Bellite
A variety of Mimetite
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About Bellite
Formula:
Pb5(AsO4,CrO4,SiO4)3Cl
Colour:
Bright crimson-red, bright yellow to orange.
Lustre:
Resinous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
5.5
Name:
Named in 1904 by William Frederick Petterd in honor of Mr. W. R. Bell, of Tasmania, Australia. Palache et al. (1951) reported the crystallographic similarity to mimetite and that chemical testing "indicated little or no Cr" and concluded that bellite was "identical or near mimetite". Nickel and Hitchen (1993) investigated bellite from Petterd's mineral collection and found that it was a low chromium content mimetite. Cesbron and Williams (1980) synthesized a pure equivalent of chromium-dominant mimetite and called their product "bellite".
Initially thought to be a supposed arsenate-chromate of lead associated with crocoite and mimetite (Magnet Mine, Tasmania). An uncredited chemical analysis mentioned in passing suggested a mixture of crocoite, mimetite and quartz. It has also been suggested to be a 10:1 mixture of cerussite and crocoite. Discredited in 1993 and stated to be a chromian mimetite.
Note: "Bellite" samples from La Compania mine, Chile, and La Poderosa, Sierra Gorda, Chile, also are Cr-bearing mimetite (Uwe Kolitsch, unpublished results).
Originally reported from Magnet Mine, Magnet, Waratah district, Tasmania, Australia.
Note: "Bellite" samples from La Compania mine, Chile, and La Poderosa, Sierra Gorda, Chile, also are Cr-bearing mimetite (Uwe Kolitsch, unpublished results).
Originally reported from Magnet Mine, Magnet, Waratah district, Tasmania, Australia.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
613 (as Bellite)
2714 (as Mimetite)
2714 (as Mimetite)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:613:4 (as Bellite)
mindat:1:1:2714:0 (as Mimetite)
mindat:1:1:2714:0 (as Mimetite)
Similar Names
| Baulit | A synonym of 'Krablite' | |
| Baulite | A rock subtype | |
| Belgite | A synonym of Willemite | |
| Belite | A synonym of Larnite | |
| Belloite | A valid IMA mineral species | Cu(OH)Cl |
| Bialite | A synonym of Wavellite | |
| Biehlite | A valid IMA mineral species | ((Sb,As)O)2[MoO4] |
| Blueite | A variety of Marcasite | (Fe,Ni)S2 |
| Boleite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | KPb26Ag9Cu24(OH)48Cl62 |
| Boyleite | A valid IMA mineral species | ZnSO4 · 4H2O |
| Hyblite | A synonym of 'Thorogummite' | |
| Mellite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Al2[C6(COO)6] · 16H2O |
| Tellite | A synonym of Sinnerite |
IMA Classification of Bellite
Discredited
Physical Properties of Bellite
Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Bright crimson-red, bright yellow to orange.
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
5.5 g/cm3 (Measured)
Chemistry of Bellite
Mindat Formula:
Pb5(AsO4,CrO4,SiO4)3Cl
Element Weights:
Other Language Names for Bellite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Bellite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Bellite associated with Pseudoboleite | Pb31Cu24Cl62(OH)48 |
| 2 photos of Bellite associated with Diaboleite | Pb2CuCl2(OH)4 |
| 2 photos of Bellite associated with Wulfenite | Pb(MoO4) |
| 1 photo of Bellite associated with Vanadinite | Pb5(VO4)3Cl |
Fluorescence of Bellite
Not fluorescent in UV
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 Bellite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-613.html
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References for Bellite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.45
Localities for Bellite
Showing 4 localities.
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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 | |
| Petterd (1905) +1 other reference |
Chile | |
| Uwe Kolitsch |
| Uwe Kolitsch | |
USA | |
| Collected by and in the collection of ... |
La Poderosa Mine, Caracoles, Caracoles mining district, Sierra Gorda, Antofagasta Province, Antofagasta, Chile