Beusite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Beusite
Alexei A. Beus
Formula:
Mn2+Mn2+2 (PO4)2
Colour:
Reddish-brown to pinkish brown
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.60 - 3.70
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named by Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr. and Lorenzo Francisco Aristarain in 1968 in honor of Alexei Alexandrovich Beus (Алексей Александрович Беус) (1923 - 1994), a Russian geochemist and mineralogist at Moscow Polytechnical Institute. He first reported a graftonite-like mineral with Mn2+ dominant over Fe2+ but did not name it as a new species.
Beusite-Graftonite Series.
Due to some recent finds of new species among the group this mineral is likely to be renamed to beusite-(Mn). Compare beusite-(Ca).
Due to some recent finds of new species among the group this mineral is likely to be renamed to beusite-(Mn). Compare beusite-(Ca).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
653
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:653:2
Similar Names
| Basite | A rock subtype | |
| Bassoite | A valid IMA mineral species | SrV3O7 · 4H2O |
| Bazzite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Be3Sc2(Si6O18) |
| Beusite-(Ca) | A valid IMA mineral species | CaMn22+(PO4)2 |
| Bohseite | A valid IMA mineral species | Ca4Be3+xAl1-xSi9O25-x(OH)3+x |
| Bosiite | A valid IMA mineral species | NaFe33+(Al4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O |
| Bosoite | A valid IMA mineral species | SiO2 · nCxH2x+2 |
IMA Classification of Beusite
Approved
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
IMA Formula:
Mn2+Mn2+2(PO4)2
Approval year:
1968
First published:
1968
Approval history:
Redefined by IMA february 2017 as Mn2+Mn2+2(PO4)2.
Classification of Beusite
8.AB.20
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
B : With medium-sized cations
38.3.3.2
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
3 : (AB)3(XO4)2
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
3 : (AB)3(XO4)2
19.12.39
19 : Phosphates
12 : Phosphates of Mn
19 : Phosphates
12 : Phosphates of Mn
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Beu | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Beu | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Beusite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Greasy
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Reddish-brown to pinkish brown
Streak:
Pale pink or brown
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{010} good, {100} poor.
{010} good, {100} poor.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.60 - 3.70 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.71 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Beusite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.685 - 1.708 nβ = 1.688 - 1.711 nγ = 1.700 - 1.723
2V:
Measured: 25° to 45°, Calculated: 54°
Birefringence:
0.020
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:
Very High (positive)
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
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Z ∧ c = -36°
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Beusite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+Mn2+2 (PO4)2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Beusite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.797(3) Å, b = 11.758(4) Å, c = 6.170(2) Å
β = 99.31(2)°
β = 99.31(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.748 : 1 : 0.525
Unit Cell V:
629.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020202 | Beusite | Tait K T, Hawthorne F C, Wise M A (2013) The crystal chemistry of the graftonite-beusite minerals Notes: Sample B4 The Canadian Mineralogist 51 653-662 | 2013 | Turkestan Range, Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 293 | |
| 0020201 | Beusite | Tait K T, Hawthorne F C, Wise M A (2013) The crystal chemistry of the graftonite-beusite minerals Notes: Sample B3 The Canadian Mineralogist 51 653-662 | 2013 | Los Aleros, San Luis, Argentina | 0 | 293 | |
| 0020200 | Beusite | Tait K T, Hawthorne F C, Wise M A (2013) The crystal chemistry of the graftonite-beusite minerals Notes: Sample B2 The Canadian Mineralogist 51 653-662 | 2013 | Rice mine, North Groton, New Hampshire, USA | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005239 | Beusite | Wise M A, Hawthorne F C, Cerny P (1990) Crystal structure of Ca-rich beusite from the Yellowknife pegmatite field, Northwest Territories The Canadian Mineralogist 28 141-146 |  | 1990 | Yellowknife pegmatite field, Northwest Territories, Canada | 0 | 293 |
| 0001437 | Beusite | Steele I M, Olsen E, Pluth J J, Davis A M (1991) Occurrence and crystal structure of Ca-free beusite in the El Sampal IIIA iron meteorite American Mineralogist 76 1985-1989 | | 1991 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.52 Å | (100) |
| 2.95 Å | (20) |
| 2.93 Å | (30) |
| 2.88 Å | (60) |
| 2.86 Å | (60) |
| 2.74 Å | (20) |
| 2.71 Å | (60) |
| 2.65 Å | (40) |
Comments:
ICDD 36-401.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 5 : Primary asteroid phases | 4.566–4.560 |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Beusite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rough prismatic crystals up to 30 cm long, interlaminated with lithiophilite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 109052, 134312, 134313.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 137294.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 137294.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Beusite
Other Language Names for Beusite
Relationship of Beusite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Graftonite Group:
| Beusite-(Ca) | CaMn2+2(PO4)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Graftonite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Graftonite-(Ca) | CaFe2+2(PO4)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Graftonite-(Mn) | MnFe2+2(PO4)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Beusite associated with Qingheiite | NaNaMn2+(MgAl)(PO4)3 |
| 3 photos of Beusite associated with Fillowite | Na3CaMn2+11(PO4)9 |
| 1 photo of Beusite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Beusite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Beusite associated with Parafiniukite | Ca2Mn3(PO4)3Cl |
| 1 photo of Beusite associated with 'Manganese Oxides' | |
| 1 photo of Beusite associated with Lithiophilite | LiMn2+PO4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AB. | Kryzaite | Na4(MgCr)(PO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Niasite | Ni2+4.5(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Johanngeorgenstadtite | Ni2+4.5(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Rodolicoite | Fe3+PO4 |
| 8.AB. | Karwowskiite | Ca9Mg(Fe2+0.5◻0.5)(PO4)7 |
| 8.AB. | Olsenite | KFe4(PO4)3 |
| 8.AB. | Borisenkoite | Cu3[(V,As)O4]2 |
| 8.AB.05 | Farringtonite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.10 | Natrophilite | NaMn2+PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | 'Sicklerite' | Li1-x(Mn3+xMn2+1-x)PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | Simferite | LiMg(PO4) |
| 8.AB.10 | Heterosite | Fe3+(PO4) |
| 8.AB.10 | Lithiophilite | LiMn2+PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | Karenwebberite | NaFe2+PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | Triphylite | LiFe2+PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | 'Ferrisicklerite' | Li1-x(Fe3+xFe2+1-x)PO4 |
| 8.AB.10 | Purpurite | Mn3+(PO4) |
| 8.AB.15 | Zavalíaite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.15 | Chopinite | Mg3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.15 | Sarcopside | Fe2+3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Graftonite-(Ca) | CaFe2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Graftonite-(Mn) | MnFe2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Graftonite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.20 | Beusite-(Ca) | CaMn2+2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AB.25 | Xanthiosite | Ni3(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.30 | Lammerite | Cu3(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.30 | Paralammerite | Cu3(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.35 | Mcbirneyite | Cu3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AB.35 | Pseudolyonsite | Cu3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AB.35 | Stranskiite | Zn2Cu(AsO4)2 |
| 8.AB.40 | Michalskiite | Fe3+1.33Cu2+2(MgFe3+)2(VO4)6 |
| 8.AB.40 | Lyonsite | Cu3Fe4(VO4)6 |
Fluorescence of Beusite
Not fluorescent.
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 Beusite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-653.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Beusite
Reference List:
Hurlbut, C. S., Aristarain, and L. F. (1968) Beusite, a new mineral from Argentina, and the graftonite-beusite series. American Mineralogist, 53 (11-12) 1799-1814
Nord, A. G., Ericsson, T. (1982) The cation distribution in (Fe,Mn)3(PO4)2 graftonite-type solid solutions. American Mineralogist, 67 (7-8) 826-832
Steele, Ian M., Olsen, Edward, Pluth, Joseph, Davis, Andrew M. (1991) Occurrence and crystal structure of Ca-free beusite in the El Sampal IIIA iron meteorite. American Mineralogist, 76 (11-12) 1985-1989
Pieczka, A. (2007) Beusite and an unusual Mn-rich apatite from the Szklary granitic pegmatite, Lower Silesia, southwestern Poland. The Canadian Mineralogist, 45 (4) 901-914 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.45.4.901
Galliski, M. A.; Oyarzabal, J. C.; Marquez-Zavalia, M. F.; Chapman, R. (2009) The association qingheiite - beusite - lithiophilite in the Santa Ana pegmatite, San Luis, Argentina. The Canadian Mineralogist, 47 (5). 1213-1223 doi:10.3749/canmin.47.5.1213
Tait, Kimberly T., Hawthorne, Frank C., Wise, Michael A. (2013) The crystal chemistry of the graftonite-beusite minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist, 51 (4) 653-662 doi:10.3749/canmin.51.4.653
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2017) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2017. CNMNC Newsletter No 36. Mineralogical Magazine, 81 (2) 403-409 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.022
Hawthorne, Frank C., Pieczka, Adam (2018) Classification of the minerals of the graftonite group. Mineralogical Magazine, 82 (6) 1301-1306 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.092
Hawthorne, Frank C., Wise, Michael A., Černý, Petr, Abdu, Yassir A., Ball, Neil A., Pieczka, Adam, Włodek, Adam (2018) Beusite-(Ca), ideally CaMn22+(PO4)2, a new graftonite-group mineral from the Yellowknife pegmatite field, Northwest Territories, Canada: Description and crystal structure. Mineralogical Magazine, 82 (6) 1323-1332 doi:10.1180/mgm.2018.120
Localities for Beusite
Showing 47 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.
Argentina | |
| Steele et al. (1991) |
| Colombo et al. (2012) |
| Colombo et al. (2012) |
| Colombo et al. (2012) |
| Am Min 53:1799-1812 +2 other references |
| Hurlbut et al. (1968) | |
| OYARZABAL et al. (H2O) +2 other references |
| Am Min 53:1799-1812 |
| Roda-Robles et al. (2012) |
Australia | |
| Brooks et al. (1960) |
Brazil | |
| Baijot et al. (2014) |
Canada | |
| Černý et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| Černý et al. (1998) +2 other references |
| Černý et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| Wise et al. (1990) |
China | |
| Chen et al. (2026) |
Czech Republic | |
| Staněk (1991) +4 other references |
| Novák et al. (2008) | |
| Staněk (1997) | |
Finland | |
| Lahti (1981) |
Germany | |
| Th. Witzke |
| Bender et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| VIGNOLA et al. (2007) |
| Raudsepp M. and Pani E. (1994) |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +1 other reference |
| Tait et al. (2013) | |
Mexico | |
| Meteoritics 28:415 (July, 1993) |
Namibia | |
| von Bezing (2007) |
| Bideaux | |
Norway | |
| Raade (2007) |
Poland | |
| Pieczka A. et al. (2004) |
| Pieczka A. et al. (SW Poland, Lower Silesia, Góry Sowie Mts.) |
| Pieczka et al. (2015) | |
| Pieczka (2000) +3 other references |
| Pieczka et al. (2001) | |
Sweden | |
| Smeds et al. (1998) |
| Smeds et al. (1998) | |
| Smeds et al. (1998) |
| Smeds et al. (1998) | |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Falster et al. (2019) |
| Tait et al. (2013) |
| Olsen et al. (1993) |
| internet sources +1 other reference |
| Rocks&Min 76:23-241 |
| Hausel et al. (2001) |
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Remmelberg gravel pit, Theisseil, Neustadt an der Waldnaab District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany