Barberiite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Barberiite
Formula:
(NH4)[BF4]
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
1
Specific Gravity:
1.89
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For Franco Barberi (16 August 1938-), Professor of Volcanology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, who promoted studies of Vulcano Island.
Formed by fumarolic activity, stable only at ground temperatures between 200 and 600°C. Decomposes in humid air.
In experimental sublimation (Mutnovsky volcano) a phase corresponding to barberiite i deposited below 180oC, together with As-bearing sulfur (Zelensky & Bortnikova, 2005).
In experimental sublimation (Mutnovsky volcano) a phase corresponding to barberiite i deposited below 180oC, together with As-bearing sulfur (Zelensky & Bortnikova, 2005).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
513
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:513:5
Similar Names
| Barbierit | A synonym of 'Barbierite' | |
| Barbierite | A synonym of Feldspar Group | |
| Berborite | A valid IMA mineral species | Be2(BO3)(OH) · H2O |
| Birbirite | A rock subtype |
IMA Classification of Barberiite
Approved
IMA Formula:
N3-H4BF4
Approval year:
1993
First published:
1994
Classification of Barberiite
3.CA.10
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
A : Borofluorides
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
A : Borofluorides
11.2.4.1
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
2 : AmBX4
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
2 : AmBX4
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bbi | 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 Barberiite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=14.2 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
1.89 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.9 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Barberiite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
n = 1.3081
2V:
Measured: 90°
Surface Relief:
Very High (negative)
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
Dispersion:
r > v, strong
Chemistry of Barberiite
Mindat Formula:
(NH4)[BF4]
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
K,Na
Crystallography of Barberiite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.0615 Å, b = 5.6727 Å, c = 7.2672 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.597 : 1 : 1.281
Unit Cell V:
373.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Commonly in globular aggregates; rarely as pseudohexagonal crystals, tabular to platy on {001}, typically elongated along [010] or [100]
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0013299 | Barberiite | van Rensburg D J J, Boeyens J C A (1972) The crystal structure of ammonium tetrafluoroborate IV at 140 K Journal of Solid State Chemistry 5 79-84 | 1972 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0019268 | Barberiite | Caron A P, Ragle J L (1971) Refinement of the structure of orthorhombic ammonium tetrafluoroborate, NH4BF4 Acta Crystallographica B27 1102-1107 |  | 1971 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0012155 | Barberiite | Clark M J R, Lynton H (1969) Crystal structures of potassium, ammonium, rubidium and cesium tetrafluoroborates Canadian Journal of Chemistry 47 2579-2586 | 1969 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018024 | Barberiite | Hoard J, Blair V (1935) The crystal structures of rubidium and ammonium fluoborates _cod_database_code 1011135 Journal of the American Chemical Society 57 1985-1988 | 1935 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.183 Å | (100) |
| 3.540 Å | (90) |
| 2.898 Å | (80) |
| 4.472 Å | (75) |
| 2.163 Å | (70) |
| 2.536 Å | (65) |
| 2.282 Å | (65) |
Reference:
Comments:
Recorded on material from Vulcano Island, Italy
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Type Occurrence of Barberiite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Globular aggregates to 2 mm, rarely as pseudohexagonal platy crystals to 300 µm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Bari University, Bari, Italy
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Sublimates in active fumaroles
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Barberiite
Other Language Names for Barberiite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Barberiite associated with Native Sulphur | S8 |
| 1 photo of Barberiite associated with Sassolite | H3BO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.CA.05 | Ferruccite | Na[BF4] |
| 3.CA.10 | Avogadrite | (K,Cs)[BF4] |
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.
Internet Links for Barberiite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-513.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Barberiite
Reference List:
Garavelli, Anna, Vurro, Filippo (1994) Barberiite, NH4BF4 a new mineral from Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. American Mineralogist, 79 (3-4) 381-384
Localities for Barberiite
Showing 3 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.
Germany | |
| EDX and XRD-analysed by Günter Blaß +1 other reference |
Italy (TL) | |
| Garavelli et al. (1994) |
Tajikistan | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
Quick NavTopAbout BarberiiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands, Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily, Italy