Bartonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Bartonite
Paul B. Barton, Jr.
Formula:
K6Fe20S26S
Colour:
Blackish-brown
Lustre:
Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
3.305
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named in honor of Paul Booth Barton, Jr. (30 September 1930, New York City, New York, USA – 9 May 2021, USA), ore petrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. He made significant contributions to the area of ore petrology. He was awarded the 1984 Roebling medal and the Penrose Medal.
Type Locality:
Structurally related to djerfisherite and pentlandite.
See also chlorbartonite, rasvumite, gmalimite, 'Unnamed (K sulfides solid solution)', and UM1997-44-S:FeK.
See also chlorbartonite, rasvumite, gmalimite, 'Unnamed (K sulfides solid solution)', and UM1997-44-S:FeK.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
544
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:544:5
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Bartonite
Approved
Approval year:
1977
First published:
1980
Classification of Bartonite
2.FC.10
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H2O
C : With Cl, Br, I (halide-sulfides)
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H2O
C : With Cl, Br, I (halide-sulfides)
2.9.19.1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
9 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 1:1
3.0.5
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
0 : Sulphides etc. of the alkalis
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
0 : Sulphides etc. of the alkalis
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Btn | 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 Bartonite
Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Blackish-brown
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN15=94 - 120 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct on {112}
Distinct on {112}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.305 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.286 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Bartonite
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 21.7% | 18.3% |
| 420nm | 16.7% | 14.4% |
| 440nm | 17.7% | 17.2% |
| 460nm | 18.4% | 18.6% |
| 480nm | 19.4% | 19.5% |
| 500nm | 19.7% | 20.6% |
| 520nm | 20.3% | 21.4% |
| 540nm | 20.9% | 21.8% |
| 560nm | 21.9% | 22.7% |
| 580nm | 22.7% | 23.2% |
| 600nm | 23.4% | 23.7% |
| 620nm | 23.9% | 24.3% |
| 640nm | 24.7% | 25.1% |
| 660nm | 25.0% | 25.5% |
| 680nm | 25.2% | 26.1% |
| 700nm | 26.4% | 26.5% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 26.5%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Yellowish green-gray to yellowish green-brown
Pleochroism:
Weak
Chemistry of Bartonite
Mindat Formula:
K6Fe20S26S
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Na,Cu,Ni,Co,Cl
Crystallography of Bartonite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I4/mmm
Setting:
I4/mmm
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.424(1) Å, c = 20.626(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.979
Unit Cell V:
2,241.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Anhedral masses in pyrrhotite to 5x50 microns.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000824 | Bartonite | Evans H T, Clark J R (1981) The crystal structure of bartonite, a potassium iron sulfide, and its relationship to pentlandite and djerfisherite American Mineralogist 66 376-384 |  | 1981 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.31 Å | (27) |
| 5.99 Å | (77) |
| 3.139 Å | (27) |
| 2.998 Å | (100) |
| 2.379 Å | (25) |
| 1.841 Å | (25) |
| 1.833 Å | (40) |
Comments:
Coyote Peak, California, USA.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Bartonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Anhedral masses, intergrown with pyrrhotite; rare elongated single crystals, to 50 μm long.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian), Washington, D.C., USA, 149498.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alkalic diatreme
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Bartonite
Other Language Names for Bartonite
Relationship of Bartonite to other Species
Structurally related to group(s):
| Djerfisherite Group | Structurally related to bartonite and pentlandite. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.FC. | Demicheleite-(I) | BiSI |
| 2.FC.05 | Djerfisherite | K6(Fe,Cu,Ni)25S26Cl |
| 2.FC.05 | Owensite | (Ba,Pb)6(Cu,Fe,Ni)25S27 |
| 2.FC.05 | Thalfenisite | Tl6(Fe,Ni,Cu)25S26Cl |
| 2.FC.05 | Gmalimite | K6◻Fe2+24S27 |
| 2.FC.05 | 'Cu-djerfisherite' | K6(Cu,Fe)25S26Cl |
| 2.FC.05 | Zoharite | (Ba,K)6(Fe,Cu,Ni)25S27 |
| 2.FC.10 | Chlorbartonite | K6Fe24S26(Cl,S) |
| 2.FC.15d | Radtkeite | Hg2+3S2ICl |
| 2.FC.15a | Lavrentievite | Hg3S2Cl2 |
| 2.FC.15a | Corderoite | Hg2+3S2Cl2 |
| 2.FC.15a | 'Arzakite' | Hg2+3S2(Br,Cl)2 |
| 2.FC.15c | Grechishchevite | Hg2+3S2(Br,Cl,I)2 |
| 2.FC.15b | Kenhsuite | Hg2+3S2Cl2 |
| 2.FC.20b | Iltisite | HgAgSCl |
| 2.FC.20c | Perroudite | Hg5Ag4S5(I,Br)2Cl2 |
| 2.FC.20a | Capgaronnite | AgHgClS |
| 2.FC.20d | Hanauerite | AgHgSI |
| 2.FC.25 | Demicheleite-(Cl) | BiSCl |
| 2.FC.25 | Demicheleite-(Br) | BiSBr |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 10.5802% | 3,280 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
Notes:
Weakly magnetic
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 Bartonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-544.html
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References for Bartonite
Reference List:
CZAMANSKE, G; LANPHERE, M; ERD, R; BLAKEJR, M (1978) Age measurements of potassium-bearing sulfide minerals by the 40Ar/39Ar technique. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 40 (1). 107-110 doi:10.1016/0012-821x(78)90079-1
Fleischer, Michael, Chao, George Y., Pabst, and Adolf (1979) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 64 (1-2) 241-245
Czamanske, Gerald K., Erd, Richard C., Leonard, B. F., Clark, Joan R. (1981) Bartonite, a new potassium iron sulfide mineral. American Mineralogist, 66 (3-4) 369-375
Evans, Howard T., Clark, Joan R (1981) The crystal structure of bartonite, a potassium iron sulfide, and its relationship to pentlandite and djerfisherite. American Mineralogist, 66 (3-4) 376-384
Localities for Bartonite
Showing 13 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.
China | |
| Chen et al. (2014) |
Czech Republic | |
| Skála et al. (2015) |
Greenland | |
| Friis (2016) |
Italy | |
| Stoppa et al. (1997) +2 other references |
Jordan | |
| Sokol +9 other references |
Russia | |
| Spiridonov et al. (2016) |
| Pekov (2005) |
| Selivanova et al. (2024) |
| Kostin (2021) |
| Sharygin et al. (2010, September) | |
South Africa | |
| Abersteiner et al. (2024) |
USA (TL) | |
| Fleischer (1979) +5 other references |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
Quick NavTopAbout BartoniteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatRadioactivityOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Coyote Peak, Humboldt County, California, USA