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Murataite-(Y)

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Murataite-(Y) (3)

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Murataite-(Y)

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Murataite-(Y), etc.

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Murataite-(Y), etc.

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Murataite-(Y)

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Murataite-(Y), etc.

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Murataite-(Y), etc.

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Murataite-(Y)

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Murataite-(Y), etc.

St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District, El Paso County, Colorado, USA

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About Murataite-(Y)Hide

Formula:

(Y,Na)₆Zn(Zn,Fe³⁺)₄(Ti,Nb,Na)₁₂O₂₉(O,F,OH)₁₀F₄

Colour:

Black

Lustre:

Sub-Metallic

Hardness:

6 - 6½

Specific Gravity:

4.69

Crystal System:

Isometric

Name:

Named in 1974 by John W. Adams, Theodore Botinelly, William N. Sharp, and Keith Robinson in honor of Kiguma Jack Murata [December 29, 1909 - December 27, 2001 Sacremento, Sacremento County, California, USA] geochemist at Menlo Park, U. S. Geological Survey.

Type Locality:

ⓘ St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District (St. Peters Dome Mining District), El Paso County, Colorado, USA

Polysomatic pyrochlore-murataite series with modular structure and four structural varieties of murataite (3C, 5C, 7C, and 8C) are described by Laverov et al. (2011).

The structure is a derivative of that of fluorite. The synthetic 8C polytype is a candidate for long-term immobilization of high-level nuclear waste. Its octahedral framework is modular, consisting of alternate murataite and pyrochlore modules to form a transitional substructure combining parts of the struture of the 3C polytype and pyrochlore.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

2811

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:2811:6

GUID
(UUID V4):

3ae748d5-1d68-4950-b356-45ab3c893101

IMA Classification of Murataite-(Y)Hide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

(Y,Na)₆Zn(Zn,Fe³⁺)₄(Ti,Nb,Na)₁₂O₂₉(O,F,OH)₁₀F₄

First published:

1974

Type description reference:

Adams J W, Botinelly T, Sharp W N, Robinson K (1974) Murataite, a new complex oxide from El Paso County, Colorado. American Mineralogist 59, 172-176

Classification of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

4.DF.15

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
F : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; dimers and trimers of edgesharing octahedra

Dana 7th ed.:

8.7.1.1

Dana 8th ed.:

8.7.1.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
7 : Miscellaneous

Hey's CIM Ref.:

18.2.20

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
2 : Niobates and tantalates containing rare earths but not U

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Mrat-Y	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 Murataite-(Y)Hide

Lustre:

Sub-Metallic

Transparency:

Opaque

Colour:

Black

Comment:

Dark brown in thin section

Streak:

Dark brown

Hardness:

6 - 6½ on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=782 - 870 kg/mm² (15 s test time) - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

None Observed

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Density:

4.69 g/cm³ (Measured) 4.64 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Type:

Isotropic

RI values:

n = 2.13

Birefringence:

Isotropic minerals have no birefringence

Surface Relief:

Very High

Anisotropism:

Very weak

Bireflectance:

slight

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R
546nm	13.7%
589nm	13.1%
630nm	12.7%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 13.7%.

Colour in reflected light:

Gray, darker in oil

Internal Reflections:

Faint orange in air. Conspicuous and pale orange to white in oil.

Pleochroism:

Weak

Comments:

Slight in air, but distinct in oil.

Chemistry of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Mindat Formula:

(Y,Na)₆Zn(Zn,Fe³⁺)₄(Ti,Nb,Na)₁₂O₂₉(O,F,OH)₁₀F₄

Elements listed:

F, Fe, H, Na, Nb, O, Ti, Y, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Crystal System:

Isometric

Class (H-M):

m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral

Space Group:

Fm3m

Cell Parameters:

a = 14.836 Å

Unit Cell V:

3,265.51 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Comment:

Space Group: F43m

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0005476	Murataite-(Y)	Ercit T S, Hawthorne F C (1995) Murataite, a UB12 derivative structure with condensed Keggin molecules The Canadian Mineralogist 33 1223-1229		1995		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Murataite-(Y)'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Ercit T S'
'Hawthorne F C'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 33 
_journal_year 1995
_journal_page_first 1223
_journal_page_last 1229
_publ_section_title
;
 Murataite, a UB12 derivative structure with condensed Keggin molecules
;
_database_code_amcsd 0005476
_chemical_formula_sum 'Y2.22 Dy.3 Ho.12 Er.3 Tm.06 Yb.3 Lu.06 Na4.06 Ca.36 Mn.18 Ti9.56 Nb1.56 Zn2.81 Fe Si.11 O32.34 F8'
_cell_length_a 14.886
_cell_length_b 14.886
_cell_length_c 14.886
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 3298.633
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      4.070
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'F -4 3 m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  '-z,x,-y'
  '-z,1/2+x,1/2-y'
  '1/2-z,x,1/2-y'
  '1/2-z,1/2+x,-y'
  '-y,z,-x'
  '-y,1/2+z,1/2-x'
  '1/2-y,z,1/2-x'
  '1/2-y,1/2+z,-x'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,-z'
  'x,-z,-y'
  'x,1/2-z,1/2-y'
  '1/2+x,-z,1/2-y'
  '1/2+x,1/2-z,-y'
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  'z,1/2-y,1/2-x'
  '1/2+z,-y,1/2-x'
  '1/2+z,1/2-y,-x'
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  '1/2+y,-x,1/2-z'
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  '1/2+x,z,1/2+y'
  '1/2+x,1/2+z,y'
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  'z,1/2+y,1/2+x'
  '1/2+z,y,1/2+x'
  '1/2+z,1/2+y,x'
  'y,x,z'
  'y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  '1/2+y,x,1/2+z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,z'
  '-z,-x,y'
  '-z,1/2-x,1/2+y'
  '1/2-z,-x,1/2+y'
  '1/2-z,1/2-x,y'
  '-y,-z,x'
  '-y,1/2-z,1/2+x'
  '1/2-y,-z,1/2+x'
  '1/2-y,1/2-z,x'
  '-x,-y,z'
  '-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,z'
  'z,-x,-y'
  'z,1/2-x,1/2-y'
  '1/2+z,-x,1/2-y'
  '1/2+z,1/2-x,-y'
  'y,-z,-x'
  'y,1/2-z,1/2-x'
  '1/2+y,-z,1/2-x'
  '1/2+y,1/2-z,-x'
  'x,-y,-z'
  'x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,-z'
  '-x,z,-y'
  '-x,1/2+z,1/2-y'
  '1/2-x,z,1/2-y'
  '1/2-x,1/2+z,-y'
  '-z,y,-x'
  '-z,1/2+y,1/2-x'
  '1/2-z,y,1/2-x'
  '1/2-z,1/2+y,-x'
  '-y,x,-z'
  '-y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  '1/2-y,x,1/2-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,-z'
  '-x,-z,y'
  '-x,1/2-z,1/2+y'
  '1/2-x,-z,1/2+y'
  '1/2-x,1/2-z,y'
  '-z,-y,x'
  '-z,1/2-y,1/2+x'
  '1/2-z,-y,1/2+x'
  '1/2-z,1/2-y,x'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '-y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  '1/2-y,-x,1/2+z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,z'
  'z,x,y'
  'z,1/2+x,1/2+y'
  '1/2+z,x,1/2+y'
  '1/2+z,1/2+x,y'
  'y,z,x'
  'y,1/2+z,1/2+x'
  '1/2+y,z,1/2+x'
  '1/2+y,1/2+z,x'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
YX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.37000 ?
DyX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.05000 ?
HoX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.02000 ?
ErX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.05000 ?
TmX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.01000 ?
YbX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.05000 ?
LuX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.01000 ?
NaX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.35000 ?
CaX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.06000 ?
MnX   0.18120   0.00000   0.00000   0.03000 ?
TiM1   0.16290   0.16290   0.50870   0.76000 ?
NbM1   0.16290   0.16290   0.50870   0.13000 ?
NaM1   0.16290   0.16290   0.50870   0.11000 ?
ZnM2  -0.17220  -0.17220  -0.17220   0.48000 ?
FeM2  -0.17220  -0.17220  -0.17220   0.25000 ?
NaM2  -0.17220  -0.17220  -0.17220   0.16000 ?
TiM2  -0.17220  -0.17220  -0.17220   0.11000 ?
ZnT   0.50000   0.50000   0.50000   0.89000   0.01350
SiT   0.50000   0.50000   0.50000   0.11000   0.01350
O1   0.29760   0.07290   0.07290   1.00000   0.00850
O2   0.39620   0.39620   0.74200   0.82000   0.01000
O3   0.57380   0.57380   0.57380   1.00000   0.00560
O4   0.25000   0.25000   0.76700   0.08333   0.01000
O5   0.01500   0.25000   0.25000   0.70000   0.01320
F5   0.01500   0.25000   0.25000   0.30000   0.01320
O6  -0.07900  -0.07900  -0.07900   0.45000   0.01160
F6  -0.07900  -0.07900  -0.07900   0.55000   0.01160
F   0.10600   0.10600   0.08500   0.33333   0.01000
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
YX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
DyX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
HoX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
ErX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
TmX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
YbX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
LuX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
NaX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
CaX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
MnX 0.00640 0.00790 0.00790 0.00000 0.00000 0.00110
TiM1 0.00720 0.00720 0.00950 -0.00010 -0.00140 -0.00140
NbM1 0.00720 0.00720 0.00950 -0.00010 -0.00140 -0.00140
NaM1 0.00720 0.00720 0.00950 -0.00010 -0.00140 -0.00140
ZnM2 0.00650 0.00650 0.00650 0.00200 0.00200 0.00200
FeM2 0.00650 0.00650 0.00650 0.00200 0.00200 0.00200
NaM2 0.00650 0.00650 0.00650 0.00200 0.00200 0.00200
TiM2 0.00650 0.00650 0.00650 0.00200 0.00200 0.00200

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
8.51 Å	(30)
7.38 Å	(10)
3.414 Å	(10)
3.028 Å	(10)
2.858 Å	(100)
2.468 Å	(60)
2.265 Å	(10)
2.141 Å	(20)
2.080 Å	(20)
1.746 Å	(80)
1.489 Å	(80)

Comments:

Adams et al. (1974)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Near-surface Processes
22 : Hydration and low-𝑇 subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks

Type Occurrence of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Type Locality:

ⓘ St Peters Dome, Cheyenne Mining District (St. Peters Dome Mining District), El Paso County, Colorado, USA

General Appearance of Type Material:

Anhedral black grains at the contact of astrophyllite and quartz.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 133319–133321.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Alkali granite pegmatite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Zircon	Xenotime	Thorite	Rutile	Riebeckite
Quartz	Pyrochlore Group	Microcline	Genthelvite	Astrophyllite
Albite	Aegirine

Reference:

Adams J W, Botinelly T, Sharp W N, Robinson K (1974) Murataite, a new complex oxide from El Paso County, Colorado. American Mineralogist 59, 172-176

Other Language Names for Murataite-(Y)Hide

German:Muratait

Russian:Муратаит-(Y)

Spanish:Murataita

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

2 photos of Murataite-(Y) associated with Astrophyllite	K₂NaFe²⁺₇Ti₂Si₈O₂₆(OH)₄F
2 photos of Murataite-(Y) associated with Quartz	SiO₂

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

4.DF.05	Aeschynite-(Ce)	(Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)₂(O,OH)₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmna
4.DF.05	Aeschynite-(Nd)	(Nd,Ln,Ca)(Ti,Nb)₂(O,OH)₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
4.DF.05	Aeschynite-(Y)	(Y,Ln,Ca,Th)(Ti,Nb)₂(O,OH)₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmna
4.DF.05	Nioboaeschynite-(Ce)	(Ce,Ca)(Nb,Ti)₂(O,OH)₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
4.DF.05	Nioboaeschynite-(Nd)	(Nd,Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti,Fe,Ta)₂(O,OH)₆	Orth.
4.DF.05	Nioboaeschynite-(Y)	(Y,REE,Ca,Th,Fe)(Nb,Ti,Ta)₂(O,OH)₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pban
4.DF.05	Rynersonite	CaTa₂O₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
4.DF.05	Tantalaeschynite-(Y)	Y(Ta,Ti,Nb)₂O₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
4.DF.05	Vigezzite	(Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ta,Ti)₂O₆	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
4.DF.10	Changbaiite	PbNb₂O₆	Trig. 3m : R3m

Fluorescence of Murataite-(Y)Hide

In UV light:

Not fluorescent

Other InformationHide

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 Murataite-(Y)Hide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-2811.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for Murataite-(Y)Hide

Reference List:

Adams, J.W., Botinelly, T., Sharp, W.N., Robinson, K. (1974) Murataite, a new complex oxide from El Paso County, Colorado. American Mineralogist, 59, 172-176.

Adams J W, Botinelly T, Sharp W N, Robinson K (1974) Murataite, a new complex oxide from El Paso County, Colorado. American Mineralogist 59, 172-176

Ercit, T.S., Hawthorne, F.C. (1995) Murataite, a UB12 derivative structure with condensed Keggin molecules. The Canadian Mineralogist, 33, 1223-1229.

Laverov, N.P., Urusov, V.S., Krivovichev, S.V., Pakhomova, A.S., Stefanovsky, S.V., Yudintsev, S.V. (2011): Modular nature of the polysomatic pyrochlore–murataite series. Geology of Ore Deposits: 53: 273-294; http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8140 (2016)

Krivovichev, S. V. et al. (2012): Crystal structure of murataite Mu-5, a member of the murataite-pyrochlore polysomatic series. Pp. 293-304 in: Krivovichev, S.V. (Ed.) (2012): Minerals as Advanced Materials II. Springer, Berlin, 427 pp.

Pakhomova, A.S., Krivovichev, S.V., Yudintsev, S.V., Stefanovsky, S.V. (2016): Polysomatism and structural complexity: structure model for murataite-8C, a complex crystalline matrix for the immobilization of high-level radioactive waste. European Journal of Mineralogy, 28(1), 205-214.

(2023) Murataite-(Y) Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for Murataite-(Y)Hide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Russia
Buryatia Mama River Basin Maigunda River ⓘ Burpala alkaline massif	Pekov (1998) +1 other reference

Saudi Arabia
Tabuk Region ⓘ Raydan Pluton	Grainger et al. (1989)

USA (TL)
Colorado El Paso County Cheyenne Mining District (St. Peters Dome Mining District) ⓘ St Peters Dome (TL)	Adams et al. (1974) +1 other reference
ⓘ Unnamed pegmatite	Eckel et al. (1997)

Murataite-(Y)

About Murataite-(Y)Hide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Classification of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Optical Data of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Chemistry of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Crystallography of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Other Language Names for Murataite-(Y)Hide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of Murataite-(Y)Hide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for Murataite-(Y)Hide

References for Murataite-(Y)Hide

Localities for Murataite-(Y)Hide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide