Gittinsite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gittinsite
Formula:
CaZrSi2O7
Colour:
Chalky-white
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.624 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by H.G. Ansell, A.C. Roberts, A.G. Plant, and B.D. Sturman in 1980 in honor of John Gittins, Canadian petrologist and professor at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who first noted its occurrence and reported it as an unidentified mineral.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
This page provides mineralogical data about Gittinsite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1702
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1702:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0056e932-d46d-4d7a-ac1c-939fd5ee6034
IMA Classification of Gittinsite
Approved
First published:
1980
Classification of Gittinsite
9.BC.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
C : Si2O7 groups, without non-tetrahedral anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
C : Si2O7 groups, without non-tetrahedral anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
55.2.1a.1
55 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups,Generally with no Additional Anions
2 : Si2O7 Groups, Generally with no Additional Anions with cations in [6] coordination
55 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups,Generally with no Additional Anions
2 : Si2O7 Groups, Generally with no Additional Anions with cations in [6] coordination
14.10.19
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Git | 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 Gittinsite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Chalky-white
Comment:
Colorless in thin section
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.624 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gittinsite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.720(2) nβ = 1.736(2) nγ = 1.738(2)
2V:
Measured: 30° , Calculated: 20° to 40°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.018
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:
High
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Optical Extinction:
X ∧ c = 5°-10°; Y and Z ≈ ⊥ to elongation.
Chemistry of Gittinsite
Mindat Formula:
CaZrSi2O7
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Gittinsite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2 - Sphenoidal
Space Group:
B2
Setting:
C2
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.87 Å, b = 8.76 Å, c = 4.69 Å
β = 101.74°
β = 101.74°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.784 : 1 : 0.535
Unit Cell V:
276.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
As radiating sheaves of crystals and fibrous masses
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005233 | Gittinsite | Roelofsen-Ahl J N, Peterson R C (1989) Gittinsite: A modification of the thortveitite structure The Canadian Mineralogist 27 703-708 |  | 1989 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.155 Å | (100) |
| 3.232 Å | (80) |
| 3.026 Å | (80) |
| 2.660 Å | (80) |
| 1.677 Å | (70) |
| 5.32 Å | (60) |
| 2.226 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Gittinsite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Fibrous to radiating masses intimately associated with apophyllite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Geological Survey, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 19558.
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M37321.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 117030, 117031.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 147002.
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, M37321.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 117030, 117031.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 147002.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Pegmatitic lenses in a regionally metamomhosed agpaitic syenite complex.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Ansell, H.G., Roberts, A.C., Plant, A.G., Sturman, B.D. (1980) Gittinsite, a new calcium zirconium silicate from the Kipawa agpaitic syenite complex. Canadian Mineralogist: 18: 201-203.
Synonyms of Gittinsite
Other Language Names for Gittinsite
Relationship of Gittinsite to other Species
Structurally related to group(s):
| Thortveitite Group | REE2Si2O7 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 69 photos of Gittinsite associated with Eudialyte | Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2 |
| 66 photos of Gittinsite associated with Vlasovite | Na2ZrSi4O11 |
| 18 photos of Gittinsite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 12 photos of Gittinsite associated with Agrellite | NaCa2Si4O10F |
| 9 photos of Gittinsite associated with Katophorite | {Na}{CaNa}{Mg4Al}[(AlSi7)O22](OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Gittinsite associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 4 photos of Gittinsite associated with Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
| 3 photos of Gittinsite associated with Mosandrite-(Ce) | (Ca3REE)[(H2O)2Ca0.5◻0.5]Ti(Si2O7)2(OH)2(H2O)2 |
| 3 photos of Gittinsite associated with Rinkite-(Ce) | (Ca3Ce)Na(NaCa)Ti(Si2O7)2(OF)F2 |
| 3 photos of Gittinsite associated with Richterite | Na(NaCa)Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.BC. | Kozłowskiite | Ca4Fe2+2Sn3(Si2O7)2(Si2O6OH)2 |
| 9.BC. | Anorthoyttrialite-(Y) | Y4(SiO4)(Si3O10) |
| 9.BC.05 | Keiviite-(Y) | Y2Si2O7 |
| 9.BC.05 | Keiviite-(Yb) | Yb2Si2O7 |
| 9.BC.05 | Thortveitite | Sc2Si2O7 |
| 9.BC.05 | Yttrialite-(Y) | (Y,Th)2Si2O7 |
| 9.BC.10 | Keldyshite | (Na,H)2ZrSi2O7 |
| 9.BC.10 | Khibinskite | K2ZrSi2O7 |
| 9.BC.10 | Parakeldyshite | Na2ZrSi2O7 |
| 9.BC.15 | Rankinite | Ca3Si2O7 |
| 9.BC.20 | Barysilite | Pb8Mn2+[Si2O7]3 |
| 9.BC.25 | Edgarbaileyite | [Hg2]2+3[Si2O7] |
| 9.BC.30 | Kristiansenite | Ca4Sc2Sn2(Si2O7)2(Si2O6OH)2 |
| 9.BC.30 | Silesiaite | Ca4Fe3+2Sn2(Si2O7)2(Si2O6OH)2 |
| 9.BC.35 | Percleveite-(Ce) | Ce2Si2O7 |
| 9.BC.35 | Percleveite-(La) | La2Si2O7 |
| 9.BC.40 | Scottyite | BaCu2Si2O7 |
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 Gittinsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1702.html
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References for Gittinsite
Reference List:
Ansell, H. G., Roberts, A. C., Plant, A. G., Sturman, B. D. (1980) Gittinsite, a new calcium zirconium silicate from the Kipawa agpaitic syenite complex, Quebec. The Canadian Mineralogist, 18 (2) 201-203
Localities for Gittinsite
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.
Argentina | |
| Bardelli et al. (2018) |
Canada | |
| Currie et al. (2018) |
| Pohlner et al. (2020) |
| Sheard (2010) +1 other reference |
| Ansell et al. (1980) |
| Birkett et al. (1992) +3 other references | |
China | |
| Wang et al. (2021) |
Czech Republic | |
| Novak et al. (2010) +2 other references |
Egypt | |
| Abdalla (2006) |
| Mahmoud et al. (2018) | |
Greenland | |
| Borst et al. (2016) |
India | |
| Shaikh et al. (2017) |
| Kaur et al. (2016) |
| Shaikh et al. (2018) | |
| Bhushan et al. (2019) |
| Bhushan et al. (2019) | |
| Bhushan et al. (2019) | |
| Bhushan et al. (2019) | |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Pautov et al. (2013) |
Madagascar | |
| presentation given at the University of ... +1 other reference |
Mongolia | |
| Tsareva G.M. et al. (1993) +2 other references |
| Kovalenko et al. (1995) +2 other references | |
| Kempe et al. (2015) |
| Dostal et al. (2023) | |
| Kynicky et al. (2011) +3 other references |
Norway | |
| Larsen (2021) |
Russia | |
| Chakhmouradian et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Macdonald et al. (2022) |
Spain | |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
| Casillas et al. (2011) | |
USA | |
| The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 40 (2002) |
| Philpotts et al. (1998) |
| The Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 40 (2002) |
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Kipawa alkaline complex, Les Lacs-du-Témiscamingue, Témiscamingue RCM, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec, Canada