Kurchatovite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Kurchatovite
Formula:
Ca(Mg,Mn2+)[B2O5]
Colour:
Pale gray
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
3.02
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Igor Vasil’evich Kurchatov (Игорь Васильевич Курчатов) (12 January 1903, Simsky Zavod, Ufa Governorate, Russian Empire – 7 February 1960, Moscow, Soviet Union), physicist, Institute of Nuclear Energy, Moscow, Russia. He is widely known as the director of the Soviet atomic bomb project.
Dimorph of:
Hayashi et al. (2017) report a Fe(II) analogue (Mg-rich).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2293
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2293:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
4b78ad5e-93bb-4595-8554-f1bfd6419e32
IMA Classification of Kurchatovite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CaMgB2O5
Approval year:
1965
First published:
1966
Classification of Kurchatovite
6.BA.10
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
24.4.2.1
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
4 : A2[X2O5]
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
4 : A2[X2O5]
9.7.6
9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn
9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn
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 |
---|---|---|
Kht | 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 Kurchatovite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pale gray
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
One perfect, parallel elongation; two imperfect
One perfect, parallel elongation; two imperfect
Density:
3.02 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Kurchatovite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.635(1) nβ = 1.681(1) nγ = 1.698(1)
2V:
Measured: 66°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.063
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:
r > v slight
Chemistry of Kurchatovite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(Mg,Mn2+)[B2O5]
Crystallography of Kurchatovite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.15(2) Å, b = 36.4(1) Å, c = 5.55(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.306 : 1 : 0.152
Unit Cell V:
2,252.52 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
24
Morphology:
Granular to 4mm
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0006973 | Kurchatovite | Callegari A, Mazzi F, Tadini C (2003) Modular aspects of the crystal structures of kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite European Journal of Mineralogy 15 277-282 | 2003 | Solongo, Siberia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
2.78 Å | (100) |
1.922 Å | (90) |
2.67 Å | (80) |
1.232 Å | (80) |
2.26 Å | (70) |
2.01 Å | (70) |
1.633 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) |
Type Occurrence of Kurchatovite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Masses. Replaced by a fine-grained aggregate of szaibelyite, calcite and chlorite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A. E. Fersman Museum, Moscow, Russia.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Iron bearing skarn
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Malinko, S.V., Lisitsin, A.E., Dorofeeva, K.A., Ostravskaya, I.V., Shashkin, D.P. (1966) Kurchatovite - new mineral. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 95(2): 203-209.
Synonyms of Kurchatovite
Other Language Names for Kurchatovite
German:Kurchatovit
Russian:Курчатовит
Simplified Chinese:硼镁钙石
Spanish:Kurchatovita
Traditional Chinese:硼鎂鈣石
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Kurchatovite associated with Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
3 photos of Kurchatovite associated with Fedorovskite | Ca2Mg2B4O7(OH)6 |
2 photos of Kurchatovite associated with Sakhaite | Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
1 photo of Kurchatovite associated with Frolovite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 |
1 photo of Kurchatovite associated with Szaibélyite | MgBO2(OH) |
1 photo of Kurchatovite associated with Solongoite | Ca2(H3B3O7)(OH)Cl |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
6.BA.05 | Suanite | Mg2[B2O5] |
6.BA.10 | Clinokurchatovite | Ca(Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)[B2O5] |
6.BA.15 | Sussexite | Mn2+BO2(OH) |
6.BA.15 | Szaibélyite | MgBO2(OH) |
6.BA.20 | Wiserite | (Mn2+,Mg)14(B2O5)4(OH)8 · (Si,Mg)(O,OH)4Cl |
Fluorescence of Kurchatovite
Bright violet in long wave UV
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Solongo material [cm-1]: 3550w, 3495w, 1469, 1440sh, 1387s, 1356s, 1323s, 1277, 1277, 1223s, 1170sh, 1159s, 984w, 977w, 856, 787, 761, 713, 669, 633, 614, 509, 462, 422, 405
Thermal Behaviour:
DTA shows a weak endothermal reaction at 765°, (due to calcite?) and a sharp endothermal effect at 1000° (melting).
Notes:
Insoluble in water, slowly soluble when heated in HCl.
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 Kurchatovite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2293.html
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References for Kurchatovite
Reference List:
Chukanov, Nikita V. (2014) Springer Geochemistry/Mineralogy - Infrared spectra of mineral species. Springer Netherlands. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7128-4
Localities for Kurchatovite
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.
Japan | |
| Hayashi et al. (2017) |
Russia (TL) | |
| [AmMin 85:1322] +2 other references |
| Chukanov (2014) |
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Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia