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Tacharanite

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Puech de Vermus, Espalion, Aveyron, Midi-Pyrénées, France
© Elmar Lackner

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Formula:
Ca
 
12
Al
 
2
Si
 
18
O
 
51
 · 18H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White
Hardness:5
Name:From Gaelic "tacharan", a changeling, because the mineral breaks down into other compounds if left standing in air.


May appear visually similar to tobermorite.

Classification of Tacharanite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.21-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.HA.75

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
H : Unclassified silicates
A : With Alkali and Alkali-earth Elements
Dana 8th edition ID:72.3.2.6

72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
3 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 3-, 4-, or 5-membered rings and 8-membered rings
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.11.8

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
11 : Aluminosilicates of Ca and Mg with or without alkalis
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Type Occurrence of Tacharanite

Type Locality:Portree, Trotternish, Isle of Skye, North West Highlands (Inverness-shire), Scotland, UK
Year of Discovery:1961

Physical Properties of Tacharanite

Lustre:Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White
Hardness (Mohs):5

Crystallography of Tacharanite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 17.07Å, b = 3.65Å, c = 27.9Å
β = 114.1°
Ratio:a:b:c = 4.677 : 1 : 7.644
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,586.80 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Tacharanite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.518 - 1.525 nγ = 1.530 - 1.537
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

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

Chemical Properties of Tacharanite

Formula:
Ca
 
12
Al
 
2
Si
 
18
O
 
51
 · 18H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg,Na,K

Relationship of Tacharanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.HA.05Ertixiite
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
9
9.HA.10Kenyaite
Na
 
2
Si
 
22
O
 
41
(OH)
 
8
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.HA.20Wawayandaite
Ca
 
6
Mn
 
2
BBe
 
9
Si
 
6
O
 
23
(OH,Cl)
 
15
9.HA.25Magbasite
KBa(Al,Sc)(Mg,Fe)
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
20
F
 
2
9.HA.30Afanasyevaite
Ca
 
8
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]OCl
 
2
9.HA.40Igumnovite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl
 
4
9.HA.50Rudenkoite
Sr
 
3
(Al
 
3.5
Si
 
3.5
)O
 
10
(OH,O)
 
8
Cl
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.HA.55Foshallasite
Ca
 
3
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · 3H
 
2
O(?)
9.HA.60Nagelschmidtite
Ca
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
9.HA.65Caryochroite
(Na,Sr)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Mg)
 
10
[(O,OH)
 
9
|Ti
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
37
] · (H
 
2
O,O,OH)
 
17
9.HA.70Juanite
Ca
 
10
Mg
 
4
Al
 
2
Si
 
11
O
 
39
 · 4H
 
2
O or near
9.HA.80Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
 · 12.5H
 
2
O
9.HA.85Denisovite
Ca
 
2
(K,Na)Si
 
3
O
 
8
(F,OH)
 
2
9.HA.90Tiettaite
(Na,K)
 
17
FeTiSi
 
16
O
 
29
(OH)
 
30
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.11.1Madisonite
Ca
 
2
Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
13
 or near
16.11.3Alumino-magnesio-hornblende
☐{Ca
 
2
}{Mg
 
4
Al}(AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.4Tschermakite
☐(Ca
 
2
)(Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
)(Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.5Clintonite
Ca(Mg,Al)
 
3
(Al
 
3
SiO
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.6Juanite
Ca
 
10
Mg
 
4
Al
 
2
Si
 
11
O
 
39
 · 4H
 
2
O or near
16.11.7Pumpellyite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(SiO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
16.11.9Aluminobarroisite
☐{CaNa}{Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
}(AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.10Taramite
{Na}{CaNa}{Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
}(Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.12Edenite
{Na}{Ca
 
2
}{Mg
 
5
}(AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.13Pargasite
{Na}{Ca
 
2
}{Mg
 
4
Al}(Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.14Katophorite
{Na}{CaNa}{Mg
 
4
Al}[(AlSi
 
7
)O
 
22
](OH)
 
2
16.11.15Beidellite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
0.3
Al
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O
16.11.15Magnesiosadanagaite
{Na}{Ca
 
2
}{Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
}(Al
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2
16.11.16Sadanagaite
{Na}{Ca
 
2
}{Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
}(Al
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
22
)(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Tacharanite

Other Languages:
German:Tacharanit
Spanish:Tacharanita

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 Tacharanite

Reference List:

- +
Sweet, J. M. (1961): Tacharanite and other hydrated calcium silicates from Portree, Isle of Skye. Mineral. Mag. 32, 745-753.

American Mineralogist (1962): 47: 173.

Cliff, G., Gard, J. A., Lorimer, G. W. & Taylor, H. F. W. (1975): Tacharanite. - Mineralogical Magazine: 40: 113-126.

American Mineralogist (1976): 61: 1055.

Mineralogical Magazine (1978): 42: 383.

Internet Links for Tacharanite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Tacharanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Tacharanite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Arthur River district
    		Information to Kim Macdonald from Mathew & Elizabeth Latham, North West Tasmanian Mineral Club
      • Burnie district
        • Oonah
    		Mathew Latham coll.
        • Ridgley
    		R Bottrill coll.
      • Cape Grim district
    		http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf; Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.49
      • Central Plateau
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
      • Marrawah district
        • Redpa
    		http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf
      • Moina District (Middlesex District)
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
      • Upper Mersey Valley
    		Anderson, P. (1984), Zeolites from Gads Hill, Tasmania
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Bad Radkersburg
        • Klöch
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Cariboo Mining Division
        • 100 Mile House
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.51
    • Québec
      • Estrie
        • Les Sources RCM
          • Asbestos
    		Horváth & Spertini (2008 & 2009)
    Chile
     
    • Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region
      • Aisén Province (Aysén Province)
    		Aguirre, L., Dominguez-Bella, S., Morata, D., Wittke, O. (1998) An occurrence of tobermorite in Tertiary basalts from Patagonia, Chile. The Canadian Mineralogist, 36, 1149-1155.
    France
     
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Aveyron
        • Espalion
    		Boutry C., Pelisson P., Pillard F. (1986), Les zéolites d'Espalion, Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, n°2, pp: 3-7
    Germany
     
    • Hesse
      • Vogelsberg
        • Ortenberg
    		Kolitsch, U. (1997): Tacharanit vom Gaulsberg bei Ortenberg (Vogelsberg, Hessen). Mineralien-Welt 8 (2), 25-26
    • Lower Saxony
      • Göttingen
        • Adelebsen
    		Koritnig, S. (1972). Gyrolith, Okenit und Tacharanit als metasomatische Reaktionsprodukte aus dem Basaltvorkommen der Bramburg bei Göttingen, Deutschland. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 35, 293-301. (in German)
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel
        • Adenau
          • Hoffeld
    		Hentschel, G., Die Mineralien der Eifelvulkane, Weise Verlag München, 1987
        • Hillesheim
          • Zilsdorf
    		Hentschel, G.,Begleitmineralien des Basaltes vom Arensberg bei Zilsdorf/Eifel, Notizbl. Hess. L.-Amt Bodenforsch., 101, 310-316, 1973
    Hungary
     
    • Veszprém Co.
      • Balaton Uplands
        • Bakony Mts.
          • Sümegprága
    		Kónya-MÁFI,2008
        • Tapolcai Basin
          • Uzsa (Uzsabánya)
    Israel
     
    • Negev
    		Gross, S. (1977): The Mineralogy of the Hatrurim Formation, Israel. Geological Survey of Israel, Bulletin no. 70, 80 pp.
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Campoligure
          • Pracaban Mt.
    		Antofilli, Borgo, Palenzona, 1985. I nostri minerali. Geologia e mineralogia in Liguria. Edizioni Melita, La Spezia.
        • Tiglieto
          • Olbicella
    		Cortesogno L., Lucchetti G., Penco A.M. - 1975 - Associazioni a zeoliti nel "Gruppo di Voltri" : caratteristiche mineralogiche e loro significato - rend. S.I.M.P. - Milano, vol. 31, n.2 pp. 673-710
    • Sicily
      • Catania Province
        • Northern Iblean plateau
    		Sicurella, G., Russo, S., Ciriotti, M.E., Blass, G. (2010): Mineralogia della formazione di Monte Caliella, Palagonia (Catania, Sicilia). Micro (località), 2/2010, 371-408
    Sicurella, G., Russo, S., Ciriotti, M.E., Blass, G. (2010): Mineralogia della formazione di Monte Caliella, Palagonia (Catania, Sicilia). Micro (località), 2/2010, 371-408.
    • Veneto
      • Vicenza Province
        • Cornedo Vicentino
          • Spagnago
    		Boscardin M.,Daleffe A.,Rocchetti I., Zordan A. (2011) " Minerali del Vicentino - Aggiornamenti, località e nuove determinazioni " Museo di Archeologia e Scienze Naturali “G. Zannato” – Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza), pp.183; - Boscardin M.,Daleffe A.,Rocchetti I., Zordan A. (2011) " Minerali del Vicentino - Aggiornamenti, località e nuove determinazioni " Museo di Archeologia e Scienze Naturali “G. Zannato” – Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza), pp.183
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu region
        • Shizuoka prefecture
    		Alfredo Petrov - unpublished document (2007)
    • Shikoku Island
      • Kochi Prefecture
        • Kochi City
    		Minakawa and Noto (1985) Kobutsu-Gakkai Koen-Yoshi, 90.
          • Rendai
    		Mineralogical Journal Vol. 13 (1986) , No. 6 pp368-375
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Kovdor Massif
    		M.Moiseev data
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Sverdlovskaya Oblast'
          • Sysert' District
            • Polevskoi (Polevskoi Zavod)
    		Zadov, A. E.; Grabezhev, A. I.; Pertsev, N. N.; Chukanov, N. V.; Pribavkin, S. V. (2006): Tobermorite-plombierite metasomatites of the Gumeshevsk skarn-porphyry copper deposit, Middle Urals. Doklady Earth Sciences 407A, 495-497.
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Barcelona
        • Maresme
          • Fogars de Tordera
    		Bareche, E. (2005) "Els minerals de Catalunya. Segle XX" Grup Mineralògic Català, Barcelona, 269 pages.
    UK
     
    • Northern Ireland
      • Co. Antrim
        • Glenoe
    		Henmi C, Kusachi I, Henmi K, Sabine P A, Young B R (1973) A new mineral bicchulite, the natural analogue of gehlenite hydrate, from Fuka, Okayama Prefecture, Japan and Carneal, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Mineralogical Journal, 7, 243-251
    • Scotland
      • North West Highlands (Inverness-shire)
        • Isle of Skye
          • Trotternish
    		Sweet, J. M. (1961): Tacharanite and other hydrated calcium silicates from Portree, Isle of Skye. Mineral. Mag. 32, 745-753; [Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index", p681]
    USA
     
    • Idaho
      • Adams Co.
    		Ream, Lanny R. 2004. Idaho Minerals, 2nd edition, Revised and Updated
      • Idaho Co.
        • Skookumchuck Creek
    		Ream, Lanny R. 2004. Idaho Minerals, 2nd edition, Revised and Updated
    • Oregon
      • Grant Co.
        • Kimberley
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, 118
        • North Fork John Day River
    		Micro Probe (1989) Volume VI Number 8 pp 10-13
        • Ritter
    		Micro Probe Volume VII Number 8 Fall 1993
      • Wheeler Co.
        • Spray
    		Micro Probe VolumeVII Number 3 Spring 1996
    • Virginia
      • Highland Co.
    Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
      • Nelson Co.
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
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