Friedrichbeckeite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Friedrichbeckeite
Friedrich Becke
Formula:
K(◻Na)Mg2(Be2Mg)[Si12O30]
Colour:
Colorless to pale yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
2.686 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 2009 by C. L. Lengauer, N. Hrauda, Uwe Kolitsch, R. Krickl, and E. Tillmanns, in honour of Friedrich Johann Karl Becke [December 31, 1855 Praha, Bohemia (Prague, Czech Republic) – June 18, 1931 Wien, Austria]. Becke was professor of mineralogy at the University of Czernowitz (Cernauti, Romania), at the German University (Praha), and the University of Wien. Becke was both a crystallographer and petrologist and in the latter field greatly influenced optical mineralogical theory from many important innovations. The Becke Line determination method of refractive index is named for him. Becke was also an important author and editor.
Osumilite Group.
Can be distinguished from its Mn analogue almarudite and from yellowish roedderite only by quantitative chemical analysis.
Can be distinguished from its Mn analogue almarudite and from yellowish roedderite only by quantitative chemical analysis.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
38698
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:38698:8
IMA Classification of Friedrichbeckeite
Classification of Friedrichbeckeite
9.CM.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
M : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered double rings (sechser-Doppelringe)
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
M : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered double rings (sechser-Doppelringe)
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fri | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Fri | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Friedrichbeckeite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless to pale yellow
Streak:
White to pale cream
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.686 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Friedrichbeckeite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.552(2) nε = 1.561(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.009
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.
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.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
Anomalous extinction, slight biaxiality and zoning sometimes observed.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
O = yellow; E = light blue.
Chemistry of Friedrichbeckeite
Mindat Formula:
K(◻Na)Mg2(Be2Mg)[Si12O30]
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Friedrichbeckeite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P6/mcc
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.970 Å, c = 14.130 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.417
Unit Cell V:
1,216.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014649 | Friedrichbeckeite | Lengauer C L, Hrauda N, Kolitsch U, Krickl R, Tillmanns E (2009) Friedrichbeckeite, K(_0.5Na0.5)2(Mg0.8Mn0.1Fe0.1)2(Be0.6Mg0.4)3[Si12O30], a new milarite-type mineral from the Bellerberg volcano, Eifel area, Germany Mineralogy and Petrology 96 221-232 | 2009 | Bellerberg volcano, Eifel area, Germany | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.993 Å | (30) |
| 4.321 Å | (25) |
| 4.081 Å | (30) |
| 3.6898 Å | (30) |
| 3.5381 Å | (25) |
| 3.1799 Å | (100) |
| 2.8847 Å | (70) |
| 2.7374 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies) |
Type Occurrence of Friedrichbeckeite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Thin tabular crystals flattened on {0001}, with a maximum diameter of 0.6 mm and a maximum thickness of 0.1 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria (catalog no. 2009-IV-a).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In vesicles in pyrometamorphically metasomatized silicate-rich xenoliths in leucite-tephrite volcanic rock.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Friedrichbeckeite
Other Language Names for Friedrichbeckeite
Dutch:Friedrichbeckeiet
German:Friedrichbeckeit
Relationship of Friedrichbeckeite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Osumilite Group:
| Agakhanovite-(Y) | K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Almarudite | K◻2Mn2+2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mmm |
| Aluminosugilite | KNa2Al2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Armenite | Ba(H2O)2Ca2Al3[Al3Si9O30] | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnna |
| Berezanskite | K◻2Ti2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Brannockite | K◻2Sn2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Chayesite | K◻2Mg2(Mg2Fe3+)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Darapiosite | KNa2Mn2(Zn2Li)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Dusmatovite | K(K◻)Mn2+2Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Eifelite | KNa2(MgNa)Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Klöchite | K◻2(Fe2+Fe3+)Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Laurentthomasite | K◻2Mg2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Merrihueite | K(◻Na)Fe2+2Fe2+3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Milarite | K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Oftedalite | K◻2(ScCa)Be3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Osumilite | K◻2Fe2+2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Osumilite-(Mg) | K◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Poudretteite | K◻2Na2B3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Roedderite | K(◻Na)Mg2Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6 m2 : P62c |
| Shibkovite | K(◻K)Ca2Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Sogdianite | K◻2Zr2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Sugilite | KNa2Fe3+2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Trattnerite | ◻(◻)2Fe3+2Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
| UM1990-73-SiO:KMnNaZn | K(KNa0.5◻0.5)(Mn1.5Na0.5)Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. |
| Unnamed (Mn3+-dominant analog of Sugilite) | KNa2Mn3+2Li3[Si12O30] | |
| Yagiite | Na◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mcc |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CM. | Agakhanovite-(Y) | K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Laurentthomasite | K◻2Mg2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | UM1990-73-SiO:KMnNaZn | K(KNa0.5◻0.5)(Mn1.5Na0.5)Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Eifelite | KNa2(MgNa)Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Almarudite | K◻2Mn2+2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Armenite | Ba(H2O)2Ca2Al3[Al3Si9O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Merrihueite | K(◻Na)Fe2+2Fe2+3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Oftedalite | K◻2(ScCa)Be3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Roedderite | K(◻Na)Mg2Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Shibkovite | K(◻K)Ca2Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Sogdianite | K◻2Zr2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Milarite | K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Berezanskite | K◻2Ti2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Poudretteite | K◻2Na2B3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Darapiosite | KNa2Mn2(Zn2Li)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Chayesite | K◻2Mg2(Mg2Fe3+)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Osumilite-(Mg) | K◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Osumilite | K◻2Fe2+2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Sugilite | KNa2Fe3+2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Trattnerite | ◻(◻)2Fe3+2Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Brannockite | K◻2Sn2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Klöchite | K◻2(Fe2+Fe3+)Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Dusmatovite | K(K◻)Mn2+2Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Yagiite | Na◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.9.CM. | Aluminosugilite | KNa2Al2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.10 | Faizievite | K2Na(Ca6Na)Ti4Li6[Si6O18]2[Si12O30]F2 |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 4.0306% | 1,249 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
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 Friedrichbeckeite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-38698.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Friedrichbeckeite
Reference List:
Lengauer, C. L., Hrauda, N., Kolitsch, U., Krickl, R., Tillmanns, E. (2009) Friedrichbeckeite, K (□0.5Na0.5)2 (Mg0.8Mn0.1Fe0.1)2 (Be0.6 Mg0.4)3 [Si12O30], a new milarite-type mineral from the Bellerberg volcano, Eifel area, Germany. Mineralogy and Petrology, 96 (3) 221-232 doi:10.1007/s00710-009-0050-9
Localities for Friedrichbeckeite
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.
Germany (TL) | |
| Lengauer et al. (2009) |
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Caspar quarry, Ettringen, Vordereifel, Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany