Befanamite
A variety of Thortveitite
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About Befanamite
Formula:
Sc2Si2O7
Colour:
Grayish green
Hardness:
6 - 7
Specific Gravity:
3.492
Name:
Named after the first recorded locality, the Befanamo pegmatite, Madagascar.
First Recorded Locality:
A variety of thortveitite with a higher content of scandium and zirconium and a lower content of yttrium.
First discovered in 1918, in the eluvials of the Befanamo pegmatite, Madagascar by the prospector J. B. Rasamoel. The sample was a 10 x 3 cm fragment of a larger crystal group. He sent the sample together with other specimens from Befanamo for identification to the French mineralogist Alfred Lacroix who recognized it's similarity with thortveitite described in 1911 from Norway. A chemical analysis done by G. Urbain showed this to be a thortveitite with a higher content of scandium (Sc) and zirconium (Zr) and a lower content of yttrium (Y) than the Norwegian thortveitite. Lacroix considered it as a variety of thortveitite and named it as befanamite.
First discovered in 1918, in the eluvials of the Befanamo pegmatite, Madagascar by the prospector J. B. Rasamoel. The sample was a 10 x 3 cm fragment of a larger crystal group. He sent the sample together with other specimens from Befanamo for identification to the French mineralogist Alfred Lacroix who recognized it's similarity with thortveitite described in 1911 from Norway. A chemical analysis done by G. Urbain showed this to be a thortveitite with a higher content of scandium (Sc) and zirconium (Zr) and a lower content of yttrium (Y) than the Norwegian thortveitite. Lacroix considered it as a variety of thortveitite and named it as befanamite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
601 (as Befanamite)
3950 (as Thortveitite)
3950 (as Thortveitite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:601:9 (as Befanamite)
mindat:1:1:3950:1 (as Thortveitite)
mindat:1:1:3950:1 (as Thortveitite)
Physical Properties of Befanamite
Chemistry of Befanamite
Mindat Formula:
Sc2Si2O7
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 44.13 % |
| Sc2O3 | 41.76 % |
| ZrO2 | 9.96 % |
| Fe2O3 | 2.20 % |
| Al2O3 | 2.62 % |
| Total: | 100.67 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Befanamo pegmatite, Beronono Commune, Anjozorobe District, Analamanga, Madagascar | Sample found by Rasamoel in 1918 and examined and described by Lacroix (1922) |
First Recorded Occurrence of Befanamite
Other Language Names for Befanamite
German:Befanamit
Spanish:Befanamita
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Befanamite associated with Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| 1 photo of Befanamite associated with 'Columbite-Tantalite' |
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 Befanamite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-601.html
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References for Befanamite
Localities for Befanamite
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.
Madagascar (FRL) | |
| Lacroix (1922) +1 other reference |
| Behier (1960) |
| Behier (1960) |
Befanamo pegmatite, Beronono Commune, Anjozorobe District, Analamanga, Madagascar