Itelmenite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Na4Mg3Cu3(SO4)8
Colour:
Light grey-blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
3.10 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
The name is for the Itelmens, an ethnic group who are the original inhabitants living in the area around the Tolbachik volcano and Kamchatka Peninsula.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Chemically somewhat similar but more simple than dravertite and saranchinaite.
The structure of itelmenite is based on a unique type of [A2+3(SO4)4]2- (A = Mg, Cu, Zn) heteropolyhedral framework with voids filled by Na+ cations.
The structure of itelmenite is based on a unique type of [A2+3(SO4)4]2- (A = Mg, Cu, Zn) heteropolyhedral framework with voids filled by Na+ cations.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46802
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46802:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
5b66e785-09e1-4467-bf81-fc8aea2ebdbd
IMA Classification of Itelmenite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na2CuMg2(SO4)4
Approval year:
2015
First published:
2018
Type description reference:
Classification of Itelmenite
7.AC.40
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
A : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
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 |
---|---|---|
Itm | 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 Itelmenite
Vitreous
Colour:
Light grey-blue
Streak:
White
Comment:
Probably 2-3, but could not be measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.10 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Itelmenite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.535(2) nβ = 1.555(2) nγ = 1.585(2)
2V:
Calculated: 79.82°
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:
Low
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Itelmenite
Mindat Formula:
Na4Mg3Cu3(SO4)8
Crystallography of Itelmenite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbca
Setting:
Pbca
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.568(2) Å, b = 8.790(2) Å, c = 28.715(8) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.089 : 1 : 3.267
Unit Cell V:
2415 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
irregularly shaped grains; microcrystalline masses
Comment:
From single-crystal diffraction data (type description)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
7.961 Å | (30) |
7.180 Å | (31) |
5.912 Å | (100) |
3.845 Å | (62) |
3.629 Å | (33) |
3.491 Å | (26) |
3.000 Å | (24) |
2.939 Å | (52) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] |
Type Occurrence of Itelmenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Irregularly shaped grains and microcrystalline masses
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Mineralogical Museum, Department of Mineralogy, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russia, specimen number 19637.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Nazarchuk, E.V., Siidra, O.I., Agakhanov, A.A., Lukina, E.A., Avdontseva, E.Y., Karpov, G.A. (2018) Itelmenite, Na2CuMg2(SO4)4, a new anhydrous sulphate mineral from the Tolbachik volcano. Mineralogical Magazine: 82: 1233-1241.
Synonyms of Itelmenite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
7.AC. | Aluminopyracmonite | (NH4)3Al(SO4)3 |
7.AC. | Amgaite | Tl+32Te6+O6 |
7.AC.05 | Vanthoffite | Na6Mg(SO4)4 |
7.AC.08 | Pyracmonite | (NH4)3Fe(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Efremovite | (NH4)2Mg2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Langbeinite | K2Mg2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Manganolangbeinite | K2Mn2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.10 | Ferroefremovite | (NH4)2Fe2+2(SO4)3 |
7.AC.15 | Yavapaiite | KFe(SO4)2 |
7.AC.15 | Eldfellite | NaFe3+(SO4)2 |
7.AC.20 | Godovikovite | (NH4)Al(SO4)2 |
7.AC.20 | Sabieite | (NH4)Fe3+(SO4)2 |
7.AC.20 | Steklite | KAl(SO4)2 |
7.AC.35 | Aphthitalite | (K,Na)3Na(SO4)2 |
7.AC.35 | Möhnite | (NH4)K2Na(SO4)2 |
7.AC.35 | Belomarinaite | KNa(SO4) |
7.AC.35 | Natroaphthitalite | KNa3(SO4)2 |
7.AC.45 | Saranchinaite | Na2Cu(SO4)2 |
7.AC.50 | Majzlanite | K2Na(ZnNa)Ca(SO4)4 |
7.AC.60 | Philoxenite | (K,Na,Pb)4(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Cu)3(Fe3+0.5Al0.5)(SO4)8 |
7.AC.75 | Petrovite | Na12Cu2(SO4)8 |
Other Information
Notes:
Unstable in air
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 Itelmenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46802.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Itelmenite
Reference List:
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2015) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2015, CNMNC Newsletter No 27. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (5) 1223-1230 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.5.16
Localities for Itelmenite
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).
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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Russia (TL) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2015) +2 other references |
| Sharygin et al. (2018) |