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Tancoite

Formula:
LiNa
 
2
Al[OH|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless to light pink
Hardness:4 - 4½
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the Tanco Mine (pegmatite), Bernic Lake, Manitoba, Canada.
This page provides mineralogical data about Tancoite.

Classification of Tancoite

IMA status:Approved 1979
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BG.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
G : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.5:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.4.7.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.8.4

19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Tancoite

Type Locality:Tanco Mine (Bernic Lake Mine), Bernic Lake, Lac-du-Bonnet area, Manitoba, Canada
Year of Discovery:1980

Physical Properties of Tancoite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless to light pink
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 4½

Crystallography of Tancoite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 14.08Å, b = 14.13Å, c = 6.97Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.996 : 1 : 0.493
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,386.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Tancoite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.541 nβ = 1.563 nγ = 1.564
2V:Measured: 23° , Calculated: 22°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.023

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

Chemical Properties of Tancoite

Formula:
LiNa
 
2
Al[OH|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Al, H, Li, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Li, Na, O, P

Relationship of Tancoite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BG.05Arsentsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Bearthite
Ca
 
2
Al[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Brackebuschite
Pb
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Gamagarite
Ba
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Goedkenite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
Al[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05UM1994-19-PO:CuHMoPb
Pb
 
2
CuOHPO
 
4
(Mo,As,Cr,Ga)O
 
4
8.BG.05Tsumebite
Pb
 
2
Cu[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Arsenbrackebuschite
Pb
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Zn
2+
 
)[(OH,H
 
2
O)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Feinglosite
Pb
 
2
(Zn,Fe
2+
 
)[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Bushmakinite
Pb
 
2
Al[OH|PO
 
4
|VO
 
4
]
8.BG.05Tokyoite
Ba
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.05Calderónite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
 
[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.BG.10Mélonjosephite
CaFe
2+
 
Fe
3+
 
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.8.1Montebrasite
LiAl[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.8.2Brazilianite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.8.3Wardite
NaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.5Bertossaite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
4
19.8.6Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.7Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
OH·9H
 
2
O
19.8.8Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
[(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.9Gordonite
MgAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.8.10Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
[(OH)
 
11
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 32H
 
2
O
19.8.11Overite
CaMgAl[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.8.12Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.14Foggite
CaAl[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.15Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.16Crandallite
CaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
19.8.17Matulaite
CaAl
 
18
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
4
 · 28H
 
2
O
19.8.19Lehiite
19.8.20Millisite
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
[(OH)
 
9
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.21Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
7
 · 26H
 
2
O
19.8.22Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.23Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 15H
 
2
O
19.8.24Paulkerrite
K(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O

Other Names for Tancoite

Synonyms:
IMA1979-045
Other Languages:
German:Tancoit
Russian:Танкоит
Spanish:Tancoita

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 Tancoite

Reference List:Canadian Mineralogist (1980): 18: 185-190.

American Mineralogist (1981): 66: 1278.

Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 31: 121-135.

Internet Links for Tancoite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Tancoite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Tancoite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Tancoite

    (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.
    Canada
     
    • Manitoba
      • Lac-du-Bonnet area
        • Bernic Lake
    		Can.Min.(1980) 18, 185-190
    Mineral and/or Locality
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