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Bieberite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About BieberiteHide

Formula:
CoSO4 · 7H2O
Colour:
Red-pink, flesh-red; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Earthy
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
1.96
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
After the discovery locality, Bieber, Hessen, Germany.
Melanterite Group.

A secondary mineral formed by the oxidation of sulfide and arsenide ores containing cobalt. Often a post-mining product.

May dehydrate to moorhouseite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
664
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:664:8

IMA Classification of BieberiteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Co(SO4) · 7H2O

Classification of BieberiteHide

7.CB.35

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
C : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations
29.6.10.4

29 : HYDRATED ACID AND NORMAL SULFATES
6 : AXO4·xH2O
25.12.1

25 : Sulphates
12 : Sulphates of Co and Ni

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

SymbolSourceReference
BieIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Pronunciation of BieberiteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of BieberiteHide

Vitreous, Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Comment:
Luster/texture becomes mealy upon dehydration to the hexahydrate.
Colour:
Red-pink, flesh-red; colourless to pale rose in transmitted light.
Hardness:
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {001} perfect; on {110} fair.
Density:
1.96 g/cm3 (Measured)    1.83 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of BieberiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.477 nβ = 1.483 nγ = 1.489
2V:
Measured: 88° , Calculated: 88°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
none

Chemistry of BieberiteHide

Mindat Formula:
CoSO4 · 7H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O62.608 %
Co20.965 %
S11.407 %
H5.020 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of BieberiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.04 Å, b = 6.49 Å, c = 10.92 Å
β = 105.27°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.163 : 1 : 1.683
Unit Cell V:
959.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
As crusts and stalactites.

Crystallographic forms of BieberiteHide

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
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Bieberite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

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Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0015843BieberiteKellersohn T, Delaplane R G, Olovsson I (1991) Disorder of a trigonally planar coordinated water molecule in cobalt sulfate heptahydrate, CoSO4*7D2O Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung B46 1635-164019910293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.87 Å(100)
3.76 Å(75)
4.82 Å(55)
2.725 Å(25)
3.71 Å(20)
4.02 Å(14)
3.25 Å(14)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites]

Type Occurrence of BieberiteHide

Synonyms of BieberiteHide

Other Language Names for BieberiteHide

Relationship of Bieberite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Melanterite Group:
Alpersite(Mg,Cu)(SO4) · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
BoothiteCuSO4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
MallarditeMnSO4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P2/m
MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
Zincmelanterite(Zn,Cu,Fe)SO4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
6 photos of Bieberite associated with Native BismuthBi
3 photos of Bieberite associated with ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2O
3 photos of Bieberite associated with ErythriteCo3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O
2 photos of Bieberite associated with GalenaPbS
1 photo of Bieberite associated with MarcasiteFeS2
1 photo of Bieberite associated with PyriteFeS2
1 photo of Bieberite associated with RichelsdorfiteCa2Cu5Sb(AsO4)4(OH)6Cl · 6H2O
1 photo of Bieberite associated with HeterogeniteCo3+O(OH)
1 photo of Bieberite associated with UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O
1 photo of Bieberite associated with PitchblendeUO2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.CB.SarvodaiteAl2(SO4)3 · 5H2O Mon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.02VoudourisiteCdSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.05SzmikiteMnSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05SzomolnokiteFeSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05CobaltkieseriteCoSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05DwornikiteNi(SO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05KieseriteMgSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.05Poitevinite(Cu,Fe)SO4 · H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.05GunningiteZnSO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.07SanderiteMgSO4 · 2H2OOrth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
7.CB.10BonattiteCuSO4 · 3H2OMon. m : Bb
7.CB.12BelogubiteCuZn(SO4)2 · 10H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.15DrobeciteCdSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.15Aplowite(Co,Mn,Ni)SO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m
7.CB.15CranswickiteMgSO4 · 4H2OMon. m : Bb
7.CB.15RozeniteFeSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.15StarkeyiteMgSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.15IlesiteMn2+(SO4) · 4H2OMon. 2/m
7.CB.15BoyleiteZnSO4 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.20SiderotilFeSO4 · 5H2OTric.
7.CB.20JôkokuiteMnSO4 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.20PentahydriteMgSO4 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.20ChalcanthiteCuSO4 · 5H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.25ChvaleticeiteMn(SO4) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.25NickelhexahydriteNi(SO4) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.25HexahydriteMgSO4 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P2/m
7.CB.25BianchiteZn(SO4) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P2/m
7.CB.25MoorhouseiteCo(SO4) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.25FerrohexahydriteFeSO4 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.30RetgersiteNiSO4 · 6H2OTet. 4 2 2 : P41 21 2
7.CB.35Zincmelanterite(Zn,Cu,Fe)SO4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35MelanteriteFe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35Alpersite(Mg,Cu)(SO4) · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35BoothiteCuSO4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.35MallarditeMnSO4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P2/m
7.CB.40EpsomiteMgSO4 · 7H2OOrth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
7.CB.40GoslariteZnSO4 · 7H2OOrth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
7.CB.40MorenositeNiSO4 · 7H2OOrth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21
7.CB.45Meta-alunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 12H2OOrth.
7.CB.45AlunogenAl2(SO4)3 · 17H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.50AluminocoquimbiteAl2Fe2(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2OTrig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1c
7.CB.50Lazaridisite3CdSO4 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.52PararaisaiteCuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.55ParacoquimbiteFe4(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.CB.55Rhomboclase(H5O2)Fe3+(SO4)2 · 2H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
7.CB.55RaisaiteCuMg[Te6+O4(OH)2] · 6H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
7.CB.55CoquimbiteAlFe3(SO4)6(H2O)12 · 6H2OTrig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1c
7.CB.57CaichengyuniteFe2+3Al2(SO4)6 · 30H2OMon.
7.CB.60KorneliteFe2(SO4)3 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.65QuenstedtiteFe2(SO4)3 · 11H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.70LauseniteFe2(SO4)3 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.CB.75RömeriteFe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.75LishizheniteZnFe2(SO4)4 · 14H2OTric. 1 : P1
7.CB.80RansomiteCuFe2(SO4)4 · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85Dietrichite(Zn,Fe2+,Mn2+)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85HalotrichiteFeAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2 : P2
7.CB.85ApjohniteMn2+Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85Redingtonite(Fe2+,Mg,Ni)(Cr,Al)2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2
7.CB.85PickeringiteMgAl2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85BíliniteFe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.85Wupatkiite(Co,Mg,Ni)Al2(SO4)4 · 22H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
7.CB.90MeridianiiteMgSO4 · 11H2OTric. 1 : P1

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Soluble in H2O
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
easily dehydrates to the hexahydrate.
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 BieberiteHide

References for BieberiteHide

Reference List:

Localities for BieberiteHide

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.
Austria
 
  • Salzburg
    • Zell am See District
Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference
        • Hütten
          • Schwarzleograben
R.Poeverlein (2016)
      • Rauris
        • Alteck - Hoher Sonnblick area
          • Kolm-Saigurn
Strasser (1989)
Niedermayr et al. (2009)
Chile
 
  • Atacama
    • Copiapó Province
      • Copiapó
        • Chimberos
          • Tres Puntas mining district
Palache et al. (1951)
Costa Rica
 
  • Cartago Province
    • Oreamuno Canton
      • Irazú Volcano
Ulloa et al. (2018)
Czech Republic
 
  • Karlovy Vary Region
    • Karlovy Vary District
      • Jáchymov
Lapis 2002 (7/8)
DR Congo
 
  • Haut-Katanga
    • Kambove Territory
Lhoest (1992)
France
 
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
    • Isère
      • Grenoble
        • Allemond
www.zampano.com (n.d.) +1 other reference
  • Corsica
    • Haute-Corse
      • Corte
        • Ghisoni
Fiche BSS BRGM n° 11183X4002/GT
  • Occitanie
    • Hautes-Pyrénées
De Ascenção Guedes et al. (2002)
Gourault C. (1997)
Germany
 
  • Baden-Württemberg
    • Freiburg Region
      • Rottweil
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
Walenta (1992)
    • Karlsruhe Region
      • Freudenstadt
        • Alpirsbach
Walenta (1992)
  • Hesse
    • Darmstadt
      • Main-Kinzig-Kreis
        • Biebergemünd
          • Bieber
Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference
  • North Rhine-Westphalia
    • Arnsberg
      • Siegen-Wittgenstein
        • Hilchenbach
          • Müsen
Weiß (1990)
Weiß (1990)
Der Aufschluss 2000 (2)
Palache et al. (1951)
    • Cologne
      • Düren
        • Hürtgenwald
Graf (1982)
      • Euskirchen
        • Mechernich
Weiß (1990)
      • Oberbergischer Kreis
        • Reichshof
          • Eckenhagen
Weiß (1990)
Weiß (1990)
      • Rhein-Sieg-Kreis
        • Troisdorf
          • Altenrath
Weiß (1990)
  • Rhineland-Palatinate
    • Altenkirchen
      • Wissen
        • Hövels
          • Niederhövels
Dana 7:II:506.
  • Saxony
    • Erzgebirgskreis
      • Aue-Bad Schlema
        • Bad Schlema
Betts (n.d.)
        • Neustädtel
Christophe Boutry collection
  • Thuringia
    • Saalfeld-Rudolstadt District
      • Unterwellenborn
Wittern (2001)
Greece
 
  • Attica
    • East Attica
      • Lavreotiki
Skarpelis et al. (2009)
Italy
 
  • Liguria
    • Genoa
      • Sestri Levante
Carbone et al. (2002)
  • Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol)
    • Trento Province
      • Levico Terme
Exel (1987)
  • Tuscany
    • Livorno Province
      • Capoliveri
C.L. Garavelli (1957)
Japan
 
  • Nara Prefecture
    • Yoshino district
      • Totsukawa village
The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed)
  • Yamanashi Prefecture
    • Kitakoma district
      • Horai-mura
The Mineral Species of Japan (5th ed)
Portugal
 
  • Aveiro
    • Albergaria-a-Velha
      • Branca
Antonio Jesus Pimentel specimens +1 other reference
  • Beja
    • Odemira
      • São Luís
Alves (n.d.)
Russia
 
  • Orenburg Oblast
E. Shcherbakova et al. : "The rarest ...
  • Zabaykalsky Krai
    • Nerchinsky District
      • Adun-Cholon Range
Kasatkin et al. (2014)
Slovakia
 
  • Banská Bystrica Region
    • Banská Bystrica District
      • Špania Dolina
Kodě +1 other reference
    • Banská Štiavnica District
Spain
 
  • Valencian Community
    • Castellón
      • Chóvar
Joan Viñals. Barcelona University. ...
Switzerland
 
  • Ticino
    • Bellinzona
      • Bellinzona
        • Claro
          • Molino Valley
Stalder et al. (1998)
UK
 
  • England
    • Cornwall
      • St Hilary
Golley et al. (1995)
USA
 
  • Arizona
    • Coconino County
      • Cameron Mining District
Bollin et al. (1958) +2 other references
          • Huskon Mines (Huskon group)
Anthony et al. (1995)
      • Orphan Mining District
        • Grand Canyon Village
Gornitz (2004)
    • Mohave County
      • Hack Canyon Mining District
        • Hack Canyon
MRDS file #10027310. +1 other reference
    • Pima County
      • Ajo Mining District
        • Little Ajo Mountains
          • Ajo
Gilluly (1946) +1 other reference
  • California
    • Nevada County
      • Meadow Lake Mining District
        • Summit City
          • Excelsior Mine (Excelsior group; Wotall; Lake/Blue Fox/C.B.C./Mammoth; Great Western Extension/California; Green Emigrant/Indian Boy/Pacific; New Hope/North Mammoth/Dam End; Great Eastern/Great Western; Confidence/Golden Eagle; Union No. 1 & 2 claims; Of What No. 1 & 2 claims)
J.F. Cooper
    • San Luis Obispo County
      • Santa Lucia Mts (Santa Lucia Range)
        • Adelaide Mining District (Adelaide Klau Mining District)
          • Adelaida
            • Klau Mine group
Woodhouse (1957a) +3 other references
    • Trinity County
      • Coastal Range
        • Island Mountain
          • Moose Peak
Landon (1927) +4 other references
  • Missouri
    • Iron County
      • Bixby
Conroy (2023)
    • Madison County
      • Fredericktown Mining District
        • Mine La Motte
Rocks & Minerals: 21: 750-753. +1 other reference
  • Pennsylvania
    • Lebanon County
      • Cornwall Borough (Cornwall)
Lapham et al. (1965)
  • Utah
    • Emery County
      • San Rafael Swell Mining District
Thompson et al. (1955)
    • Garfield County
      • Circle Cliffs Mining District
Analyzed by SEM EDS and in the ...
    • San Juan County
Bullock (1981)
      • White Canyon Mining District
Zimbabwe
 
  • Midlands
    • Gokwe North District
Vetter et al. (1999) +1 other reference
 
and/or  
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