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Ekanite

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Big Photo

Case Collina (Toscopomici quarry), Pitigliano, Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy
© D. Preite

Show Ekanite Photos (26)



Formula:
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
System:TetragonalColour:Green in various shades, ...
Hardness:4½


See also the related Steacyite Group.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Ekanite. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Ekanite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.10-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EA.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
A : Single nets of tetrahedra with 4-, 5-, (6-), and 8-membered rings
Dana 8th edition ID: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
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.16.16

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
16 : Silicates of U
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Type Occurrence of Ekanite

Type Locality:Ehiliyagoda (Ehaliyagoda), Ratnapura, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
Year of Discovery:1961

Physical Properties of Ekanite

Colour:Green in various shades, straw-yellow, dark red
Hardness (Mohs):4½

Crystallography of Ekanite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.48Å, c = 14.89Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.991
Unit Cell Volume:V 833.10 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Ekanite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.580 nε = 1.568
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low

Chemical Properties of Ekanite

Formula:
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
Essential elements:Ca, O, Si, Th
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Fe, O, Pb, Si, Th, U
Common Impurities:U,Fe,Pb,Al,Mn,Pb,Mg

Relationship of Ekanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EA.05Cuprorivaite
CaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Gillespite
BaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Effenbergerite
BaCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.05Wesselsite
SrCu[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KF)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(F,OH) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH,F) · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.15Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)F · 8H
 
2
O
9.EA.20Magadiite
NaSi
 
7
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.25Dalyite
K
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.25Davanite
K
 
2
TiSi
 
6
O
 
15
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ce[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 6H
 
2
O
9.EA.30Sazhinite-(La)
Na
 
3
La[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.35Armstrongite
CaZr[Si
 
6
O
 
15
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.40Okenite
CaSi
 
2
O
 
5
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.45Nekoite
Ca
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·7H
 
2
O
9.EA.50Cavansite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.55Pentagonite
Ca(VO)Si
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Penkvilksite
Na
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
22
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.60Tumchaite
Na
 
2
Zr(Si
 
4
O
 
11
) · 2H
 
2
O
9.EA.65Nabesite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
4
O
 
10
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.EA.70Ajoite
(K,Na)Cu
 
7
AlSi
 
9
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.EA.75Zeravshanite
Na
 
2
Cs
 
4
Zr
 
3
[Si
 
18
O
 
45
]*2H
 
2
O
9.EA.80Bussyite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)
 
3
(Na,H
 
2
O)
 
6
MnSi
 
9
Be
 
5
(O,OH)
 
30
F
 
4
9.EA.85Plumbophyllite
Pb
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
 · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.16.1Uranosilite
UO
 
3
 · 7SiO
 
2
14.16.2Coffinite
(U
4+
 
,Th)(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
(OH)
 
4x
14.16.3Soddyite
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
SiO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
14.16.4Swamboite
UH
 
6
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
14.16.5Weeksite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
14.16.6Boltwoodite
(K,Na)(UO
 
2
)[HSiO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
14.16.7Natroboltwoodite
(H
 
3
O)(Na,K)UO
 
2
SiO
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
14.16.8Cuprosklodowskite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
14.16.9Sklodowskite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.10Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.11β-Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.12Haiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[Si
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
] · 4.5H
 
2
O
14.16.13Metahaiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
 · nH
 
2
O
14.16.14Thorogummite
(Th,U)(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
(OH)
 
4x
14.16.15Steacyite
(◻,K)(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
14.16.17Kasolite
Pb(UO
 
2
)[SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.16.18Orlite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
14.16.19Oursinite
(Co,Mg)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Ekanite

Other Languages:
German:Ekanit
Russian:Эканит
Spanish:Ekanita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

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, 997.
GÜBELIN, E.J. (1962) Ekanite. The Gemmologist, 31(No. 373), 142-152, (No. 374),165-169.
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. Canadian Mineralogist 20, 65 75.
PERRAULT, G. & SZYMAŃSKI, J.T. (1982): Steacyite, a new name and a re evaluation of the nomenclature of "ekanite" group minerals. Canadian Mineralogist 20, 59 63.
Della Ventura, G., Maras, A. & Parodi, G. C. (1986): Nonmetamict U-rich ekanite from Pitigliano (Tuscany, Italy). Atti della Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rendiconti, Classe di Scienze Fisiche, Matematiche e Naturali 80, 585-592.

Internet Links for Ekanite

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    • Localities for Ekanite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Burma (Myanmar)
     
    • Mandalay Division
      • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
        • Mogok Township
          • Pein-Pyit (Painpyit; Pyan Pyit)
    		Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data, Sieghard Ellenberger specimens
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Abitibi-Témiscamingue
        • Témiscamingue RCM
          • Les Lacs-du-Témiscamingue
      • Montérégie
        • Rouville RCM
          • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		Richard A.J. (1971), La methode d'addition symbolique et la definition de la structure cristalline de l'ekanite de St-Hilaire, P.Q. Ph.D. Thesis, Ecole polytechnique de Montréal, Canada; Perrault G. and Richard P. (1973), L'ekanite de St-Hilaire, P.Q. Canadian Mineralogist: 11: 913-929.
    • Yukon Territory
      • Dawson Mining District
    		Szymansky et al. & Perrault et al. Can. Min. 20, 59 & 65.
    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. Canadian Mineralogist 20, 65 75.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Waldshut
          • Detzeln
    		Hess, E., Graeser, S. & Gabriel, W. (2011): Das Porphyrwerk Detzeln im Steinatal und seine Mineralien. Lapis 36 (4), 25-35; 54.
    Italy
     
    • Latium
      • Rome Province
    		Caponera, I., Fiori, S., Pucci, R., & Signoretti, E. (2007). I minerali dei Colli Albani. Un aggiornamento sugli ultimi dieci anni di ricerche. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 31 (2), 74-91.
          • Albano Laziale
    		Gianfagna, A., Merlino, S., Perchiazzi, N. (1988). Guarinite, a new finding in the sanidinite ejecta of the IV Hydromagmatic Unit from Albano lake crater, Latium, Italy. Periodico di Mineralogia, 57: 81-84.
        • Rome
    		Gresta, S., Duronio, F., Mancinella D. (2002): Geositi e Sistema delle Aree Protette del Lazio: idee per la geoconservazione. Il Cercapietre. Not. del Gruppo Mineralogico Romano, 1-2: 48-55
      • Viterbo Province
        • Vico Lake
    		No reference listed
    • Lombardy
      • Sondrio Province
    		Lapis, 19 (10), 15-21+86.
    • Tuscany
      • Grosseto Province
        • Pitigliano
    		Liotti L., 1991. I minerali dei vulcani laziali a Pitigliano (Grosseto). Riv. Mineral. Ital., 15: 121-139.
    Sri Lanka
     
    • Sabaragamuwa Province
      • Ratnapura District
        • Ratnapura
    		Nature 190 (1961), 997
    USA
     
    • California
      • Tulare Co.
        • Exeter area
          • Chickencoop Canyon
    		Mineralogical Record: 34(2): 159-166
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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