Kalsilite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Kalsilite
Formula:
KAlSiO4
Colour:
Colorless, white, gray
Lustre:
Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
2.59 - 2.62
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
The name reflects its chemical composition: potassium (latin, kalium), aluminium and silicium
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
A feldspathoid, usually rare but a rock-forming component of some potassium-rich silica-deficient igneous rocks.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2142
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2142:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
9801a1b6-880a-4002-b987-b2aa3c700881
IMA Classification of Kalsilite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1942
Classification of Kalsilite
9.FA.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
76.2.1.1
76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
16.3.3
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
3 : Aluminosilicates of K
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
3 : Aluminosilicates of K
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Kls | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Kls | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
Kls | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
Kls | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
Kls | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Kalsilite
Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, white, gray
Streak:
White
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {1010}, {0001}
Poor on {1010}, {0001}
Density:
2.59 - 2.62 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Kalsilite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.538 - 1.543 nε = 1.532 - 1.537
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.006
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 Kalsilite
Mindat Formula:
KAlSiO4
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mg,Ca,Na
Crystallography of Kalsilite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P63 2 2
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.1589 Å, c = 8.6682(3) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.68
Unit Cell V:
199.79 ų
Twinning:
Ubiquitous on a microscopic scale, on {10-10}, {33-65},
and {11-22}.
and {11-22}.
Comment:
Date from Uchida et al. (2006); previous studies have provided several space groups for kalsilite: P6322 (Bannister and Hey, 1942), P63 (Perrotta et al., 1965), P63mc (Dollase and Freeborn, 1977), and P31c (Cellai et al., 1997).
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0001874 | Kalsilite | Cellai D, Bonazzi P, Carpenter M A (1997) Natural kalsilite, KAlSiO4, with P31c symmetry: Crystal structure and twinning American Mineralogist 82 276-279 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
0002336 | Kalsilite | Cellai D, Gesing T M, Wruck B, Carpenter M A (1999) X-ray study of the trigonal-hexagonal phase transition in metamorphic kalsilite American Mineralogist 84 1950-1955 | 1999 | 0 | 293 | ||
0005052 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 298 | |
0005053 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 250 | |
0005054 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 200 | |
0005055 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 150 | |
0005056 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 100 | |
0005057 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 175 | |
0005058 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 225 | |
0005059 | Kalsilite | Gatta G D, Angel R J, Carpenter M A (2010) Low-temperature behavior of natural kalsilite with P31c symmetry: An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study American Mineralogist 95 1027-1034 | 2010 | a granulite facies gneiss from the Punalur district in Kerala, India | 0 | 275 | |
0014424 | Kalsilite | Andou Y, Kawahara A (1984) The refinement of the structure of synthetic kalsilite Mineralogical Journal 12 153-161 | 1984 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0014429 | Kalsilite | Kawahara A, Andou Y, Marumo F, Okuno M (1987) The crystal structure of high temperature form of kalsilite (KAlSiO4) at 950 C Mineralogical Journal 13 260-270 | 1987 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014442 | Kalsilite | Perrotta A J, Smith J V (1965) The crystal structure of kalsilite, KAlSiO4 Mineralogical Magazine 35 588-595 | 1965 | Mt. Nyiragongo, Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0014443 | Kalsilite | Perrotta A J, Smith J V (1965) The crystal structure of kalsilite, KAlSiO4 Mineralogical Magazine 35 588-595 | 1965 | Mt. Nyiragongo, Congo | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.118 Å | (100) |
2.579 Å | (50) |
3.973 Å | (45) |
2.175 Å | (17) |
2.472 Å | (15) |
4.351 Å | (12) |
2.432 Å | (10) |
Comments:
Data for synthetic material
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
7 : Ultramafic igneous rocks | |
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks | |
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics | <3.5-2.5 |
40 : Regional metamorphism (greenschist, amphibolite, granulite facies) | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
51 : Pyrometamorphic minerals (see also #54 and #56) | <0.36 |
Type Occurrence of Kalsilite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Colorless grains to 0.1 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1942,42.
2) Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA 101998.
3) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 105856.
2) Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA 101998.
3) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 105856.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Bannister, F.A., Hey, M.H. (1942) Kalsilite, a polymorph of KAlSiO4, from Uganda. Mineralogical Magazine: 26: 218-225.
Synonyms of Kalsilite
Other Language Names for Kalsilite
German:Kalsilit
Parakaliophilit
Parakaliophilit
Russian:Кальсилит
Simplified Chinese:六方钾霞石
Spanish:Kalsilita
Parakaliophilita
Parakaliophilita
Traditional Chinese:六方鉀霞石
Relationship of Kalsilite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Cancrinite Group | A large, structurally complex group of alumosilicates. | |
Carnegieite | NaAlSiO4 | Tric. |
Davidsmithite | (Ca,◻)2Na6Al8Si8O32 | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Leucite | K(AlSi2O6) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
Metaleucite | A name for isometric leucite that is stable above 625 degrees C. | |
Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Sodalite Group | The Sodalite Group is characterised by sodalite-type stacking of alumosilicate building units that produces Cubo ... | |
Trikalsilite | K2NaAl3(SiO4)3 | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Trinepheline | NaAlSiO4 | Hex. 6 : P61 |
Yoshiokaite | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O4] | Trig. 3 : P3 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
9 photos of Kalsilite associated with Åkermanite | Ca2Mg[Si2O7] |
7 photos of Kalsilite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
5 photos of Kalsilite associated with Melilite Group | Ca2M(XSiO7) |
5 photos of Kalsilite associated with Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
5 photos of Kalsilite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
3 photos of Kalsilite associated with Titanite | CaTi(SiO4)O |
3 photos of Kalsilite associated with Fluorophlogopite | KMg3(Si3Al)O10F2 |
2 photos of Kalsilite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
2 photos of Kalsilite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
2 photos of Kalsilite associated with Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.FA. | Hexacelsian | BaAl2Si2O8 |
9.FA. | Wodegongjieite | KCa3(Al7Si9)O32 |
9.FA.05 | Kaliophilite | KAlSiO4 |
9.FA.05 | Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
9.FA.05 | Panunzite | (K,Na)AlSiO4 |
9.FA.05 | Trikalsilite | K2NaAl3(SiO4)3 |
9.FA.05 | Yoshiokaite | (Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O4] |
9.FA.05 | Carnegieite | NaAlSiO4 |
9.FA.05 va | Germanate-nepheline | (Na,K)AlGeO4 |
9.FA.05 | Megakalsilite | KAlSiO4 |
9.FA.05 | Trinepheline | NaAlSiO4 |
9.FA.05 | Davidsmithite | (Ca,◻)2Na6Al8Si8O32 |
9.FA.10 | Malinkoite | NaBSiO4 |
9.FA.15 | Virgilite | LiAlSi2O6 |
9.FA.25 | Lisitsynite | KBSi2O6 |
9.FA.30 | Buddingtonite | (NH4)(AlSi3O8) |
9.FA.30 | Celsian | Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
9.FA.30 | Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
9.FA.30 | Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
9.FA.30 | Sanidine | K(AlSi3O8) |
9.FA.30 | Rubicline | Rb(AlSi3O8) |
9.FA.30 va | Germanate-celsian | BaAl2Ge2O8 |
9.FA.30 | Monalbite | NaAlSi3O8 |
9.FA.30 | Ferrisanidine | K[Fe3+Si3O8] |
9.FA.35 | Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
9.FA.35 | Anorthite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
9.FA.35 | Reedmergnerite | NaBSi3O8 |
9.FA.40 | Paracelsian | Ba(Al2Si2O8) |
9.FA.45 | Svyatoslavite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
9.FA.45 | Kumdykolite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
9.FA.50 | Slawsonite | Sr(Al2Si2O8) |
9.FA.55 | Lisetite | CaNa2Al4Si4O16 |
9.FA.60 | Banalsite | Na2BaAl4Si4O16 |
9.FA.60 | Stronalsite | Na2SrAl4Si4O16 |
9.FA.65 | Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
9.FA.65 | Maleevite | BaB2Si2O8 |
9.FA.65 | Pekovite | SrB2Si2O8 |
9.FA.70 | Stöfflerite | CaAl2Si2O8 |
9.FA.70 | Lingunite | (Na,Ca)AlSi3O8 |
9.FA.70 | Liebermannite | KAlSi3O8 |
9.FA.75 | Kokchetavite | K(AlSi3O8) |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily attacked by dilute hydrochloric acid giving a gelatinous liquid.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Kalsilite in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Kalsilite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2142.html
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References for Kalsilite
Localities for Kalsilite
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.
Antarctica | |
| Riley et al. (2009) |
Riley et al. (2009) | |
Austria | |
| Exel (1993) |
Azerbaijan | |
| Gupta (2015) |
Bermuda | |
Brazil | |
| iavcei2004.free.cl (n.d.) |
| Thomson et al. (2014) |
Revista Brasileira de Geociências 30 (3) | |
| 1995 +2 other references |
Canada | |
| Abersteiner et al. (2020) |
| Hogarth (1997) |
| PHILPOTTS et al. (1967) |
Chile | |
| Zori et al. (2013) |
Czech Republic | |
| Ettler et al. (2015) |
DR Congo | |
| Richard +17 other references |
Sahama et al. (1958) | |
Mineralogical Magazine 1957 31 : ... +1 other reference | |
France | |
| publication date: November 2018 +2 other references |
Germany | |
| Collection of Walter Göttler |
| Hentschel (1987) |
| in the collection of Christof Schäfer |
| Hentschel (1983) |
| Blaß et al. (2013) |
| Blass |
| Blass |
Greenland | |
| Brooks et al. (1981) +1 other reference |
India | |
| Gondwana Research 3 (1) +1 other reference |
| Sandiford et al. (1991) +3 other references |
Israel | |
| Galuskin et al. (2015) |
| Galuskina et al. (2017) |
Krzątała et al. (2023) | |
Galuskin et al. (2016) | |
Italy | |
| Bertolani et al. (1994) +2 other references |
| [Lapis 1994:5 p.13-23 |
| Russo et al. (2004) |
| AA. VV. |
| Mazzi F. (1981) |
| F. Stoppa and Y. Liu +6 other references |
| Di Battistini et al. (2001) +1 other reference |
Di Battistini et al. (1998) +1 other reference | |
| Laurenzi et al. (1994) +8 other references |
| Mittempergher (1965) +6 other references |
Mexico | |
| Alok Krishna Gupta (2015) |
Middle East | |
Vapnik et al. (2006) | |
Mongolia | |
| Peretyazhko et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
Morocco | |
| Bea et al. (2013) |
Namibia | |
| Joachim Esche collection (Uwe Kolitsch SXRD + EDS) |
Koller F et al. (2014) | |
Norway | |
| Jamtveit et al. (1997) |
Pacific Ocean | |
| Peretyazhko et al. (2022) |
Poland | |
| Kruszewski et al. (Lower Silesian Coal Basin) |
| Warchulski et al. (2016) +1 other reference |
Warchulski et al. (2015) | |
| Warchulski et al. (2015) |
Russia | |
| [Lapis 1993:4 p.13-20] |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) +2 other references |
| Sklyarov +5 other references |
Mitchell et al. (1993) +1 other reference | |
| Shchipalkina et al. (2020) |
| Sokol et al. (2019) +1 other reference |
| Ageeva et al. (2004) |
| Khomyakov et al. (2002) |
Pekov et al. (2004) | |
Ageeva et al. (2004) +1 other reference | |
Bea et al. (2014) | |
| Pakhomovsky et al. (2014) |
Pekov et al. (2008) | |
| Gupta (2015) |
South Africa | |
| Kamenetsky et al. (2014) |
| Giuliani et al. (2012) |
Tajikistan | |
| Solovova et al. (2006, October) |
Uganda (TL) | |
| Bannister et al. (1942) |
UK | |
| Beard et al. (2007) |
USA | |
| Kuehner et al. (2003, June) |
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