Bechererite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Bechererite
Karl Becherer
Formula:
Zn7Cu(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)]
Colour:
Light green, ice blue, colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
3.45
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in honour of Dr. Karl Becherer (17 April 1926 - 17 February 2014), mineralogist at the University of Vienna, Austria.
There is a new secondary slag phase closely related to bechererite, but without SiO4 groups (U. Kolitsch, 2010; to be published). The natural analogue of this phase was discovered at the Redmond Mine by Jason B. Smith and has been named hanahanite.
Compare the structurally related hodgesmithite.
As there is no unique site or charge balance function for Cu in bechererite, its ideal formula should be Zn8(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)]
Compare the structurally related hodgesmithite.
As there is no unique site or charge balance function for Cu in bechererite, its ideal formula should be Zn8(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)]
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
593
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:593:1
Classification of Bechererite
Gordaite-type sheet
Members of the namuwite group exhibit gordaite-type sheets. Bechererite exhibits mixed sulfate and silicate groups at the TO4 sites.
IMA Classification of Bechererite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Zn2+7Cu2+(OH)13[SiO(OH)3S6+O4]
Approval year:
1994
First published:
1996
7.DD.55
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 7th ed.:
4.0.0.0
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bec | 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 Bechererite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Light green, ice blue, colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
3.45(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.51 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Bechererite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.705 nε = 1.611
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.094
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:
Moderate
Chemistry of Bechererite
Mindat Formula:
Zn7Cu(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)]
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Bechererite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
P3
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.319(2) Å, c = 7.377(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.887
Unit Cell V:
442.13 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Hemimorphic elongate trigonal pyramids. Forms include {1230}, {2461}, {6281}, and {0001}.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001950 | Bechererite | Hoffmann C, Armbruster T, Giester G (1997) The acentric structure (P3) of bechererite, Zn7Cu(OH)13[SiO(OH)3SO4] Note U(1,2) for Zn2, Zn21, and O1 changed to match symmetry constraints. American Mineralogist 82 1014-1018 |  | 1997 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0001776 | Bechererite | Giester G, Rieck B (1996) Bechererite, (Zn,Cu)6Zn2(OH)13[(S,Si)(O,OH)4]2, a novel mineral species from the Tonopah-Belmont mine, Arizonia American Mineralogist 81 244-248 | | 1996 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.37 Å | (100) |
| 2.556 Å | (50) |
| 3.282 Å | (30) |
| 2.724 Å | (30) |
| 3.623 Å | (25) |
| 1.572 Å | (20) |
| 2.191 Å | (15) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Bechererite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Thin elongated crystals, commonly in hemispherical aggregates. Visually similar to spangolite but with a paler color.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Institute for Mineralogy and Crystallography, University of Vienna, 8B/10-030#1.
Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria, M6789.
Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria, M6789.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Secondary mineral in a hydrothermal Au and Ag base metal vein deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Bechererite
Other Language Names for Bechererite
Relationship of Bechererite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Namuwite Group:
| Gordaite | NaZn4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
| Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O | Hex. |
| Hanahanite | [Zn8(OH)14(SO4)] · 3H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
| Haywoodite | [Pb(H2O)10][Zn12(OH)20(H2O)(SO4)3] | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Hodgesmithite | (Cu,Zn)6Zn(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
| Lahnsteinite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Namuwite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
| Osakaite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Ramsbeckite | (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Thérèsemagnanite | NaCo4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
| Tzeferisite | CaZn8(SO4)2(OH)12Cl2(H2O)9 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 24 photos of Bechererite associated with Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| 20 photos of Bechererite associated with Susannite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 16 photos of Bechererite associated with Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| 9 photos of Bechererite associated with Caledonite | Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(CO3)(OH)6 |
| 8 photos of Bechererite associated with Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| 6 photos of Bechererite associated with Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 6 photos of Bechererite associated with Hydrocerussite | Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 5 photos of Bechererite associated with Galena | PbS |
| 4 photos of Bechererite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Bechererite associated with Elyite | Pb4Cu(SO4)O2(OH)4 · H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DD. | Asagiite | NiCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.05 | Felsőbányaite | Al4(SO4)(OH)10 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.07 | Llantenesite | Cu6Al[SeO4](OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Langite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Fehrite | MgCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Posnjakite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Wroewolfeite | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 7.DD.10 | Gobelinite | CoCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.15 | Kobyashevite | Cu5(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.15 | Spangolite | Cu6Al(SO4)(OH)12Cl · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.15 | 'Unnamed (Dimorph of Devilline)' | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.20 | Ktenasite | ZnCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.25 | Christelite | Cu2Zn3(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Edwardsite | Cu3Cd2(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Niedermayrite | CdCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Serpierite | Ca(Cu2+,Zn2+)4(S6+O4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Campigliaite | Mn2+Cu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Orthoserpierite | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.30 | Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Shigaite | Mn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Zincaluminite | (Zn1-xAlx)(SO4)x/2(OH)2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Zincowoodwardite | Zn1-xAlx(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Natroglaucocerinite | Zn6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Hydrowoodwardite | (Cu1-xAlx)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Honessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2[SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Carrboydite | (Ni1-xAlx)(SO4)x/2(OH)2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Glaucocerinite | (Zn1-xAlx)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Wermlandite | Mg7Al2(OH)18[Ca(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Nikischerite | Fe2+6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6](SO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Hydrohonessite | (Ni1-xFe3+x)(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Woodwardite | Cu1-xAlx(OH)2(SO4)x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Motukoreaite | Mg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][SO4]2 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.35 | Mountkeithite | [(Mg1-xFe3+x)(OH)2][SO4]x/2 · nH2O |
| 7.DD.40 | Lawsonbauerite | (Mn2+,Mg)9Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.40 | Torreyite | (Mg,Mn2+)7◻2Mn2+2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)22 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.40 | Isselite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10(H2O)4 · H2O |
| 7.DD.45 | Mooreite | Mg9◻2Mn2Zn4(SO4)2(OH)26 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.45 | Hodgesmithite | (Cu,Zn)6Zn(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.47 | Lahnsteinite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.50 | Namuwite | Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 7.DD.50 | Minohlite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 8H2O |
| 7.DD.52 | Lauraniite | Cu6Cd2(SO4)2(OH)12 · 5H2O |
| 7.DD.60 | Ramsbeckite | (Cu,Zn)15(SO4)4(OH)22 · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.65 | Vonbezingite | Ca6Cu3(SO4)3(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 7.DD.70 | Redgillite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · H2O |
| 7.DD.75 | Nickelalumite | NiAl4(SO4)(OH)12(H2O)3 |
| 7.DD.75 | Kyrgyzstanite | ZnAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.75 | Chalcoalumite | CuAl4(SO4)(OH)12 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | 'UM1992-30-SO:CCuHZn' | (Zn,Cu)7(SO4,CO3)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | Thérèsemagnanite | NaCo4(SO4)(OH)6Cl · 6H2O |
| 7.DD.80 | Guarinoite | Zn6(SO4)(OH)10 · 5H2O |
| 7.DD.85 | Montetrisaite | Cu6(SO4)(OH)10 · 2H2O |
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 Bechererite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-593.html
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References for Bechererite
Reference List:
Giester, Gerald, Rieck, Branko (1996) Bechererite, (Zn,Cu)6Zn2(OH)13[(S,Si)(O,OH)4]2, a novel mineral species from the Tonopah-Belmont Mine, Arizona. American Mineralogist, 81 (1) 244-248 doi:10.2138/am-1996-1-230
Localities for Bechererite
Showing 25 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.
Australia | |
| Elliott (1997) |
| M.E. Ciriotti (EDS- and XRD-analysed) | |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch (2015) |
France | |
| Georges FAVREAU collection - XRD ... |
Germany | |
| Brighton Alfred collection |
| Pfeiffer et al. (2006) |
| SEM-EDS by Joy Desor |
| Gerhard Möhn Collection Analyzed by ... |
Italy | |
| Castellaro-Kampf |
| Rivista Mineralogica Italiana (3) |
| In the collection of Brent Thorne. ... |
Romania | |
| G.Koller |
UK | |
| Rust et al. (2007) |
| Rust et al. (2003) |
| Pluth et al. (2005) |
| Tindle (2008) | |
| Rust et al. (2007) |
| Rust et al. (2003) |
| Rust et al. (2003) | |
| Rust et al. (2003) |
| Green et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
| Ex-S Rust collection |
| Rust et al. (2003) |
USA (TL) | |
| Grant et al. (2005) |
| A. Kampf PXRD 9/2018 Jason Smith ... |
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Redmond Mine, Waterville Lake, Haywood County, North Carolina, USA