephan Wolfsried collection +1 other reference |
| |
| Belendorff (2007) |
| Wittern (2001) |
| |
| |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference | |
| Schlegel et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
| Stephan Wolfsried collection | |
| Massanek et al. (2005) | |
Greece | |
| in German +1 other reference |
| Rieck (n.d.) +1 other reference | |
Japan | |
| TANAKA et al. (2025) |
Portugal | |
| Alves (n.d.) |
Russia | |
| Kasatkin et al. (2014) |
Spain | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection & EDX ... |
| Rewitzer et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
| Rewitzer et al. (2018) |
| Ko Jansen collection |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| S. Rust collection. +2 other references |
| Steve Rust collection |
USA | |
| Housley |
| In the collection of Alex Earl |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +1 other reference | |
| Thorne (n.d.) | |
| Thorne (n.d.) | |
| Thorne (n.d.) | |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
| Thorne (n.d.) | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
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Schmiedestollen dump, Wittichen, Schenkenzell, Rottweil, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany