Behoite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Behoite
Formula:
Be(OH)2
β-Be(OH)2
Colour:
Colourless or white, rarely pale pink to pale grey; may show anomalous blue and brown interference colours in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy, Dull
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
1.92
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For beryllium, Be, and hydroxide, OH, in its composition.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Behoite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
603
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:603:7
Similar Names
| Bahiaite | A rock subtype |
IMA Classification of Behoite
Approved
Approval year:
1969
First published:
1970
Classification of Behoite
4.FA.05a
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
A : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing tetrahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
F : Hydroxides (without V or U)
A : Hydroxides with OH, without H2O; corner-sharing tetrahedra
6.2.2.1
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
2 : X(OH)2
6 : HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXYL
2 : X(OH)2
7.4.2
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
4 : Oxides of Be, Mg and the alkaline earths
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
4 : Oxides of Be, Mg and the alkaline earths
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beh | 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 Behoite
Vitreous, Greasy, Dull
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Colourless or white, rarely pale pink to pale grey; may show anomalous blue and brown interference colours in transmitted light
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
1.92(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 1.93 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Behoite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.533 nβ = 1.544 nγ = 1.548
2V:
Measured: 82° , Calculated: 60°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.015
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:
None to Very Low
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 Behoite
Mindat Formula:
Be(OH)2
β-Be(OH)2
β-Be(OH)2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Behoite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
222 - Disphenoidal
Space Group:
P212121
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.62(2) Å, b = 7.05(2) Å, c = 4.55(3) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.655 : 1 : 0.645
Unit Cell V:
148.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals peudo-octahedral, {011} and {110}, or sphenoidal, to 7 mm; faces showing striae and etch pits; subhedral, as rounded crystal aggregates and crusts.
Twinning:
Probably polysynthetically twinned, observed optically.
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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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015823 | Behoite | Jacobs H, Niemann A, Kockelmann W (2005) Low temperature investigations of hydrogen bridge bonds in the hydroxides beta-Be(OH)2 and epsilon-Zn(OH)2 by Raman-spectroscopy as well as X-ray and neutron diffraction Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 631 1247-1254 | 2005 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015822 | Behoite | Jacobs H, Niemann A, Kockelmann W (2005) Low temperature investigations of hydrogen bridge bonds in the hydroxides beta-Be(OH)2 and epsilon-Zn(OH)2 by Raman-spectroscopy as well as X-ray and neutron diffraction Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 631 1247-1254 | 2005 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015821 | Behoite | Jacobs H, Niemann A, Kockelmann W (2005) Low temperature investigations of hydrogen bridge bonds in the hydroxides beta-Be(OH)2 and epsilon-Zn(OH)2 by Raman-spectroscopy as well as X-ray and neutron diffraction Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 631 1247-1254 | 2005 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018271 | Behoite | Stahl R, Jung C, Lutz H D, Kockelmann W, Jacobs H (1998) Kristallstrukturen und Wasserstoffbruckenbindungen bei beta-Be(OH)2 und epsilon-Zn(OH)2 Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 624 1130-1136 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018270 | Behoite | Stahl R, Jung C, Lutz H D, Kockelmann W, Jacobs H (1998) Kristallstrukturen und Wasserstoffbruckenbindungen bei beta-Be(OH)2 und epsilon-Zn(OH)2 Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 624 1130-1136 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0018269 | Behoite | Stahl R, Jung C, Lutz H D, Kockelmann W, Jacobs H (1998) Kristallstrukturen und Wasserstoffbruckenbindungen bei beta-Be(OH)2 und epsilon-Zn(OH)2 Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 624 1130-1136 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0015763 | Behoite | Seitz A, Rosler U, Schubert K (1950) Kristallstruktur von beta-Be(OH)2 Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 261 94-105 | 1950 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.39 Å | (100) |
| 3.88 Å | (80) |
| 3.83 Å | (80) |
| 2.95 Å | (50) |
| 2.79 Å | (50) |
| 1.99 Å | (50) |
| 1.96 Å | (50) |
Reference:
Comments:
Recorded on type material
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies) | |
| Stage 4a: Earth’s earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
| 19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Geological Setting:
In altered volcanic tuff; in pegmatite veins; in miarolitic cavities in nepheline syenite.
Type Occurrence of Behoite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rounded crystal aggregates showing many triangular crystal faces, as anhedral layers, and as single pseudo-octahedral crystals up to 1 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, Paris, France, number 50672.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In granite pegmatite as a near-surface alteration product of gadolinite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Behoite
Other Language Names for Behoite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 57 photos of Behoite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| 28 photos of Behoite associated with Gonnardite | (Na,Ca)2(Si,Al)5O10 · 3H2O |
| 21 photos of Behoite associated with Serandite | NaMn2+2Si3O8(OH) |
| 17 photos of Behoite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 14 photos of Behoite associated with Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| 6 photos of Behoite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 5 photos of Behoite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 3 photos of Behoite associated with Epididymite | Na2Be2Si6O15 · H2O |
| 3 photos of Behoite associated with Kupletskite | K2NaMn2+7Ti2[Si4O12]2O2(OH)4F |
| 3 photos of Behoite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.FA.05b | Clinobehoite | Be(OH)2 |
| 4.FA.10 | Sweetite | Zn(OH)2 |
| 4.FA.10 | Ashoverite | Zn(OH)2 |
| 4.FA.10 | Wülfingite | Zn(OH)2 |
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 Behoite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-603.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Behoite
Reference List:
Seitz, A., Rösler, U., Schubert, K. (1950) Kristallstruktur von β-Be(OH)2. Zeitschrift für anorganische Chemie, 261 (1) 94-105 doi:10.1002/zaac.19502610109
KIDA, Katsuzo, ABE, Mitsunobu, NISHIGAKI, Susumu (1961) Preparation of Beryllium Hydroxide from Aqueous Solution of Sodium Beryllium Fluoride. The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Japan, 64. 160-163 doi:10.1246/nikkashi1898.64.160
Schwarzmann, Einhard (1962) Zusammenhang zwischen OH‐Valenzfrequenzen und OH…OH‐ bzw. OH…OH‐Abständen in festen Hydroxiden. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 317 (3-4). 176-185 doi:10.1002/zaac.19623170305
Bear, IJ; Lukaszewski, GM; Turnbull, AG (1965) The infrared spectra of the solid phases in the system BeO-H2O. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 18 (9). 1317-1330 doi:10.1071/ch9651317
Mercer, R.A., Miller, R.P. (1966) The preparation and properties of some hydroxy compounds of beryllium. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 28 (1) 61-76 doi:10.1016/0022-1902(66)80228-2
Ehlmann, Arthur J., Mitchell, Richard S. (1970) Behoite, Beta-Be(OH)2, from the Rode Ranch pegmatite, Llano County. American Mineralogist, 55 (1-2) 1-9
Stahl, R., Jung, C., Lutz, H. D., Kockelmann, W., Jacobs, H. (1998) Kristallstrukturen und Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen bei β-Be(OH)2 und ε-Zn(OH)2. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 624. 1130-1136 doi:10.1002/(sici)1521-3749(199807)624:7<1130::aid-zaac1130>3.0.co;2-g
Lutz, H.D, Jung, C, Mörtel, R, Jacobs, H, Stahl, R (1998) Hydrogen bonding in solid hydroxides with strongly polarising metal ions, β-Be(OH)2 and ε-Zn(OH)2. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 54 (7) 893-901 doi:10.1016/s1386-1425(98)00017-1
Jacobs, Herbert; Niemann, Anke; Kockelmann, Winfried (2005) Tieftemperaturuntersuchungen von Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen in den Hydroxiden β‐Be(OH)2 und ε‐Zn(OH)2 mit Raman‐Spektroskopie sowie Röntgen‐ und Neutronenbeugung. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 631 (6-7). 1247-1254 doi:10.1002/zaac.200500030
Localities for Behoite
Showing 31 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.
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Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada