Betafite

Overview

(Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
Fluorescence: none	Very Strongly Radioactive	Magnetic: no

Description

Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	3.7-4.9 g/cc
Hardness - Mohs	Betafite - 5.0-5.5  10 Diamond 9 Carborundum 8 Topaz 7 Quartz 6 Orthoclase 5 Apatite 4 Fluorite 3 Calcite 2 Gypsum 1 Talc
Color	brown, black, brown green, yellow
Streak	yellow white

Crystal Properties

Property	Value
Crystal structure	isometric - hexoctahedral
Cleavage	none
Tenacity	brittle
Fracture	conchoidal
Luster	vitreous, greasy

Similar Minerals

Dana Number : 08.02.03.01

Class: 08

Group: 08.02

Subgroup: 08.02.03 - pyrochlore

Dana Number	Mineral Name	Formula
08.02.03.01	betafite	(Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
08.02.03.05	calciobetafite	Ca2(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)7

Nickel-Strunz Number : 04.DH.15

Group : 04

Subgroup : DH

Nickel-Strunz Number	Mineral Name	Formula
04.DH.15	betafite	(Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
04.DH.15	bismutomicrolite	(Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH)
04.DH.15	calciobetafite	Ca2(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)7
04.DH.15	fluornatromicrolite	(Na,Ca,Bi)2Ta2O6F
04.DH.15	microlite	(Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F)
04.DH.15	pyrochlore	(Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F)
04.DH.15	uranpyrochlore	(U,Ca,Ce)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F)
04.DH.15	yttropyrochlore-(Y)	(Y,Na,Ca,U)1-2(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(O,OH)7

Specimens

Localities

Uses