From a garnetite in a tin-bearing skarn, formed under conditions of relatively low temperature and low (XCO2).
IMA Status:
Approved IMA 1981
Locality:
On the west bank of the Beht River, near El Hamman, central Morocco. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
For Dr. Donald McLain Burt (1943- ), Professor of Mineralogy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA, authority on mineral equilibria and greisen deposits, who had predicted the natural occurrence of the compound
Name Pronunciation:
Burtite
Synonym:
ICSD 24960
PDF 30-Sep
Burtite Crystallography
Axial Ratios:
a:c = 1:1
Cell Dimensions:
a = 8.128, c = 8.128, Z = 4; V = 465.03 Den(Calc)= 3.73
Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.
Hardness:
3 - Calcite
Luster:
Vitreous (Glassy)
Streak:
white
Optical Properties of Burtite
Gladstone-Dale:
CI meas= 0.029 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC) CI calc= 0.146 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1693,KPDmeas= 0.1925,KC= 0.1982 Ncalc = 1.65 - 1.74
Optical Data:
Uniaxial (+/-), a=1.63, b=1.633, bire=0.0030.
Calculated Properties of Burtite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.12 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Burtite =3.28 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.07 Boson Index = 0.93
Photoelectric:
PEBurtite = 133.88 barns/electron U=PEBurtite x rElectron Density= 417.52 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Burtite is Not Radioactive
Burtite Classification
Dana Class:
06.03.06.05(06)Hydroxides and Oxides Containing Hydroxyl
Chemical Formula: 