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Tinzenite

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Big Photo

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

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Formula:
(CaMn
2+
 
)
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
System:TriclinicColour:Lemon-yellow, orange, red
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6½ - 7
Member of:Axinite Group
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, Alpe Parsettens, near Tinzen, Grisons, Switzerland.


Axinite-(Mn)-Tinzenite Series.

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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), 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:
(CaMn
2+
 
)
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
Essential elements:Al, B, Ca, H, Mn, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, B, Ca, 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:Axinite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.BD.05Bertrandite
Be
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
2
9.BD.10Hemimorphite
Zn
 
4
Si
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
2
 · 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
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
9.BD.25Vistepite
SnMn
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
9.BD.30Boralsilite
Al
 
16
B
 
6
Si
 
2
O
 
37
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
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
6
17.5.2Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
17.5.3Searlesite
Na(H
 
2
BSi
 
2
O
 
7
)
17.5.4Olenite
Na(Al
 
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
17.5.5Elbaite
Na(Li
 
1.5
Al
 
1.5
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.6Kalborsite
K
 
6
Al
 
4
BSi
 
6
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
Cl
17.5.7Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
(BSi
 
3
O
 
10
)(OH)
 
2
17.5.8Poudretteite
KNa
 
2
B
 
3
Si
 
12
O
 
30
17.5.9Liddicoatite
Ca(Li
 
2
Al)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.10Datolite
Ca(HBSiO
 
5
)
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
(H
 
5
B
 
5
Si
 
3
O
 
20
)
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
 
12
Mg
 
4
Al(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
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
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(BO
 
3
)O
 
3
17.5.26Holtite
Al
 
6
(Al,Ta)(SiO
 
4
,SbO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
 
3
(BO
 
3
)O
 
3
17.5.27Dravite
Na(Mg
 
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.28 Ferridravite
17.5.29Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
17.5.30Uvite
Ca(Mg
 
3
)MgAl
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(F/OH)
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
17.5.37Chromium-dravite
Na(Mg
 
3
)Cr
3+
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
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
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
(OH)
17.5.41Axinite
17.5.44Schorl
Na(Fe
2+
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.45Fluor-buergerite
Na(Fe
3+
3
)Al
 
6
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
3
F
17.5.46Feruvite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
MgAl
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
(OH)
17.5.47Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
BSi
 
4
O
 
15
OH
17.5.48Homilite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)B
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
17.5.49Grandidierite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)(BO
 
3
)O
 
2
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:

- +
Jakob, J. (1923): Vier Mangansilikate aus dem Val d'Err (Kt. Graubünden). Schweiz. Mineral. Petrograph. Mitt., 3, 227-237.

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
  • Tinzenite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Tinzenite

    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.
    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-cho
    		Dr. Kameki Kinoshita collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
      • Tohoku Region
        • Iwate Prefecture
          • Shimohei-gun
            • Yamada
    		Dr. Matsuo Nambu collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
    • Shikoku Island
      • Kochi Prefecture
    		Masutomi Museum specimen, Kyoto
    New Zealand
     
    • South Island
      • Otago
        • Dunedin
    		www.minsocam.org/msa/Handbook/Tinzenite.PDF.
    Norway
     
    • Sør-Trøndelag
      • Oppdal
        • Storlidalen
    		Witsø, T. (1995): Mineraler i Oppdal med beskrivelse. Driva Kro og steinsenter. Unpublished paper.Nordrum, F.S. (2002): Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 2001-2002. STEIN 29 (2): 4-10 (erroneously reported); Nordrum, F.S., Larsen, A.O. & Erambert, M.(2005): Minerals of the axinite group from Norwegian localities. Norsk Bergverksmuseum Skrift, 30: 88-93
    Russia
     
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
    		Pletnev P. (1995) Mineralogy of gondites and metavolcanic rocks of Kogaevskogo Mn deposit. Urals Summer Mineralogical School-1995. 58-60; Pletnev data
    Switzerland
     
    • Grischun (Grisons; Graubünden)
      • Hinterrhein Valley
        • Rheinwald
          • Splügen
    		Roth, P. & Meisser, N. (2011): I minerali dell'Alpe Tanatz. Passo dello Spluga (Grigioni, Svizzera). Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 2/2011, 90-99
      • Oberhalbstein (Surses; Sursass)
        • Tinizong (Tinzen)
    		- Geiger T. (1948): Manganerze in den Radiolariten Graubündens. Beiträge zur Geologie der Schweiz, Lieferung 27, 89 p.
    [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.
      • Schanfig Valley
        • Arosa
    		Analyses by N. Meisser, MGL Lausanne
        • Langwies
    		Analyses by N. Meisser, MGL Lausanne
    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
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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