Ekanite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Ekanite
F. L. D. Ekanayake
Formula:
Ca2ThSi8O20
Colour:
Green in various shades, straw-yellow, dark red, colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
2.95 - 3.28
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named in honor of Mr. Francis Leo Danvil Ekanayake, [1898, Negombo, Sri Lanka - 1971, London, UK], a gemmologist active at Colombo (Sri Lanka), who first found the material and suspected it was a new mineral.
Visit gemdat.org for Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1361
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1361:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
83e65085-28c0-488c-b7c3-4dff406a2e50
IMA Classification of Ekanite
Approved
First published:
1961
Classification of Ekanite
9.EA.10
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
A : Single nets of tetrahedra with 4-, 5-, (6-), and 8-membered rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
A : Single nets of tetrahedra with 4-, 5-, (6-), and 8-membered rings
72.1.1.1
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
1 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-membered rings
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
1 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 4-membered rings
14.16.16
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
16 : Silicates of U
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
16 : Silicates of U
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ek | 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 Ekanite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Ekanite
Vitreous
Colour:
Green in various shades, straw-yellow, dark red, colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct on {101}, indistinct on {001}
Distinct on {101}, indistinct on {001}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.95 - 3.28 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.36 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Ekanite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.580 nε = 1.568
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
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
Chemistry of Ekanite
Mindat Formula:
Ca2ThSi8O20
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
U,Fe,Pb,Al,Mn,Pb,Mg
Crystallography of Ekanite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
I4 2 2
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.483(3) Å, c = 14.893(6) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.99
Unit Cell V:
833.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Comment:
Very often metamict.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005184 | Ekanite | Szymanski J T, Owens D R, Roberts A C, Ansell H G, Chao G Y (1982) A mineralogical study and crystal-structure determination of nonmetamict ekanite, ThCa2Si8O20 The Canadian Mineralogist 20 65-75 |  | 1982 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.45 Å | (58) |
| 6.70 Å | (61) |
| 4.14 Å | (100) |
| 3.343 Å | (96) |
| 3.265 Å | (65) |
| 2.642 Å | (54) |
| 1.796 Å | (26) |
Comments:
Very often metamict.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies) | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Ekanite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada, 62722.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1961, 472.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 148771.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1961, 472.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 148771.
Reference:
Anderson, B.W., Claringbull, G.F., Davis, R.J., Hill, D.K. (1961) Ekanite, a new metamict mineral from Ceylon. Nature: 190: 997.
Other Language Names for Ekanite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.EA. | Bussyite-(Y) | (Y,REE,Ca)3(Na,Ca)6MnSi9Be5(O,OH,F)34 |
| 9.EA. | Fluorapophyllite-(NH₄) | NH4Ca4(Si8O20)F · 8H2O |
| 9.EA. | Hydroxymcglassonite-(K) | KSr4Si8O20(OH) · 8H2O |
| 9.EA.05 | Cuprorivaite | CaCuSi4O10 |
| 9.EA.05 | Gillespite | BaFe2+Si4O10 |
| 9.EA.05 | Effenbergerite | BaCuSi4O10 |
| 9.EA.05 | Wesselsite | SrCuSi4O10 |
| 9.EA.07 | Fluorapophyllite-(Cs) | CsCa4(Si8O20)F · 8H2O |
| 9.EA.15 | Fluorapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(F,OH) · 8H2O |
| 9.EA.15 | Hydroxyapophyllite-(K) | KCa4(Si8O20)(OH,F) · 8H2O |
| 9.EA.15 | Fluorapophyllite-(Na) | NaCa4(Si8O20)F · 8H2O |
| 9.EA.20 | Magadiite | Na2Si14O29 · 11H2O |
| 9.EA.25 | Dalyite | K2ZrSi6O15 |
| 9.EA.25 | Davanite | K2TiSi6O15 |
| 9.EA.30 | Sazhinite-(Ce) | Na2CeSi6O14 · 6H2O |
| 9.EA.30 | Sazhinite-(La) | Na3La[Si6O15] · 2H2O |
| 9.EA.35 | Armstrongite | CaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O |
| 9.EA.40 | Okenite | Ca10Si18O46 · 18H2O |
| 9.EA.45 | Nekoite | Ca3Si6O15 · 7H2O |
| 9.EA.45 | Perettiite-(Y) | Y2Mn4FeSi2B8O24 |
| 9.EA.45 | Badakhshanite-(Y) | Y2Mn4Al(Si2B7BeO24) |
| 9.EA.47 | Shlykovite | KCa[Si4O9(OH)] · 3H2O |
| 9.EA.50 | Cavansite | Ca(VO)Si4O10 · 4H2O |
| 9.EA.50 | Diegogattaite | Na2CaCu2Si8O20 · H2O |
| 9.EA.52 | Yangite | PbMnSi3O8 · H2O |
| 9.EA.55 | Pentagonite | Ca(VO)Si4O10 · 4H2O |
| 9.EA.60 | Penkvilksite | Na4Ti2Si8O22 · 4H2O |
| 9.EA.60 | Tumchaite | Na2Zr(Si4O11) · 2H2O |
| 9.EA.65 | Nabesite | Na2BeSi4O10 · 4H2O |
| 9.EA.70 | Ajoite | (K,Na)Cu7AlSi9O24(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 9.EA.75 | Zeravshanite | Na2Cs4Zr3[Si18O45]*2H2O |
| 9.EA.80 | Bussyite-(Ce) | (Ce,REE)3(Na,H2O)6MnSi9Be5(O,OH)30F4 |
| 9.EA.85 | Plumbophyllite | Pb2Si4O10 · H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Radioactive
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 Ekanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1361.html
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References for Ekanite
Reference List:
Anderson, B. W., Claringbull, G. F., Davis, R. J., Hill, D. K. (1961) Ekanite, a New Metamict Mineral from Ceylon. Nature, 190 (4780) 997 doi:10.1038/190997a0
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Perrault, G., Richard, P. (1973) L'ekanite de St-Hilaire, P.Q. The Canadian Mineralogist, 11 (5) 913-929
Szymański, J. T. (1981) The crystal structure of ekanite, ThCa2Si8O20. Acta Crystallographica Section A Foundations of Crystallography, 37. doi:10.1107/s0108767381093884
Szymański, J. T., Owens, D. R., Roberts, A. C., Ansell, H. G., Chao, G. Y. (1982) A mineralogical study and crystal structure determination of nonmetamict ekanite ThCa2Si8O20. The Canadian Mineralogist, 20 (1) 65-75
Perrault, G., Szymański, J. T. (1982) Steacyite, a new name and a re-evaluation of the nomenclature of "ekanite"-group minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist, 20 (1) 59-63
Localities for Ekanite
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 | |
| Anenburg et al. (2018) |
Canada | |
| GSC database: XRD only +1 other reference |
| Richard A.J. (1971) +2 other references |
| Szymański et al. (1982) +1 other reference |
| Szymański et al. (1982) | |
Germany | |
| 54. +1 other reference |
Greenland | |
| Cegiełka et al. (2019) |
Italy | |
| Russo et al. (2013) |
| Caponera et al. (2007) |
| Gianfagna et al. (1988) | |
| Gresta et al. (2002) | |
| |
| Carlini et al. (2017) |
| Bedognè et al. (1993) |
| Lapis (10) | |
| Liotti L. (Grosseto) |
| Biagioni (2016) |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Pautov et al. (2013) |
Myanmar | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data |
Portugal | |
| Samples collected by Luigi Chiappino ... +1 other reference |
South Korea | |
| 조남후 et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
Sri Lanka | |
| Dissanayake et al. (2000) |
| Nature 190 (1961) |
| Dr. Jaroslav Hyrsl specimens +2 other references |
USA | |
| Mineralogical Record: 34 (2) |
| Walstrom (n.d.) |
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Case Collina, Pitigliano, Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy