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Batoniite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Batoniite
Massimo Batoni - Batoniite
Formula:
Al8(SO4)5(OH)14(H2O)18 · 5H2O
Colour:
white to colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Specific Gravity:
1.949 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honour of Massimo Batoni (born 6 April 1948), vice-president of AMI - Associazione Micromineralogica Italiana.
New structure type. Among the most structurally complex minerals to date (see also: ewingite, morrisonite, and ilmajokite-(Ce)).
Bears a most likely unique octameric [Al8(OH)14(H2O)18]10+ cluster.
Its genesis is likely due to interaction of sulfuric acid and Al-bearing Paleozoic rocks cropping out in the Garibaldi Tunnel (the lowest mining level of the Cetine di Cotorniano Mine).
Bears a most likely unique octameric [Al8(OH)14(H2O)18]10+ cluster.
Its genesis is likely due to interaction of sulfuric acid and Al-bearing Paleozoic rocks cropping out in the Garibaldi Tunnel (the lowest mining level of the Cetine di Cotorniano Mine).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
470773
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:470773:4
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Batoniite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Al8(S6+O4)5(OH)14(H2O)18·5H2O
Approval year:
2023
Approval history:
IMA no. 2023-008
Classification of Batoniite
7.DA.
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small cations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bato | 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 Batoniite
Vitreous, Greasy
Colour:
White to colorless
Streak:
White
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
shows a {011} perfect cleavage; there are other less distinct cleavage surfaces, but their crystallographic orientation was not determined.
shows a {011} perfect cleavage; there are other less distinct cleavage surfaces, but their crystallographic orientation was not determined.
Density:
1.949 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Batoniite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.4833(6) nβ = 1.4948(6) nγ = 1.5019(5)
2V:
Measured: 71° (1), Calculated: 75.8°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.019
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
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. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
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. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Chemistry of Batoniite
Mindat Formula:
Al8(SO4)5(OH)14(H2O)18 · 5H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| Al2O3 | 33.48 % |
| Fe2O3 | 0.05 % |
| SO3 | 33.00 % |
| H2O(calc.) | 44.41 % |
| total | 110.94 % |
| Total: | 221.88 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Al7 · 98Fe(SO4)5.01(OH)13.95(H2O)18 · 5H2O |
Sample references:
Crystallography of Batoniite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.1757(6) Å, b = 12.0886(9) Å, c = 20.9218(15) Å
α = 82.901(3)°, β = 87.334(3)°, γ = 86.999(2)°
α = 82.901(3)°, β = 87.334(3)°, γ = 86.999(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.759 : 1 : 1.731
Unit Cell V:
2295.7 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 11.1 Å | (s) |
| 8.5 Å | (s) |
| 7.5 Å | (s) |
| 5.20 Å | (ms) |
| 4.87 Å | (ms) |
| 4.08 Å | (vs) |
| 3.793 Å | (ms) |
| 3.563 Å | (s) |
Type Occurrence of Batoniite
General Appearance of Type Material:
hemispherical aggregates composed of brittle tabular crystals, up to 1 mm in size
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 79, Calci (PI), Italy, catalogue number 20028
Geological Setting of Type Material:
action of H2SO4 on Al-bearing rocks of Paleozoic age
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Batoniite
Other Language Names for Batoniite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.DA. | Kantorite | K2NaMg(SO4)2F |
Fluorescence of Batoniite
none
Other Information
Notes:
Batoniite is slowly soluble in H2O; it is affected by dehydration of under chamber vacuum.
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 Batoniite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-470773.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Batoniite
Reference List:
Bosi, Ferdinando; Hatert, Frédéric; Pasero, Marco; Mills, Stuart J. (2023) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) – Newsletter 73. European Journal of Mineralogy, 35 (3). 397-402 doi:10.5194/ejm-35-397-2023
Mauro, Daniela, Biagioni, Cristian, Sejkora, Jiří, Dolníček, Zdeněk, Škoda, Radek (2023) Batoniite, [Al8(OH)14(H2O)18](SO4)5 ⋅ 5H2O, a new mineral with the [Al8(OH)14(H2O)18]10+ polyoxocation from the Cetine di Cotorniano Mine, Tuscany, Italy. European Journal of Mineralogy, 35 (5) 703-714 doi:10.5194/ejm-35-703-2023
Localities for Batoniite
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.
Italy (TL) | |
| Bosi et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
Switzerland | |
| Ansermet et al. (2024) |
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Le Cetine di Cotorniano mine, Chiusdino, Siena Province, Tuscany, Italy