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Kurchatovite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Photos of Kurchatovite (5)

Kurchatovite Gallery Search Photos of Kurchatovite

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Kurchatovite, etc.

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Kurchatovite

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Kurchatovite, etc.

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Kurchatovite, etc.

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Kurchatovite

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Kurchatovite, etc.

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Kurchatovite, etc.

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Kurchatovite

Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

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About KurchatoviteHide

Igor Vasilyevich Kurchatov

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.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

Dimorph of:

Clinokurchatovite

Hayashi et al. (2017) report a Fe(II) analogue (Mg-rich).

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

2293

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:2293:0

GUID
(UUID V4):

4b78ad5e-93bb-4595-8554-f1bfd6419e32

IMA Classification of KurchatoviteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

CaMgB₂O₅

Approval year:

1965

First published:

1966

Type description 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.

Classification of KurchatoviteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

6.BA.10

6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B₂(O,OH)₅; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.

Dana 8th ed.:

24.4.2.1

24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
4 : A₂[X₂O₅]

Hey's CIM Ref.:

9.7.6

9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn

Mineral SymbolsHide

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 KurchatoviteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Translucent

Colour:

Pale gray

Hardness:

4½ on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Perfect
One perfect, parallel elongation; two imperfect

Density:

3.02 g/cm³ (Measured)

Optical Data of KurchatoviteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.635(1) n_β = 1.681(1) n_γ = 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.

Surface Relief:

High

Dispersion:

r > v slight

Chemistry of KurchatoviteHide

Mindat Formula:

Ca(Mg,Mn²⁺)[B₂O₅]

Elements listed:

B, Ca, Mg, Mn, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of KurchatoviteHide

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 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Granular to 4mm

Comment:

Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.

Crystal StructureHide

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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

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Kurchatovite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Callegari A'
'Mazzi F'
'Tadini C'
_journal_name_full 'European Journal of Mineralogy'
_journal_volume 15 
_journal_year 2003
_journal_page_first 277
_journal_page_last 282
_publ_section_title
;
 Modular aspects of the crystal structures of kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite
;
_database_code_amcsd 0006973
_chemical_compound_source 'Solongo, Siberia'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Ca Mg B2 O5'
_cell_length_a 36.34
_cell_length_b 11.135
_cell_length_c 5.499
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 2225.148
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.973
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P b c a'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,-z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Ca1   0.02961   0.87294   0.11592   0.01153
Ca2   0.13593   0.11800   0.68468   0.01178
Ca3   0.19752   0.88076   0.87266   0.01229
Mg1   0.07920   0.12820   0.13950   0.01051
Mg2   0.08800   0.87170   0.63530   0.01064
Mg3   0.24560   0.13090  -0.09410   0.01013
B1   0.05830   0.12440   0.62270   0.01089
B2   0.10840   0.88450   0.14190   0.01077
B3   0.22380   0.11640   0.40630   0.01051
B4   0.00380   0.11980   0.34880   0.01064
B5   0.16340   0.87700   0.40400   0.01051
B6   0.16970   0.12300   0.14290   0.00988
O1   0.07300   0.19810   0.79330   0.01127
O2   0.08930   0.80460   0.28170   0.01140
O3   0.24220   0.19580   0.26240   0.01153
O4   0.08010   0.05000   0.48820   0.01191
O5   0.09090  -0.04420  -0.02290   0.01241
O6   0.24190   0.04530   0.56760   0.01241
O7   0.01960   0.12730   0.58410   0.01279
O8   0.14680   0.89260   0.17100   0.01305
O9   0.18520   0.10900   0.37910   0.01254
O10   0.02320   0.08220   0.15220   0.01191
O11   0.14470  -0.09580   0.61030   0.01191
O12   0.18910   0.09060  -0.05780   0.01178
O13   0.03160   0.84150   0.66820   0.01406
O14   0.13510   0.16940   0.13070   0.01381
O15   0.19820   0.83280   0.40360   0.01431
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Ca1 0.00960 0.01200 0.01300 0.00070 0.00060 0.00040
Ca2 0.00880 0.01290 0.01380 0.00060 -0.00070 -0.00100
Ca3 0.00930 0.01200 0.01570 0.00070 -0.00040 -0.00100
Mg1 0.00870 0.01280 0.01000 -0.00040 0.00020 0.00030
Mg2 0.00870 0.01290 0.01020 -0.00020 0.00010 0.00010
Mg3 0.00890 0.01120 0.01030 -0.00030 0.00030 -0.00050
B1 0.01060 0.01030 0.01180 -0.00020 0.00020 0.00220
B2 0.01040 0.01180 0.00990 0.00120 -0.00030 -0.00110
B3 0.01040 0.01080 0.01040 0.00080 -0.00010 -0.00280
B4 0.00820 0.01100 0.01270 -0.00090 -0.00040 0.00010
B5 0.00990 0.01060 0.01110 -0.00150 0.00030 0.00060
B6 0.00970 0.00890 0.01100 -0.00060 0.00020 0.00030
O1 0.01190 0.01160 0.01040 -0.00070 -0.00120 -0.00020
O2 0.01020 0.01230 0.01180 -0.00120 0.00020 -0.00020
O3 0.01040 0.01260 0.01180 -0.00110 0.00040 0.00030
O4 0.01100 0.01310 0.01180 0.00160 -0.00060 0.00040
O5 0.01230 0.01380 0.01130 0.00150 -0.00130 -0.00040
O6 0.01180 0.01350 0.01180 0.00170 -0.00140 -0.00080
O7 0.00910 0.01930 0.01010 0.00020 0.00020 -0.00120
O8 0.00890 0.02050 0.00990 -0.00220 -0.00090 0.00170
O9 0.00780 0.01890 0.01090 -0.00050 -0.00020 0.00210
O10 0.00990 0.01480 0.01110 -0.00020 0.00070 -0.00080
O11 0.01070 0.01450 0.01060 0.00060 0.00090 -0.00090
O12 0.00880 0.01410 0.01230 0.00030 0.00050 -0.00190
O13 0.00760 0.01930 0.01540 0.00100 -0.00040 -0.00080
O14 0.00810 0.01780 0.01540 0.00110 0.00020 -0.00080
O15 0.00820 0.01570 0.01910 0.00110 -0.00050 -0.00230

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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 EnvironmentHide

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 KurchatoviteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia

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.

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/ZVMO95N2_203.pdf

Synonyms of KurchatoviteHide

IMA1965-034

Other Language Names for KurchatoviteHide

German:Kurchatovit

Russian:Курчатовит

Simplified Chinese:硼镁钙石

Spanish:Kurchatovita

Traditional Chinese:硼鎂鈣石

Common AssociatesHide

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 Hide

6.BA.05	Suanite	Mg₂[B₂O₅]	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
6.BA.10	Clinokurchatovite	Ca(Mg,Fe²⁺,Mn²⁺)[B₂O₅]	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
6.BA.15	Sussexite	Mn²⁺BO₂(OH)	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2
6.BA.15	Szaibélyite	MgBO₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m
6.BA.20	Wiserite	(Mn²⁺,Mg)₁₄(B₂O₅)₄(OH)₈ · (Si,Mg)(O,OH)₄Cl	Tet. 4/m : P4/n

Fluorescence of KurchatoviteHide

In UV light:

Bright violet in long wave UV

Other InformationHide

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 KurchatoviteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-2293.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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Look for Kurchatovite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Kurchatovite on Webmineral

Look for Kurchatovite on Wikipedia

Look for Kurchatovite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for KurchatoviteHide

Reference List:

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.

Fleischer, M. (1966) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 51: 1815-1820 (1817).

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.

Fleischer, M. (1969) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 54: 326-330.

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva (1978): 107: 276.

Malinko, S.V., I.I. Khalturina, A.A. Ozol, V.M. Bocharov (1991) Minerals of boron,- Moscow, Nedra, pp. 108-110 (in Russian).

Grew, Edward S., Anovitz, Lawrence M., Grew, Edward S., Anovitz, Lawrence M. - Eds. (1996) Boron - Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. Reviews in Mineralogy Vol. 33. Mineralogical Society of America

Pekov, Igor V. (1998) Minerals first discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union. Ocean Pictures, Moscow. 369pp.

Callegari, A., Mazzi, F., Tadini, C. (2003) Modular aspects of the crystal structures of kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite. European Journal of Mineralogy: 15: 277-282.

Chukanov, Nikita V. (2014) Springer Geochemistry/Mineralogy - Infrared spectra of mineral species. Springer Netherlands. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7128-4

Hayashi, Ayaka, Momma, Koichi, Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Tanabe, Mitsuo, Kishi, Shigetomo, Kobayashi, Shoichi, Kusachi, Isao (2017) Kurchatovite from the Fuka mine, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 112 (4) 159-165 doi:10.2465/jmps.170330

Pankova, Y.A., Krivovichev, S.V., Pekov, I.V., Grew, E.S., Yapaskurt, V.O. (2018) Kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite, ideally CaMgB2O5: An example of modular polymorphism. Minerals: 8: 332.

(2023) Kurchatovite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for KurchatoviteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- 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.


Japan
Okayama Prefecture Takahashi City Bitchū Fuka ⓘ Fuka mine	Hayashi et al. (2017)

Russia (TL)
Buryatia Yeravninsky District Ozernoe ore cluster ⓘ Solongo B deposit (TL)	[AmMin 85:1322] +2 other references
Sakha Polar Yakutia Dogdo River Basin Tas-Khayakhtakh Range Titovskoe B deposit ⓘ Nalednoe B ore occurrence	Chukanov (2014)

Kurchatovite

About KurchatoviteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of KurchatoviteHide

Classification of KurchatoviteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of KurchatoviteHide

Optical Data of KurchatoviteHide

Chemistry of KurchatoviteHide

Crystallography of KurchatoviteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of KurchatoviteHide

Synonyms of KurchatoviteHide

Other Language Names for KurchatoviteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of KurchatoviteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for KurchatoviteHide

References for KurchatoviteHide

Localities for KurchatoviteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide