Turkestanite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Turkestanite
Formula:
(K,◻)(Ca,Na)2ThSi8O20 · nH2O
Colour:
Brown, apple-green
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Specific Gravity:
3.36
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after the discovery locality, along the Turkestan Ridge, Dara-i-Pioz massif, Tien-Shan Mountains, Tadjikistan.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7345
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7345:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
e60e429d-4de9-4bc8-bbe7-667d71acf2d8
IMA Classification of Turkestanite
Approved
Approval year:
1996
First published:
1997
Classification of Turkestanite
9.CH.10
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
H : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered double rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
H : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered double rings
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 |
---|---|---|
Tkt | 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 Turkestanite
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Brown, apple-green
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
3.36(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.39 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Turkestanite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.611 nε = 1.606
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.005
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:
Moderate
Chemistry of Turkestanite
Mindat Formula:
(K,◻)(Ca,Na)2ThSi8O20 · nH2O
Crystallography of Turkestanite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P4/mcc
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.592 Å, c = 14.824 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.953
Unit Cell V:
854.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Prisms. Forms observed include {100}, {001}, and rarely {101}.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0012357 | Turkestanite | Kabalov Yu K, Sokolova E V, Pautov L A, Schneider J (1998) Crystal structure of a new mineral turkestanite: a calcium analogue of steacyite Crystallography Reports 43 584-588 | 1998 | Dzhelisu massif, Alayskiy range, Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.40 Å | (100) |
5.31 Å | (70) |
3.33 Å | (65) |
2.654 Å | (59) |
5.36 Å | (40) |
2.175 Å | (25) |
7.59 Å | (23) |
Comments:
Dara-iPioz massif, Tajikistan. Data from the type description.
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 Turkestanite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
At Dara-i-Pioz, occurs as prisms, 0.5 to 5 mm across, showing {100}, {001}, and rarely {101}. At the Jelisu massif, the mineral forms deformed {100} prisms, 2 to 50 mm across, rarely with {101} pyramids.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Museum of the Ilmen Reserve, Miass, Russia.
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia.
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Albitized Upper Carboniferous sandy shales in the contact aureole of the Jelisu massif (a massif consisting largely of albitized nepheline syenites). Also found in a boulder of microcline, pectolite, quartz, aegirine, and calcite near the alkaline to subalkaline intrusions of the Dara-i-Pioz massif.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Pautov, L.A., Agakhanov, A.A., Sokolova, E.V., Kabalov, Y.K. (1997) Turkestanite Th(Ca,Na)2(K1-x◻x)Si8O20·nH2O – a new mineral. Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 126(6): 45-55.
Synonyms of Turkestanite
Other Language Names for Turkestanite
German:Turkestanit
Russian:Туркестанит
Simplified Chinese:突厥斯坦石
Spanish:Turkestanita
Traditional Chinese:突厥斯坦石
Relationship of Turkestanite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Arapovite | (K1-x◻x)(Ca,Na)2U4+Si8O20 (x ~ 0.5) | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mcc |
Iraqite-(La) | KCa2(La,Ce,Th)Si8O20 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mcc |
Steacyite | K0.3(Na,Ca)2ThSi8O20 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mcc |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
6 photos of Turkestanite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
4 photos of Turkestanite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
3 photos of Turkestanite associated with Eudialyte | Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2 |
2 photos of Turkestanite associated with Steacyite | K0.3(Na,Ca)2ThSi8O20 |
1 photo of Turkestanite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
1 photo of Turkestanite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
1 photo of Turkestanite associated with Arapovite | (K1-x◻x)(Ca,Na)2U4+Si8O20 (x ~ 0.5) |
1 photo of Turkestanite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.CH.05 | Hyalotekite | (Ba,Pb,K)4(Ca,Y)2(B,Be)2(Si,B)2Si8O28(F,Cl) |
9.CH.05 | Kapitsaite-(Y) | (Ba,K,Pb)4(Y,Ca)2Si8(B,Si)4O28F |
9.CH.05 | Itsiite | Ba4Ca2[Si8B4O28]◻ |
9.CH.05 | Khvorovite | (Pb,Ba,K)4Ca2[Si8B2(Si,B)2O28]F |
9.CH.10 | Iraqite-(La) | KCa2(La,Ce,Th)Si8O20 |
9.CH.10 | Steacyite | K0.3(Na,Ca)2ThSi8O20 |
9.CH.10 | Arapovite | (K1-x◻x)(Ca,Na)2U4+Si8O20 (x ~ 0.5) |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
The infrared spectrum has strong absorption bands at 449, 591, 1040, and 1097 cm-1, typical for ring silicates, and also a broad band at about 3460 cm-1 attributable to H2O.
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 Turkestanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7345.html
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References for Turkestanite
Reference List:
Pautov, L. A., Agakhanov, A. A., Sokolova, E. V., Kabalov, Y. K. (1997) Turkestanite Th(Ca,Na)2(K1-x◻x)Si8O20·nH2O – a new mineral. Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva, 126 (6) 45-55
Jambor, John L., Grew, Edward S., Roberts, Andrew C. (1998) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 83. 1347-1352
Localities for Turkestanite
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.
Brazil | |
| Vilalva et al. (2010) |
Canada | |
| HORVÁTH et al. (2012) |
Germany | |
| in the collection of Christof Schäfer |
Greenland | |
| Structural and chemical analysis by Henrik Friis (unpublished) |
Sørensen (2001) +1 other reference | |
Petersen et al. (1999) | |
Petersen et al. (1999) | |
Japan | |
| Imaoka et al. (2021) |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Pautov et al. (2013) |
| The Mineralogical Record +3 other references |
Madagascar | |
| Guillaume Estrade (2014) |
Estrade et al. (2014) | |
Namibia | |
| Uwe Kolitsch (single-crystal X-ray diffraction) +1 other reference |
Portugal | |
| Analysed by Pedro Alves +1 other reference |
Tajikistan (TL) | |
| Pautov et al. (1997) +4 other references |
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Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada