Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Tacharanite

Big Photo

Basalt quarry, Espalion, Aveyron, Midi-Pyrénées, France
© Elmar Lackner

Show Tacharanite Photos (8)
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.DQ.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
Q : Unclassified inosilicates
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
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3864.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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.DQ.05Fukalite
Ca
 
4
[CO
 
3
|(HSiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.DQ.15Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
·12.5H
 
2
O
9.DQ.20Denisovite
Ca
 
2
(K,Na)Si
 
3
O
 
8
(F,OH)
 
2
9.DQ.25Tiettaite
(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
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
22
(OH)
 
2
16.11.4Tschermakite
☐[Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
3
Fe
3+
 
Al][(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
]
16.11.5Clintonite
Ca(Mg,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
SiO
 
10
]
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
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
16.11.9Aluminobarroisite
☐[CaNa][Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
]
16.11.10Alumino-Magnesiotaramite
Na[CaNa][Mg
 
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
]
16.11.12Edenite
Na[Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
]
16.11.13Pargasite
[Na][Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
4
Al][(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
22
]
16.11.14Magnesiokatophorite
Na[CaNa][Mg
 
4
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)][(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
7
O
 
22
]
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
][(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
22
]
16.11.16Sadanagaite
[Na][Ca
 
2
][Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
22
]

Other Names for Tacharanite

German names:
Tacharanit
Spanish names:
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

Search Engines:
  • Look for Tacharanite on Google
  • Look for Tacharanite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Tacharanite on Webmineral
  • Look for Tacharanite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Tacharanite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Tacharanite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Tacharanite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Tacharanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Tacharanite specimens
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Find Tacharanite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Tacharanite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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
      • 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
    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
    		U. Kolitsch (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 Mts
        • 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.
      • Tapolcai Basin
        • Uzsabánya
    Israel
     
    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
    		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
    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.
    Russia
     
    • Urals Region
      • Middle Urals
        • Ekaterinburgskaya (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
     
    • 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
    		No reference listed
        • 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
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.