Barioferrite

barioferrite

maghemite

magnetite

baryte

Images

Formula: BaFe3+12O19
Multiple oxide, hawthorneite subgroup of the magnetoplumbite group
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 5.31 calculated
Streak: Dark brown
Colour: Black
Magnetism: Strongly ferrimagnetic
Environments

Metamorphic environments

Localities

The type locality is Har Ye'elim, Dead Sea, Southern District, Israel. Barioferrite is a new (approved in 2009) practically pure BaFe end member of the magnetoplumbite group. It has been discovered in a single specimen in only one of the numerous metamorphosed baryte nodules found at the type locality in metamorphic rock. The rocks of this formation belong to spurrite-merwinite and pyroxene-hornfels facies. The barioferrite-bearing baryte concretion differs from other nodules by the presence in its centre of a calcite segregation surrounded by a dark baryte zone enriched with magnetite, maghemite and barioferrite. The barioferrite forms random and parallel aggregates of tiny platy black submetallic crystals up to 3 × 15 × 15 microns (AM97.1818).

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