Hafnon
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Hafnon
Formula:
HfSiO4
Colour:
Red-orange, brown-yellow, colourless (rare)
Hardness:
7½
Specific Gravity:
6.97 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
In allusion to its composition, being a silicate of HAFNium, and ending in "ON" in allusion to, and to be consistent with, its relationship to ZircON.
Zircon Group.
The hafnium analogue of Thorite and Zircon. Its physical properties are similar to those of zircon, so without an analysis it is not possible to positively identify a specimen as hafnon.
An isomorphous series exists between ZrSiO4-HfSiO 4, the Zircon-Hafnon Series.
If a (Hf,Zr)SiO4 sample has more than 90 mol-% Hafnium component it is classified as a hafnon. If the sample has 50- 90 % mol HfSiO4 it is classified as a Zirconian Hafnon. And samples with 10-50 mol HfSiO4 is classified as a Hafnian Zircon.
Currently the only hafnium-dominant mineral known, although native hafnium (not approved) was announced quite recently.
Type locality: See discussion on messageboard at https://www.mindat.org/mesg-558525.html.
The hafnium analogue of Thorite and Zircon. Its physical properties are similar to those of zircon, so without an analysis it is not possible to positively identify a specimen as hafnon.
An isomorphous series exists between ZrSiO4-HfSiO 4, the Zircon-Hafnon Series.
If a (Hf,Zr)SiO4 sample has more than 90 mol-% Hafnium component it is classified as a hafnon. If the sample has 50- 90 % mol HfSiO4 it is classified as a Zirconian Hafnon. And samples with 10-50 mol HfSiO4 is classified as a Hafnian Zircon.
Currently the only hafnium-dominant mineral known, although native hafnium (not approved) was announced quite recently.
Type locality: See discussion on messageboard at https://www.mindat.org/mesg-558525.html.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1792
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1792:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8550dff2-15a8-43c1-8cdd-f29588bc2afc
IMA Classification of Hafnon
Approved
IMA Formula:
Hf(SiO4)
Classification of Hafnon
9.AD.30
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
51.5.2.2
51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
5 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in >[6] coordination
51 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups Only
5 : Insular SiO4 Groups Only with cations in >[6] coordination
14.10.2
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
10 : Silicates of Zr or Hf
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
10 : Silicates of Zr or Hf
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Haf | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Hafnon
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Hafnon
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Red-orange, brown-yellow, colourless (rare)
Hardness:
7½ on Mohs scale
Density:
6.97 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
data for the synthetic material
Optical Data of Hafnon
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.930 - 1.970 nε = 1.980 - 2.030
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.050
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Chemistry of Hafnon
Mindat Formula:
HfSiO4
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Zr
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 28.32 % |
| ZrO2 | 3.28 % |
| HfO2 | 69.78 % |
| Total: | 101.38 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Hf0.80Zr0.06)Σ0.86Si1.14O4 |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muiâne pegmatite, Muiane-Naipa group, Gilé District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique | Electron microprobe |
Crystallography of Hafnon
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/amd
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.5725(7) Å, c = 5.9632(4) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.907
Unit Cell V:
257.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals euhedral to irregular. Often zoned with zircon.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000871 | Hafnon | Speer J A, Cooper B J (1982) Crystal structure of synthetic hafnon, HfSiO4, comparison with zircon and the actinide orthosilicates American Mineralogist 67 804-808 |  | 1982 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.29 Å | (100) |
| 2.512 Å | (70) |
| 4.43 Å | (60) |
| 1.705 Å | (55) |
| 2.638 Å | (25) |
| 2.057 Å | (20) |
| 2.324 Å | (18) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
weathered pegmatite (Mt. Holland)
Type Occurrence of Hafnon
General Appearance of Type Material:
Zones in transparent, orange red colored, grain-zized fragments of euhedral zircon crystals with a high density.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Heavy mineral concentrates from a tantalum-bearing granitic pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Correia Neves, J.M., Lopes Nunes, J.E., Sahama, T.G. (1974) High hafnium members of the zircon-hafnon series from the granite pegmatites of Zambézia, Mozambique. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 48: 73-80.
Synonyms of Hafnon
Other Language Names for Hafnon
Russian:Гафнон
Relationship of Hafnon to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
| Reidite | ZrSiO4 | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
| Stetindite-(Ce) | Ce(SiO4) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
| Thorite | Th(SiO4) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
| Zircon | Zr(SiO4) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Hafnon associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 2 photos of Hafnon associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 1 photo of Hafnon associated with Stibiotantalite | Sb(Ta,Nb)O4 |
| 1 photo of Hafnon associated with Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 1 photo of Hafnon associated with Hafnian Zircon | (Zr,Hf)SiO4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.AD. | Adrianite | Ca12(Al4Mg3Si7)O32Cl6 |
| 9.AD.05 | Larnite | Ca2SiO4 |
| 9.AD.10 | Calcio-olivine | Ca2SiO4 |
| 9.AD.15 | Merwinite | Ca3Mg(SiO4)2 |
| 9.AD.20 | Bredigite | Ca7Mg(SiO4)4 |
| 9.AD.25 | Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Almandine | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Calderite | Mn2+3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Goldmanite | Ca3V3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Henritermierite | Ca3Mn3+2(SiO4)2[◻(OH)4] |
| 9.AD.25 | Kimzeyite | Ca3Zr2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Knorringite | Mg3Cr2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Majorite | Mg3(MgSi)(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Morimotoite | Ca3(TiFe2+)(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Pyrope | Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Schorlomite | Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Spessartine | Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Uvarovite | Ca3Cr2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Wadalite | (Ca,Mg)6(Al,Fe3+)4((Si,Al)O4)3O4Cl3 |
| 9.AD.25 va | Hydrougrandite | (Ca,Mg,Fe2+)3(Fe3+,Al)2[(OH)4(SiO4)2] |
| 9.AD.25 va | Yamatoite | (Mn2+,Ca)3(V3+,Al)2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Holtstamite | Ca3Al2(SiO4)2[◻(OH)4] |
| 9.AD.25 | Khoharite | Mg3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Kerimasite | Ca3Zr2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Toturite | Ca3Sn2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Momoiite | Mn2+3V3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Eringaite | Ca3Sc2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Irinarassite | Ca3Sn2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Menzerite-(Y) | (Y2Ca)Mg2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Eltyubyuite | Ca12Fe3+10Si4O32Cl6 |
| 9.AD.25 | Blythite | Mn2+3Mn3+2[SiO4]3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Skiagite | Fe2+3Fe3+2[SiO4]3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Hutcheonite | Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | UM1984-37-SiO:CrMn | Mn2+3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Rubinite | Ca3Ti3+2Si3O12 |
| 9.AD.25 | Nikmelnikovite | Ca12(Fe2+Fe3+3Al3◻)[SiO4]6[◻(OH)4]5◻4 |
| 9.AD.30 va | Auerlite | near Th(Si,P)O4 |
| 9.AD.30 | Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| 9.AD.30 | Thorite | Th(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 | Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 | Stetindite-(Ce) | Ce(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.35 | Huttonite | ThSiO4 |
| 9.AD.35 | Tombarthite-(Y) | Y4(Si,H4)4O12-x(OH)4+2x |
| 9.AD.40 | Eulytine | Bi4(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.45 | Reidite | ZrSiO4 |
| 9.AD.55 | Jeffbenite | Mg3Al2Si3O12 |
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 Hafnon
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1792.html
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References for Hafnon
Reference List:
Neves, J. M. Correia, Nunes, J. E. Lopes, Sahama, Th. G. (1974) High hafnium members of the zircon-hafnon series from the granite pegmatites of Zambézia, Mozambique. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 48 (1) 73-80 doi:10.1007/bf00399111
Neves, J. M. Correia, Nunes, J. E. Lopes, Sahama, Th. G. (1974) High hafnium members of the zircon-hafnon series from the granite pegmatites of Zambézia, Mozambique. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 48 (1) 73-80 doi:10.1007/bf00399111
Anthony, John W., Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. - Eds. (2016) Handbook of Mineralogy. https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/
Localities for Hafnon
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.
Australia | |
| M. Jacobson +2 other references |
Canada | |
| Černý et al. (1977) +1 other reference |
| Verified Scott Ercit |
| Rock & Min. 82 +1 other reference |
China | |
| Yin et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
Morocco | |
| Fontan (1978) |
Mozambique | |
| Wilson et al. (2000) |
| Neves et al. (1974) |
| Neves et al. (1974) | |
| Neves et al. (1974) +1 other reference |
| Wolfgang Henckel |
Russia | |
| Kudryashov et al. (2020) |
USA | |
| "Mineralogy of the Ray Mica Mine |
Zimbabwe | |
| Černý et al. (2003) |
| J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy (1997) |
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