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Tunisite

Big Photo

Condorcet, Nyons, Drôme, Rhône-Alpes, France
© JDehove

Show Tunisite Photos (16)
Formula:
NaCa
 
2
Al
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
8
Cl
System:TetragonalColour:Colourless to white
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Tunisia.
This page provides mineralogical data about Tunisite.

Classification of Tunisite

IMA status:Approved 1967
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/C.02-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.BB.15

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
B : With alkalies, etc.
Dana 8th edition ID:16a.5.2.1

16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.7.9

11 : Carbonates
7 : Carbonates of Al
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Type Occurrence of Tunisite

Type Locality:Sidi Youssef Mine, Sakiet Sidi Youssef (Saqiyat Sidi Yusuf), Al Kåf (El Kef; Le Kef) Governorate, Tunisia
Year of Discovery:1969

Physical Properties of Tunisite

Colour:Colourless to white

Crystallography of Tunisite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:a = 11.22Å, c = 6.58Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.586
Unit Cell Volume:V 828.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Tunisite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.573 nε = 1.599
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.026

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

Chemical Properties of Tunisite

Formula:
NaCa
 
2
Al
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
8
Cl
Essential elements:Al, C, Ca, Cl, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, C, Ca, Cl, H, Na, O

Relationship of Tunisite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.BB.05Barentsite
Na
 
7
AlH
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
F
 
4
5.BB.10Dawsonite
NaAlCO
 
3
(OH)
 
2
5.BB.20Sabinaite
Na
 
4
Zr
 
2
TiO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.7.1Scarbroite
Al
 
5
(OH)
 
13
CO
 
3
·5H
 
2
O
11.7.2Hydroscarbroite
Al
 
14
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
36
·nH
 
2
O
11.7.3Dawsonite
NaAlCO
 
3
(OH)
 
2
11.7.4Hydrotalcite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.7.5Manasseite
Mg
 
6
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.7.6Indigirite
Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
[(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
] · 15H
 
2
O
11.7.7Alumohydrocalcite
CaAl
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
11.7.8Para-alumohydrocalcite
CaAl
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
11.7.10Wermlandite
Mg
 
7
(Ca,Mg)(Al,Fe)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
18
(H
 
2
O)
 
12
11.7.11Montroyalite
Sr
 
4
Al
 
8
[(OH,F)
 
26
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 10-11H
 
2
O
11.7.12Dresserite
BaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
11.7.13Hydrodresserite
BaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.7.14Strontiodresserite
(Sr,Ca)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O

Other Names for Tunisite

Synonyms:
IMA1967-038Slavyanskite
Other Languages:
German:Tunisit
Russian:Тунисит
Spanish:Tunisita

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 Tunisite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1969): 54: 1-13.

Schweizerische mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen (1979): 59: 223-238.

American Mineralogist (1980): 65: 1070.

American Mineralogist (1982): 67: 418.

Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 28: 65-77.

Internet Links for Tunisite

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

    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.
    France
     
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Drôme
        • Nyons
    		P Haas collection
    Tunisia
     
    • Al Kåf (El Kef; Le Kef) Governorate
      • Sakiet Sidi Youssef (Saqiyat Sidi Yusuf)
    		Amer.Min.(1969) 54, 1-13
    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: 8th Nov 2009 11:37:14