Litvinskite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Litvinskite
Galia P. Litvinskaya
Formula:
Na2(◻,Na,Mn)ZrSi6O12(OH,O)6
Colour:
Dark cherry-red to reddish-brown
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
2.61
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Galia Petrovna Litvinskaya (Галина Петровна Литвинская) (21 September 1920, Vladimir, Russian Empire - 06 August 1994, Moscow, Russia), geologist-geochemist, crystallographer, and senior lecturer of the Department of Crystallography and Crystallochemistry at the Moscow State University.
Lovozerite Group. Compare kapustinite.
Kapustinite undergoes a partial alteration to litvinskite over about one year. The transformation occurs in only a few hours when in hot water (80–100 °C).
Kapustinite undergoes a partial alteration to litvinskite over about one year. The transformation occurs in only a few hours when in hot water (80–100 °C).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
11437
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:11437:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
f06581e1-bcd5-4018-ba35-60ccfe470fa8
IMA Classification of Litvinskite
Classification of Litvinskite
9.CJ.15a
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
J : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered single rings (sechser-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
J : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered single rings (sechser-Einfachringe), without insular complex anions
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ltv | 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 Litvinskite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Dark cherry-red to reddish-brown
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Imperfect on {110}.
Imperfect on {110}.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.61 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.63 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Litvinskite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.546(1) nβ = 1.574(1) nγ = 1.575(1)
2V:
Measured: <10°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.029
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 Litvinskite
Mindat Formula:
Na2(◻,Na,Mn)ZrSi6O12(OH,O)6
Common Impurities:
Mn
Crystallography of Litvinskite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
m - Domatic
Space Group:
Bm
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.589 Å, b = 10.217 Å, c = 7.355 Å
β = 92.91°
β = 92.91°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.036 : 1 : 0.72
Unit Cell V:
794.6 ų
Z:
2
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012370 | Litvinskite | Yamnova N A, Egorov-Tismenko Y K, Pekov I V, Ekimenkova I A (2001) Crystal structure of litvinskite: A new natural member of the lovozerite group Crystallography Reports 46 190-193 | 2001 | Alluaiv mountain, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.37 Å | (44) |
| 5.29 Å | (100) |
| 3.329 Å | (74) |
| 3.238 Å | (100) |
| 2.981 Å | (39) |
| 2.553 Å | (37) |
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 Litvinskite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Equant grains to 7 cm and as aggregates to 15 cm. Sometimes replaced by terskite and gaidonnayite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In a hyperagpaitic pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Litvinskite
Other Language Names for Litvinskite
Relationship of Litvinskite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Combeite | Na4.5Ca3.5Si6O17.5(OH)0.5 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Kapustinite | Na6ZrSi6O16(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Kazakovite | Na6Mn2+Ti(Si6O18) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Lovozerite | Na2Ca(Zr,Ti)(Si6O12)[(OH)4O2] · H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Tisinalite | Na3H3(Mn,Ca,Fe)TiSi6(O,OH)18 · 2H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) |
| Townendite | Na8ZrSi6O18 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
| Zirsinalite | Na6(Ca,Mn2+,Fe2+)Zr(Si6O18) | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Litvinskite associated with Terskite | Na4ZrSi6O16 · 2H2O |
| 7 photos of Litvinskite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 4 photos of Litvinskite associated with Eudialyte | Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Litvinskite associated with Gaidonnayite | Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Litvinskite associated with Cancrisilite | Na7(Al5Si7O24)(CO3) · 3H2O |
| 2 photos of Litvinskite associated with Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
| 2 photos of Litvinskite associated with Kapustinite | Na6ZrSi6O16(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Litvinskite associated with Lamprophyllite | (Na,Mn2+)3(Sr,Na)2(Ti,Fe3+)3(Si2O7)2O2(OH,O,F)2 |
| 1 photo of Litvinskite associated with Hackmanite | Na8Al6Si6O24(Cl2,S) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CJ. | Avdeevite | NaAl4(Be5Li)(Si6O18)2(H2O)1-2 |
| 9.CJ. | Nakkaalaaqite | K2[Na3Ca]LiCa2Ti2Be4Si12O38 |
| 9.CJ. | Zolotarevite | Na5Zr[Si6O15(OH)3] · 3H2O |
| 9.CJ. | Beryllocordierite-Na | NaMg4(Al5Be)(AlSi5O18)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.CJ. | Beryllosachanbińskiite-Na | NaMn4(Al5Be)(AlSi5O18)2 · 2H2O |
| 9.CJ.05 | Bazzite | Be3Sc2(Si6O18) |
| 9.CJ.05 | Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| 9.CJ.05 | Indialite | Mg2Al3(AlSi5O18) |
| 9.CJ.05 va | Vorobyevite | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| 9.CJ.05 | Stoppaniite | Be3Fe3+2(Si6O18) · H2O |
| 9.CJ.05 | Ferroindialite | (Fe2+,Mg)2Al4Si5O18 |
| 9.CJ.05 | Johnkoivulaite | Cs[Be2B]Mg2Si6O18 |
| 9.CJ.10 | Cordierite | (Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18) |
| 9.CJ.10 | Sekaninaite | (Fe,Mg)2Al3(AlSi5O18) |
| 9.CJ.15a | Combeite | Na4.5Ca3.5Si6O17.5(OH)0.5 |
| 9.CJ.15b | Imandrite | Na12Ca3Fe3+2(Si6O18)2 |
| 9.CJ.15a | Kazakovite | Na6Mn2+Ti(Si6O18) |
| 9.CJ.15c | Koashvite | Na6(Ca,Mn)(Ti,Fe)Si6O18 · H2O |
| 9.CJ.15a | Lovozerite | Na2Ca(Zr,Ti)(Si6O12)[(OH)4O2] · H2O |
| 9.CJ.15a | Tisinalite | Na3H3(Mn,Ca,Fe)TiSi6(O,OH)18 · 2H2O |
| 9.CJ.15a | Zirsinalite | Na6(Ca,Mn2+,Fe2+)Zr(Si6O18) |
| 9.CJ.15a | Kapustinite | Na6ZrSi6O16(OH)2 |
| 9.CJ.15a | Townendite | Na8ZrSi6O18 |
| 9.CJ.25 | Baratovite | KCa7(Ti,Zr)2Li3Si12O36F2 |
| 9.CJ.25 | Katayamalite | KLi3Ca7Ti2(SiO3)12(OH)2 |
| 9.CJ.25 | Aleksandrovite | KCa7Sn2Li3Si12O36F2 |
| 9.CJ.30 | Dioptase | CuSiO3 · H2O |
| 9.CJ.35 | Kostylevite | K2Zr(Si3O9) · H2O |
| 9.CJ.40 | Petarasite | Na5Zr2(Si6O18)(Cl,OH) · 2H2O |
| 9.CJ.45 | Gerenite-(Y) | (Ca,Na)2(Y,REE)3Si6O18 · 2H2O |
| 9.CJ.50 | Odintsovite | K2Na4Ca3Ti2Be4Si12O38 |
| 9.CJ.55 | Mathewrogersite | Pb7FeAl3GeSi12O36(OH,H2O)6 |
| 9.CJ.60 | Pezzottaite | Cs(Be2Li)Al2(Si6O18) |
Fluorescence of Litvinskite
Not fluorescent.
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 Litvinskite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-11437.html
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References for Litvinskite
Reference List:
Localities for Litvinskite
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.
Canada | |
| TARASSOFF (2007) |
Russia | |
| Pekov et al. (2004) |
| Pekov et al. (2000) +1 other reference |
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Shkatulka pegmatite, Umbozero mine, Alluaiv Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia