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Tinzenite

Big Photo

Molinello Mine, Graveglia Valley, Ne, Genova Province, Liguria, Italy
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Tinzenite Photos (52)
Formula:
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
System:TriclinicColour:Lemon-yellow, orange, red
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6½ - 7
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Alpe Parsettens, near Tinzen, Grisons, Switzerland.


Axinite Group. Axinite-(Mn)-Tinzenite Series.

Classification of Tinzenite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.06-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.BD.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
D : Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:56.2.2.4

56 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups, With Additional O, OH, F and H2O
2 : Si2O7 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [4] and/or >[4] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.5.42

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
5 : Borosilicates
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Type Occurrence of Tinzenite

Type Locality:Parsettens Alp, Tinizong (Tinzen), Oberhalbstein (Surses; Sursass), Albula Valley, Grischun (Grisons; Graubünden), Switzerland
Year of Discovery:1923

Physical Properties of Tinzenite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Lemon-yellow, orange, red
Hardness (Mohs):6½ - 7

Crystallography of Tinzenite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.98Å, b = 9.17Å, c = 7.14Å
α = 102.9°, β = 98.1°, γ = 88°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.979 : 1 : 0.779
Unit Cell Volume:V 567.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Tinzenite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.693 nβ = 1.701 nγ = 1.704
2V:Measured: 62° , Calculated: 62°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011

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

Chemical Properties of Tinzenite

Formula:
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
Essential elements:Al, B, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Ca, Fe, H, Mn, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Mg,Ba,Na,K,H2O

Relationship of Tinzenite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Axinite-(Mn) (see here)
Member of Group:
Axinite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.BD.05Bertrandite
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BD.10Hemimorphite
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BD.15Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BD.20Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.BD.25Vistepite
SnMn
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
9.BD.30Boralsilite
Al
 
16
B
 
6
Si
 
2
O
 
27
9.BD.35Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.5.1Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
17.5.2Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
17.5.3Searlesite
NaBSi
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
17.5.4Olenite
(Na,[ ])[(Al,Li)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(O,OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.5Elbaite
[Na][(Li,Al)
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.6Kalborsite
K
 
6
[Cl|B(OH)
 
4
|Al
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
20
]
17.5.7Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
17.5.8Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
17.5.9Liddicoatite
[Ca][Li
 
2
Al][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.10Datolite
CaB[OH|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.11Danburite
CaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
17.5.12Howlite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
SiO
 
9
(OH)
 
5
17.5.13Bakerite
Ca
 
4
B
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|HBO
 
4
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.14Oyelite
Ca
 
10
Si
 
8
B
 
2
O
 
29
·12.5H
 
2
O
17.5.15Kornerupine
Mg
 
3
Al
 
6
(Si,Al,B)
 
5
O
 
21
(OH)
17.5.16Harkerite
Ca
 
24
Mg
 
8
Al
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH)
 
32
(BO
 
3
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
(H
 
2
O,Cl)
17.5.17Serendibite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|(Si,Al,B)
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.18Stillwellite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca)BSiO
 
5
17.5.19Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ce,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
](OH)
 
2
17.5.20Melanocerite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
O
 
12
(OH,F)·nH
 
2
O
17.5.21Okanoganite-(Y)
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Y,Ce)
 
12
Si
 
6
B
 
2
O
 
27
F
 
14
17.5.22Tritomite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Y,Th)
 
5
(Si,B)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.23Tritomite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,La,Fe)
 
5
(Si,B,Al)
 
3
(O,OH,F)
 
13
17.5.24Cappelenite-(Y)
Ba(Y,Ce)
 
6
Si
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
24
F
 
2
17.5.25Dumortierite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
7
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.26Holtite
(Ta,Sb)Al
 
6
[O
 
3
|BO
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.5.27Dravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.28 Ferridravite
17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.30Uvite
[Ca][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.31Garrelsite
Ba
 
3
NaSi
 
2
B
 
7
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
17.5.32Tienshanite
KNa
 
3
Na
 
6
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
6
Mn
 
6
(Ti
4+
 
,Nb)
 
6
B
 
12
Si
 
36
O
 
114
(O,OH,F)
 
11
17.5.33Leucosphenite
BaNa
 
4
Ti
 
2
B
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
30
17.5.34Taramellite
Ba
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.35Titantaramellite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
)O
 
2
Cl
 
x
17.5.36Nagashimalite
Ba
 
4
(V,Ti)
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
27
(O,OH)
 
2
Cl
17.5.37Chromdravite
[Na][Mg
 
3
][(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.38Wawayandaite
Ca
 
6
Mn
 
2
BBe
 
9
Si
 
6
O
 
23
(OH,Cl)
 
15
17.5.39Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37
17.5.40Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.41Axinite
17.5.44Schorl
[Na][Fe
2+
3
][Al
 
6
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.45Buergerite
[Na][Fe
3+
3
][Al
 
6
][O
 
3
|F|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.46Feruvite
[Ca][(Fe
2+
 
 ,Mg)
 
3
][MgAl
 
5
][(OH)
 
3
|OH|(BO
 
3
)
 
3
|Si
 
6
O
 
18
]
17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
17.5.48Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
17.5.49Grandidierite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
2
|BO
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]
17.5.50Hyalotekite
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
 
6
(B,Si,Al)
 
2
(Si,Be)
 
10
O
 
28
(F,Cl)
17.5.51Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4

Other Names for Tinzenite

Other Languages:
Esperanto:Tinzenito
German:Tinzenit
Japanese:ティンツェン斧石
Russian:Тинценит
Spanish:Tinzenita

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 Tinzenite

Reference List:Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen (1923), 3, 234.

American Mineralogist (1928): 13: 202.

American Mineralogist (1968): 53: 1407-1411.

Philosophical Magazine: 42: 369-379.

Basso R., Della Giusta A., Vlaic G. (1973), La struttura della Tinzenite. Periodico di mineralogia – Roma, pp. 369- 379.

American Mineralogist (1979): 64: 635-645.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996): BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Belokoneva E L, Goryunova A N, Pletnev P A, Spiridonov É M (2001): Crystal structure of high-manganese tinzenite from the Falotta deposit in Switzerland, Crystallography Reports, 46, 30-32

Internet Links for Tinzenite

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

    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.
    (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.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Vysočina Region
        • Třebíč
    		Škoda, R., Novák, M., Houzar, S.: Granitické NYF pegmatity třebíčského plutonu. Acta Musei Moraviae, Scientiae geologicae, 2006, roč. 91, s. 129 - 176.
    France
     
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Hautes-Pyrénées
    		 Le Règne Minéral 47: 5-21
          • Nabias
    		European J. Mineralogy, 11/5, 879-890
          • Vielle Aure
    		DE ASCENCAO GUEDES R., TIXADOR Y., CASTERET A. & GOUJOU JC. (2002) La mine de Coustou, Vielle-Aure, Hautes-Pyrénées. Le Règne Minéral, 47, 23-31. (in french)
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Ne
          • Graveglia Valley
    		Redazionale (2005): Sistematica ligure: resoconto 2005. Notiziario di Mineralogia del Ferrania Club, 19 , 3-5.
    No reference listed
    [MinRec 32:356]
            • Reppia
    		[MinRec 32:354]
    • Tuscany
      • Lucca Province
        • Apuan Alps
    		Biagioni C., 2004. Le mineralizzazioni manganesifere dei Diaspri Auctt. di Vagli (Alpi Apuane, Lucca). Tesina di Laurea inedita, Università di Pisa
    Biagioni C., 2004. Le mineralizzazioni manganesifere dei Diaspri Auctt. di Vagli (Alpi Apuane, Lucca). Tesina di Laurea inedita, Università di Pisa.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Tokyo Prefecture
          • Nishi-Tama-gun
            • Okutama
    		Dr. Kameki Kinoshita collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
      • Tohoku Region
        • Iwate Prefecture
          • Shimohei-gun
    		Dr. Matsuo Nambu collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
    • Shikoku Island
      • Kochi Prefecture
        • Outoyo (Ohtoyo)
    		Masutomi Museum specimen, Kyoto
    New Zealand
     
    • South Island
      • Otago
        • Dunedin
    		www.minsocam.org/msa/Handbook/Tinzenite.PDF.
    Norway
     
    • Sør-Trøndelag
      • Oppdal
    		Nordrum, F.S. (2002): Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 2001-2002. STEIN 29 (2): 4-10 (erroneously reorted)
    Switzerland
     
    • Grischun (Grisons; Graubünden)
      • Albula Valley
        • Oberhalbstein (Surses; Sursass)
          • Tinizong (Tinzen)
    		[MinRec 32:211]; Belokoneva E. L., Goryuonova A. N., Pletnev P. A., Spiridonov E. M., 2001. Crystall. Rep., 46: 30-32.
    Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 403-404.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 396.
          • Hartford District (Huachuca Mountains District)
    		David Garske
    • Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
    		NBMG Spec Pub 31 Minerals of Nevada
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 8th Nov 2009 19:29:49