Pabstite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page kindly sponsored by Michael J Pabst
About Pabstite
Adolf Pabst
Formula:
Ba(Sn,Ti)(Si3O9)
Colour:
Colourless, white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
4.03
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Adolf Pabst (30 November 1899, Chicago, Illinois, USA - 3 April 1990, Berkeley, California, USA), mineralogist. He served as president of the Mineralogical Society of America, the International Mineralogical Association, and the Crystallographic Society of America. He was awarded the 1965 Roebling Medal.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3057
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3057:7
IMA Classification of Pabstite
Approved
IMA Formula:
BaSn4+Si3O9
Approval year:
1964
First published:
1965
Classification of Pabstite
9.CA.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
A : [Si3O9]6- 3-membered single rings (dreier-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
A : [Si3O9]6- 3-membered single rings (dreier-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
59.1.1.3
59 : CYCLOSILICATES Three-Membered Rings
1 : Three-Membered Rings, anhydrous, no other anions
59 : CYCLOSILICATES Three-Membered Rings
1 : Three-Membered Rings, anhydrous, no other anions
14.12.4
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
12 : Silicates of Sn
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
12 : Silicates of Sn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pab | 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 Pabstite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white
Comment:
white with a pink tinge on a fresh surface
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Density:
4.03 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.07 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Pabstite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.685(2) nε = 1.674(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.011
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:
Very High (positive)
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 uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Comments:
RI is lower in less titanium rich material. see: Pautov, L. (2003): New Data on Minerals: 38: 15-19.
anomalous interference colors in blue-violet or golden yellow
anomalous interference colors in blue-violet or golden yellow
Chemistry of Pabstite
Mindat Formula:
Ba(Sn,Ti)(Si3O9)
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Pabstite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6m2 - Ditrigonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P6c2
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.7037(7) Å, c = 9.824(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.465
Unit Cell V:
382.34 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Labels
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014808 | Pabstite | Hawthorne F C (1987) The crystal chemistry of the benitoite group minerals and structural relations in (Si3O9) ring structures recrystallized siliceous limestone at Santa Cruz, Ca" Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1987 16-30 | 1987 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0013298 | Pabstite | Choisnet J, Deschanvres A, Raveau B (1972) Sur de nouveaux germanates et silicates de type benitoite _cod_database_code 1001773 Journal of Solid State Chemistry 4 209-218 | 1972 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.762 Å | (100) |
| 2.775 Å | (90) |
| 5.829 Å | (30) |
| 3.363 Å | (30) |
| 1.987 Å | (20) |
| 2.912 Å | (18) |
| 1.807 Å | (17) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations |
Type Occurrence of Pabstite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 119605; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 145632.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Pabstite
Other Language Names for Pabstite
Relationship of Pabstite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Benitoite Group:
| Bazirite | BaZr(Si3O9) | Hex. 6m2 : P6c2 |
| Benitoite | BaTi(Si3O9) | Hex. 6m2 : P62c |
| Kopylovite | K2Ti(Si3O9) | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
| Wadeite | K2Zr(Si3O9) | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CA. | 'UM1975-18-SiO:Mn' | α-MnSiO3 |
| 9.CA. | Raudseppite | Ba2Ca7(Si3O9)2(CO3)2Cl2 |
| 9.CA. | Kopylovite | K2Ti(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.05 | Bazirite | BaZr(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.05 | Benitoite | BaTi(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.10 | Wadeite | K2Zr(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.15 | Calciocatapleiite | CaZr(Si3O9) · 2H2O |
| 9.CA.15 | Catapleiite | Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O |
| 9.CA.20 | Pseudowollastonite | CaSiO3 |
| 9.CA.25 | Margarosanite | Ca2PbSi3O9 |
| 9.CA.25 | Walstromite | BaCa2(Si3O9) |
| 9.CA.25 | Anatolygurbanovite | SrCa2Si3O9 |
| 9.CA.25 | Breyite | Ca3Si3O9 |
| 9.CA.30 | Bobtraillite | (Na,◻)12(◻,Na)12Sr12Zr14(Si3O9)10[Si2BO7(OH)2]6 · 12H2O |
| 9.CA.35 | Rogermitchellite | Na6Sr12Ba2Zr13Si39B4O123(OH)6 · 20H2O |
Fluorescence of Pabstite
Bluish white in short-wave ultraviolet light.
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 Pabstite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3057.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Pabstite
Localities for Pabstite
Showing 5 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.
Canada | |
| Macquistan et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov data of 2014 |
Mexico | |
| Dunning G.E. et al. (2018) |
Tajikistan | |
| Pautov (2003) |
USA (TL) | |
| Gross (1964) +5 other references |
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Pacific Cement and Aggregate Company quarry, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, California, USA