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Francisite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Francisite
Glyn Francis
Formula:
Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2Cl
Colour:
Bright green
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
5.42 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in recognition of Glyn Francis' (b. 1939 - died 17 Sept. 2026) contribution to the understanding and preservation of the minerals of the Iron Monarch ore body. Glyn was Quality Control Officer at Iron Monarch and produced a book on the deposit in 2010.
Synthetic francisites and its Br an dREE(III) analogues have been studied by physicists.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1591
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1591:8
Similar Names
| Françoisite | ||
| Françoisite-(Ce) | A valid IMA mineral species | (Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2O |
| Françoisite-(Nd) | A valid IMA mineral species | (Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2O |
| Vrančiceite | A valid IMA mineral species | Cu10Hg3S8 |
IMA Classification of Francisite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Cu2+3Bi3+(Se4+O3)2O2Cl
Approval year:
1989
First published:
1990
Classification of Francisite
4.JG.25
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
G : Selenites with additional anions, without H2O
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
G : Selenites with additional anions, without H2O
34.6.6.1
34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
6 : Anhydrous Selenites, Tellurites and Sulfites containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
34 : SELENITES, TELLURITES AND SULFITES
6 : Anhydrous Selenites, Tellurites and Sulfites containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
28.1.3
28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
1 : Selenites
28 : Selenites, Selenates, Tellurites, and Tellurates
1 : Selenites
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Fcs | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Francisite
Adamantine
Colour:
Bright green
Streak:
Pale apple green
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Comment:
estimated
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
5.42 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Francisite
Mindat Formula:
Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2Cl
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Francisite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pmmn
Setting:
Pmmn
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.356(1) Å, b = 9.633(2) Å, c = 7.224(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.66 : 1 : 0.75
Unit Cell V:
442.31 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Twinning:
Contact twinning on {100}
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001339 | Francisite | Pring A, Gatehouse B M, Birch W D (1990) Francisite, Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2Cl, a new mineral from Iron Monarch, South Australia: Description and crystal structure American Mineralogist 75 1421-1425 |  | 1990 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.31 Å | (60) |
| 3.39 Å | (100) |
| 2.866 Å | (80) |
| 2.652 Å | (70) |
| 2.491 Å | (60) |
| 1.695 Å | (35) |
| 1.588 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 21 : Chemically precipitated carbonate, phosphate, iron formations | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Francisite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Bladed crystals
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
South Australian Museum, Adelaide, and the Museum of Victoria, Melbourne.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Barite lens in hematite ore. Hydrothermal alteration
of the selenide and sulfide minerals
of the selenide and sulfide minerals
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Francisite
Other Language Names for Francisite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Francisite associated with Carbonatecyanotrichite | Cu4Al2(CO3,SO4)(OH)12 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Francisite associated with Chalcomenite | CuSeO3 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.JG. | Prewittite | KPb1.5ZnCu6(SeO3)2O2Cl10 |
| 4.JG. | Masaitisite | KCu5O2(SeO3)2Cl3 |
| 4.JG. | Wangkuirenite | Pb3Cl2(SeO3)2 |
| 4.JG. | Guangyuanite | Pb3Cl3(Se4+O3)(OH) |
| 4.JG.05 | Georgbokiite | Cu5(SeO3)2O2Cl2 |
| 4.JG.05 | Parageorgbokiite | Cu5(SeO3)2O2Cl2 |
| 4.JG.10 | Chloromenite | Cu9(SeO3)4O2Cl6 |
| 4.JG.15 | Sofiite | Zn2(SeO3)Cl2 |
| 4.JG.20 | Ilinskite | (Na,K)Cu5(SeO3)2O2Cl3 |
| 4.JG.30 | Derriksite | Cu4(UO2)(SeO3)2(OH)6 |
| 4.JG.35 | Burnsite | KCdCu2+7(SeO3)2O2Cl9 |
| 4.JG.40 | Allochalcoselite | Cu+PbCu2+5(SeO3)2Cl5O2 |
| 4.JG.45 | Nicksobolevite | Cu7(SeO3)2O2Cl6 |
| 4.JG.50 | Plumboselite | Pb3O2(SeO3) |
| 4.JG.55 | Sarrabusite | Pb5CuCl4(SeO3)4 |
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 Francisite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1591.html
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References for Francisite
Reference List:
Pring, Allan, Birch, Bryan M. Gatehouse William D. (1990) Francisite, Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2Cl, a new mineral from Iron Monarch, South Australia: Description and crystal structure. American Mineralogist, 75 (11-12) 1421-1425
Millet, P.; Bastide, B.; Pashchenko, V.; Gnatchenko, S.; Gapon, V.; Ksari, Y.; Stepanov, A. (2001) Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of francisite compounds Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2X (X = Cl, Br and I). Journal of Materials Chemistry, 11 (4). p.1152-1157. doi:10.1039/b007920k
Rousochatzakis, Ioannis; Richter, Johannes; Zinke, Ronald; Tsirlin, Alexander A. (2015) Frustration and Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya anisotropy in the kagome francisites Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2X (X = Br, Cl). Physical Review B, 91 (2). doi:10.1103/physrevb.91.024416
Markina, M. M.; Zakharov, K. V.; Zvereva, E. A.; Denisov, R. S.; Berdonosov, P. S.; Dolgikh, V. A.; Kuznetsova, E. S.; Olenev, A. V.; Vasiliev, A. N. (2016) Static and dynamic magnetic properties of two synthetic francisites Cu3La(SeO3)2O2X (X = Br and Cl). Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 44 (4). p.277-285. doi:10.1007/s00269-016-0855-0
Nikolaev, S. A.; Mazurenko, V. V.; Tsirlin, A. A.; Mazurenko, V. G. (2016) First-principles study of the magnetic ground state and magnetization process of the kagome francisites Cu3Bi(SeO3)2O2X (X=Cl,Br). Physical Review B, 94 (14). doi:10.1103/physrevb.94.144412
Localities for Francisite
Showing 2 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.
Australia (TL) | |
| Pring et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| www.mindat.org (n.d.) +2 other references |
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Iron Monarch Main Pit, Iron Knob, Pastoral Unincorporated Area, South Australia, Australia