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⇱ Holfertite: Mineral information, data and localities.

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Holfertite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About HolfertiteHide

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Formula:
CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O
Colour:
Canary yellow to orange yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
4.22
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Named in honor of John W. Holfert (b. 1949), for his significant contributions to the mineralogy and geology of the Thomas Range, USA.
A hydrated Ca-U-Ti oxide/hydroxide.

May not be the same material per Foord from location.


Unique IdentifiersHide

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Mindat ID:
11514
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:11514:0

IMA Classification of HolfertiteHide

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Approved
IMA Formula:
(UO2)1.75Ca0.25TiO4 · 3H2O
Approval year:
2003
First published:
2006

Classification of HolfertiteHide

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4.GB.70

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference
HlfIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of HolfertiteHide

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Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Canary yellow to orange yellow
Streak:
Pale yellow
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
(110)
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
4.22 g/cm3 (Measured)    4.26 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of HolfertiteHide

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Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.815(8) nε = 1.910(8)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.095
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of HolfertiteHide

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Mindat Formula:
CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O

Crystallography of HolfertiteHide

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Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
P3
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.824 Å, c = 7.549 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.697
Unit Cell V:
765.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Hollow elongated prisms.

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0006067HolfertiteSokolova E, Hawthorne F C, Belakovskiy D I, Pautov L A (2005) The OD (order-disorder) structure of holfertite, a hydrated uranyl titanate mineral from Searle Canyon, Thomas Range, Utah, USA The Canadian Mineralogist 43 1545-1552👁 Image
2005Searle Canyon, Thomas Range, Utah, USA0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.60 Å(100)
2.90 Å(80)
1.87 Å(30)
1.747 Å(30)
1.211 Å(30)
Comments:
From type description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals]

Type Occurrence of HolfertiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:
Minute yellow, rod-like needles sparsely.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (#91374).
National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washongton, D.C., USA.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In vesicles in rhyolite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of HolfertiteHide

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Other Language Names for HolfertiteHide

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German:Holfertit
Simplified Chinese:羟水钙钛铀石
Spanish:Holfertita
Traditional Chinese:羥水鈣鈦鈾石

Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
38 photos of Holfertite associated with HematiteFe2O3
13 photos of Holfertite associated with QuartzSiO2
8 photos of Holfertite associated with TopazAl2(SiO4)(F,OH)2
6 photos of Holfertite associated with SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
6 photos of Holfertite associated with Rhyolite
5 photos of Holfertite associated with Red BerylBe3Al2Si6O18
4 photos of Holfertite associated with Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn3+2O3
3 photos of Holfertite associated with AdulariaKAlSi3O8
2 photos of Holfertite associated with PseudobrookiteFe2TiO5
1 photo of Holfertite associated with Niobium-bearing Rutile(Ti,Nb)O2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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4.GB.05RameauiteK2Ca(UO2)6O6(OH)4 · 6H2OMon. m : Bb
4.GB.05AgrinieriteK2(Ca,Sr)[(UO2)3O3(OH)2]2 · 5H2OMon. m : Bm
4.GB.05CompreignaciteK2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
4.GB.10BecquereliteCa(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2OOrth. mm2 : Pna21
4.GB.10BillietiteBa(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2OOrth. mm2
4.GB.10ProtasiteBa(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2OMon. m
4.GB.15Richetite(Fe3+,Mg)Pb 8.6(UO2)36O36(OH)24 · 41H2O Tric. 1 : P1
4.GB.20Calciouranoite(Ca,Ba,Pb)U2O7 · 5H2O
4.GB.20BauranoiteBa(UO2)2(OH)6 · 1-2H2O
4.GB.20Metacalciouranoite(Ca,Ba,Pb,K2)U2O7 · 2H2O
4.GB.25FourmarieritePb(UO2)4O3(OH)4 · 4H2OOrth. mm2
4.GB.30WölsendorfitePb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
4.GB.35MasuyitePb(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
4.GB.40VandendriesscheitePbU7O22 · 12H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
4.GB.40MetavandendriesscheitePbU7O22 · nH2O n < 12Orth.
4.GB.45VandenbrandeiteCu(UO2)(OH)4Tric. 1 : P1
4.GB.50SayritePb2(UO2)5O6(OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m
4.GB.55CuritePb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
4.GB.60Iriginite(UO2)Mo2O7 · 3H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcm
4.GB.65UranosphaeriteBi(UO2)O2(OH)Mon. 2/m
4.GB.75Carlosbarbosaite(UO2)2Nb2O6(OH)2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
4.GB.80GauthieriteKPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7] · 8H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
4.GB.85KroupaiteKPb0.5[(UO2)8O4(OH)10] · 10H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
4.GB.90LeesiteK(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
4.GB.95ShinkolobweitePb1.333[U5+O(OH)(UO2)5O4.67(OH)5.33](H2O)5Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
4.GB.95NollmotziteMg[U5+(U6+O2)2O4F3] · 4H2OMon. m : Bm

Fluorescence of HolfertiteHide

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Other InformationHide

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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 HolfertiteHide

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mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-11514.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

References for HolfertiteHide

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Reference List:

Localities for HolfertiteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 👁 Image
symbol to view information about a locality. The 👁 Image
symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA
  • Utah
    • Juab County
      • Thomas Range
        • Pismire Knolls
In the collection of Alex Earl +1 other reference
Hawthorne et al. (2006)
Hawthorne et al. (2006)
Collected by and in the collection of ...
In the collection of Alex Earl
In the personal collection of Alex Earl
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