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Tiptopite

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Tip Top Mine (Tip Top pegmatite), Fourmile, Custer District, Custer Co., South Dakota, USA
© Christian Rewitzer

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Formula:
K
 
2
(Na,Ca)
 
2
Li
 
3
Be
 
6
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:Colourless
Hardness:3½
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the Tip Top pegmatite, near Custer, South Dakota, USA
This page provides mineralogical data about Tiptopite.

Classification of Tiptopite

IMA status:Approved 1983
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DA.25

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small (and occasionally larger) cations
Dana 8th edition ID:42.6.11.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.3.10

19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Tiptopite

Type Locality:Tip Top Mine (Tip Top pegmatite), Fourmile, Custer District, Custer Co., South Dakota, USA
Year of Discovery:1985

Physical Properties of Tiptopite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless
Hardness (Mohs):3½

Crystallography of Tiptopite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 11.65Å, c = 4.69Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.403
Unit Cell Volume:V 551.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Tiptopite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.551 nε = 1.559
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

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

Chemical Properties of Tiptopite

Formula:
K
 
2
(Na,Ca)
 
2
Li
 
3
Be
 
6
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Be, H, K, Li, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Be, Ca, H, K, Li, Na, O, P

Relationship of Tiptopite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DA.05Bearsite
Be
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DA.05Moraesite
Be
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DA.10Roscherite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DA.10Zanazziite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe)(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
4
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DA.10Greifensteinite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
, Mn)
 
5
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DA.10Atencioite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Mg
 
2
Fe
2+
2
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DA.10Ruifrancoite
Ca
 
2
[ ]
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
Be
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DA.10Guimarãesite
Ca
 
2
(Zn,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DA.10Footemineite
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Mn
2+
2
Mn
2+
2
Be
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DA.15Uralolite
Ca
 
2
Be
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DA.20Weinebeneite
CaBe
 
3
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DA.30Veszelyite
(Cu,Zn)
 
2
Zn(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
8.DA.35Kipushite
(Cu,Zn)
 
5
Zn[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.DA.35Philipsburgite
(Cu,Zn)
 
6
[(OH)
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.DA.40Spencerite
Zn
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DA.45Glucine
CaBe
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.3.1Moraesite
Be
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.2Beryllonite
NaBe[PO
 
4
]
19.3.3Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.4Hydroxylherderite
CaBe[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.3.5Glucine
CaBe
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
19.3.6Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.7Uralolite
Ca
 
2
Be
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.3.9Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
·38H
 
2
O
19.3.11Gainesite
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
19.3.12Roscherite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
19.3.13Faheyite
(Mn,Mg,Na)Be
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
19.3.14Farringtonite
Mg
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.15Holtedahlite
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.3.16Althausite
Mg
 
2
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.3.17Newberyite
MgHPO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
19.3.18Phosphorrösslerite
MgHPO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
19.3.19Bobierrite
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.20Barićite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.21Panethite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.22Dittmarite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.3.23Struvite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
19.3.24Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Tiptopite

Synonyms:
IMA1983-007
Other Languages:
German:Tiptopit
Russian:Типтопит
Spanish:Tiptopita

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 Tiptopite

Reference List:Canadian Mineralogist (1985): 23: 43-46.

American Mineralogist (1986): 71: 230.

American Mineralogist (1987): 72: 816-820.

Internet Links for Tiptopite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Tiptopite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Tiptopite

    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.
    USA
     
    • South Dakota
      • Custer Co.
        • Custer District
          • Fourmile
    		Rocks & Minerals: 60: 117.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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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: 7th Nov 2009 19:45:57