Tuscanite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Tuscanite
Formula:
KCa6(Si,Al)10O22(SO4,CO3)2(OH) · H2O
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous, Waxy, Pearly
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Specific Gravity:
2.83
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, the Latera caldera, Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4061
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4061:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
3ca0f8f2-eb37-4011-a437-2d1f7fd370ee
IMA Classification of Tuscanite
Approved
Approval year:
1976
First published:
1977
Classification of Tuscanite
9.EG.45
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
G : Double nets with 6-membered and larger rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
G : Double nets with 6-membered and larger rings
73.1.2.2
73 : PHYLLOSILICATES Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets
1 : Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets with double layers
73 : PHYLLOSILICATES Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets
1 : Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets with double layers
17.10.7
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
10 : Silicates with sulphate, molybdate or tungstate
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
10 : Silicates with sulphate, molybdate or tungstate
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Tus | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Tuscanite
Vitreous, Waxy, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
(100)
(100)
Density:
2.83 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Tuscanite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.581(1) nβ = 1.590(1) nγ = 1.591(1)
2V:
Measured: 40° , Calculated: 36°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.010
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r < v moderate
Comments:
Z = b; X Λ c = 40°.
Chemistry of Tuscanite
Mindat Formula:
KCa6(Si,Al)10O22(SO4,CO3)2(OH) · H2O
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mg,Sr,Cl
Crystallography of Tuscanite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 24.036(14) Å, b = 5.110(3) Å, c = 10.888(8) Å
β = 106.96(3)°
β = 106.96(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 4.704 : 1 : 2.131
Unit Cell V:
1,279.15 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Platy on (100).
Twinning:
Twinning is frequent, with (100) as the twin plane.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000601 | Tuscanite | Mellini M, Merlino S, Rossi G (1977) The crystal structure of tuscanite Note Sample from the pumice deposit in Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy American Mineralogist 62 1114-1120 | 1977 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
11.51 Å | (100) |
2.872 Å | (100) |
3.065 Å | (47) |
3.832 Å | (24) |
2.962 Å | (24) |
5.75 Å | (17) |
2.830 Å | (16) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations |
Type Occurrence of Tuscanite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Flattened, transparent crystals, up to about 1 x 1 x 0.2 cm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, 3210.
University of Modena, Modena, Italy.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 143944.
University of Modena, Modena, Italy.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 143944.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In ejected metamorphic calcareous blocks from a pumice deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Orlandi, P., Leoni, L., Mellini, M., Merlino, S. (1977) Tuscanite. a new mineral related to latiumite. American Mineralogist: 62: 1110-1113.
Synonyms of Tuscanite
Other Language Names for Tuscanite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.EG.05 | Cymrite | BaAl2Si2(O,OH)8 · H2O |
9.EG.10 | Naujakasite | (Na,K)6(Fe2+,Mn2+,Ca)(Al,Fe)4Si8O26 |
9.EG.10 | Manganonaujakasite | Na6(Mn2+,Fe2+)Al4Si8O26 |
9.EG.15 | Dmisteinbergite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
9.EG.20 | Kampfite | Ba12(Si11Al5)O31(CO3)8Cl5 |
9.EG.25 | Strätlingite | Ca2Al2SiO7 · 8H2O |
9.EG.25 | Vertumnite | Ca4Al4Si4O6(OH)24 · 3H2O |
9.EG.30 | Eggletonite | (Na,K,Ca)2(Mn,Fe)8(Si,Al)12O29(OH)7 · 11H2O |
9.EG.30 | Ganophyllite | (K,Na,Ca)2Mn8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)32 · 8H2O |
9.EG.30 | Tamaite | (Ca,K,Ba,Na)3-4Mn24(Si,Al)40(O,OH)112 · 21H2O |
9.EG.35 | Coombsite | KMn2+13(Si,Al)18O42(OH)14 |
9.EG.35 | Zussmanite | K(Fe,Mg,Mn)13(Si,Al)18O42(OH)14 |
9.EG.40 | Franklinphilite | (K,Na)4(Mn2+,Mg,Zn)48(Si,Al)72(O,OH)216 · 6H2O |
9.EG.40 | Lennilenapeite | K6-7(Mg,Mn,Fe,Zn)48(Si,Al)72(O,OH)216 · 16H2O |
9.EG.40 | Parsettensite | (K,Na,Ca)7.5(Mn,Mg)49Si72O168(OH)50 · nH2O |
9.EG.40 | Stilpnomelane | (K,Ca,Na)(Fe,Mg,Al)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)36 · nH2O |
9.EG.40 | Chalcodite | K(Fe3+,Mg,Fe2+)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)27 |
9.EG.45 | Latiumite | (Ca,K)4(Si,Al)5O11(SO4,CO3) |
9.EG.45 | Levantite | KCa3Al2(SiO4)(Si2O7)(PO4) |
9.EG.50 | Jagoite | Pb18Fe3+4[Si4(Si,Fe3+)6][Pb4Si16(Si,Fe)4]O82Cl6 |
9.EG.55 | Wickenburgite | CaPb3Al2Si10O24(OH)6 |
9.EG.60 | Hyttsjöite | Pb18Ba2Ca5Mn2+2Fe3+2Si30O90Cl · 6H2O |
9.EG.65 | Armbrusterite | K5Na7Mn15[(Si9O22)4](OH)10 · 4H2O |
9.EG.70 | Britvinite | [Pb7(OH)3F(BO3)2(CO3)][Mg4.5(OH)3(Si5O14)] |
9.EG.70 | Roymillerite | Pb24Mg9(Si10O28)(CO3)10(BO3)(SiO4)(OH)13O5 |
9.EG.75 | Bannisterite | (Ca,K,Na)(Mn2+,Fe2+)10(Si,Al)16O38(OH)8 · nH2O |
9.EG.75 | UM1989-30-SiO:AlBaCaFeHKMgMn | (Ba,Ca)(Mn,Fe,Mg)22(Si,Al)32O76(OH)16 · 12H2O |
9.EG.75 | Kayupovaite | Na2Mn10[(Si14Al2)O38(OH)8] · 7H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Tuscanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4061.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Tuscanite
Reference List:
Orlandi, Paolo, Leoni, Leonardo, Mellini, Marcello, Merlino, Stefano (1977) Tuscanite, a new mineral related to latiumite. American Mineralogist, 62 (11-12) 1110-1113
Mellini, Marcello, Merlino, Stefano, Rossi, Giuseppe (1977) The crystal structure of tuscanite. American Mineralogist, 62 (11-12) 1114-1120
Orlandi, Paolo, Leoni, Leonardo, Mellini, Marcello, Merlino, Stefano (1977) Tuscanite, a new mineral related to latiumite. American Mineralogist, 62 (11-12) 1110-1113
Zubkova, Natalia V., Chukanov, Nikita V., Varlamov, Dmitry A., Vigasina, Marina F., Pekov, Igor V., Ksenofontov, Dmitry A., Pushcharovsky, Dmitry Yu. (2023) New data on the crystal chemistry of the natural two-layer aluminosilicates latiumite and tuscanite. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials, 79 (4) 296-304 doi:10.1107/s2052520623004638
Localities for Tuscanite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
France | |
| publication date: November 2018 +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Neschen (n.d.) |
| Dario Di Domenico collection |
| Stoppani et al. (1982) |
Tschernich et al. (1992) +1 other reference | |
Stoppani et al. (1982) | |
| Signoretti et al. (2001) |
| www.mindat.org (n.d.) |
| Cresta et al. (2002) |
| Burli et al. (2010) |
| Luigi Matei photo |
| Amer.Min. (1977) |
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Sacrofano, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Lazio, Italy