How do I identify Bityite?

Bityite can be identified by its hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale, White yellowish; colorless; white; brownish color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Bityite?

Bityite typically appears in White yellowish; colorless; white; brownish. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

Bityite has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Bityite

A variety of Minerals

What is Bityite?

Bityite is considered a rare mineral, and it is an endmember to the margarite mica sub-group found within the phyllosilicate group. The mineral was first described by Antoine François Alfred Lacroix in 1908, and later its chemical composition was concluded by Professor Hugo Strunz. Bityite has a close association with beryl, and it generally crystallizes in pseudomorphs after it, or in cavities associated with reformed beryl crystals. The mineral is considered a late-stage constituent in lithium bearing pegmatites, and has only been encountered in a few localities throughout the world. The mineral was named by Lacroix after Mt. Bity, Madagascar from where it was first discovered.

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Bityite Localities Map

See where Bityite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Bityite

Bityite exhibits a strong pearly luster, and occurs as a fine scaled white yellowish mass which is usually smaller than 0.3mm in diameter; and, its opacity is transparent to translucent. Physical properties analyses conducted with precision photographs using zirconium-filtered molybdenum radiation indicates that bityite exhibits monoclinic symmetry, and is part of the C2/c space group. The unit cell dimensions are a = 4.99 Å, b = 8.68 Å, c = 19.04 Å, β=95.17°, with a volume of 821.33 Å. The refraction indices measured by the immersion method are α = 1.650, β = 1.658, γ = 1.660 with 2V calculation of 52.9°. Bityite’s specific gravity is 3.14, and it has a hardness of 4−4.5 based on Mohs scale of hardness. Bityite’s luster is vitreous and pearly on cleavages, and it has a perfect micaceous cleavage on the {001} miller index. Bityite’s crystal habit can display thin and pseudohexagonal platy crystals.

Composition of Bityite

The atomic structure derived by X-Ray powder and optical analysis of bityite is that of a two layer modification that also exhibits a complex affinity to twinning. From studies done on mica flakes from the Maantienvarsi sample, the mineral is a two layer-type modification of polytype 2M1. Bityite has a mica structure, shown in adjacent figure, which consists of tetrahedral and octahedral sheets separated by an interlayer cation. The mineral is considered a brittle mica, and it can be distinguished from the true micas by a layer charge per unit of approximately -2.0; in consequence, their interlayer cation is usually calcium or barium. Bityite’s structure consists of a coupled substitution it exhibits between the sheets of polyhedra; the coupled substitution of beryllium for aluminium within the tetrahedral sites allows a single lithium substitution for a vacancy without any additional octahedral substitutions. The transfer is completed by creating a tetrahedral sheet composition of Si2BeAl. The coupled substitution of lithium for vacancy and the beryllium for the tetrahedral aluminium maintains all the charges balanced; thereby, resulting in the trioctahedral end member for the margarite sub-group of the phyllosilicate group.