Jun 13 2014
Balipholite was named for its composition, consisting of BArium and LIthium, and the Chinese word for fibrous, in allusion to the mineral’s structure.
Properties of Balipholite
The following are the key properties of balipholite:
- Cell Data
- Space group: Ccca
- a = 13.60
- b = 20.24
- c = 5.16
- Z = [4]
- Crystal Data
- Orthorhombic
- Point group: 2/m2/m2/m
- Crystals: needle-like and fibrous, elongated || [001], up to 1mm
- As radiating or parallel sheaf-like aggregates
- X-ray powder pattern: 10.12 (100), 3.39 (91), 4.05 (78), 2.605 (31), 2.390 (28)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
| SiO2 |
33.44 |
| Al2O3 |
23.43 |
| BaO |
19.07 |
| H2O+ |
10.30 |
| MgO |
9.68 |
| Li2O |
2.00 |
| FeO |
0.58 |
| K2O |
0.47 |
| Fe2O3 |
0.32 |
| CaO |
0.28 |
| Na2O |
0.26 |
| TiO2 |
0.11 |
| MnO |
0.05 |
| P2O5 |
0.03 |
| BeO |
0.01 |
| Total |
100.03 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical class: Biaxial (-)
- Orientation: X = b; Y = c; Z = a
- α = 1.5807-1.5810; β = 1.5954-1.5958; γ = 1.5984-1.6008
- 2V(meas.) = 68°-72°
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 3.22 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Balipholite = 3.34 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEbalipholite = 80.71 barns/electron
U = PEbalipholite x ρ electron density = 259.75 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.04
Boson index = 0.96 |
Radioactivity
|
Balipholite is not radioactive
|
How to Identify Balipholite
Balipholite can be identified in the field by its color variations, such as white, and light yellow. Its transparent to translucent form has {010} good cleavage. This mineral has a silky luster, with white streak.
The density of balipholite is 3.33 to 3.35 g/cm3, with a hardness of 5 to 5.5 - between apatite and a knife blade.
Global Distribution
Balipholite is distributed mainly in China, from the Hsianghualing area of Linwu in the Hunan Province.
Occurrence of Balipholite and Useful Mineral Association
Balipholite occurs in a miarolitic cavity.
It is often associated with minerals such as zinnwaldite and quartz.
References