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Tunisite

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

Show Tunisite Photos (12)
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 Yousseff ore deposit; Saqiyat Sidi Yusuf), Djebel Ressas, Al Kåf (El Kef; Le 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
German names:
Tunisit
Russian names:
Тунисит
Spanish names:
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.

Articles/Blogs about Tunisite

Internet Links for Tunisite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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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.
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    (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
    Tunisia
     
    • Le Kef Governorate
      • Al Kåf (El Kef; Le Kef)
        • Djebel Ressas
    		Amer.Min.(1969) 54, 1-13
    Mineral and/or Locality
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