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Tuscanite

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Sacrofano, Campagnano di Roma, Rome Province, Latium, Italy
© O. Dziallas

Show Tuscanite Photos (9)
Formula:
(K(Ca,Na)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
10
O
 
22
[SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
,(OH)
 
2
]·H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless
Hardness:5½ - 6
Name:Named after its discovery locality, the Latera caldera, Pitigliano, Tuscany, Italy.
This page provides mineralogical data about Tuscanite.

Classification of Tuscanite

IMA status:Approved 1976
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.06-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EG.45

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
G : Double nets with 6-membered and larger rings
Dana 8th edition ID:73.1.2.2

73 : PHYLLOSILICATES Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets
1 : Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets with double layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.10.7

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
10 : Silicates with sulphate, molybdate or tungstate
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Type Occurrence of Tuscanite

Type Locality:Case Collina (Toscopomici quarry), Pitigliano, Grosseto Province, Tuscany, Italy
Year of Discovery:1977

Physical Properties of Tuscanite

Lustre:Vitreous, Waxy, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6

Crystallography of Tuscanite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 24.03Å, b = 5.11Å, c = 10.88Å
β = 106.96°
Ratio:a:b:c = 4.703 : 1 : 2.129
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,277.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Tuscanite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.581 nβ = 1.590 nγ = 1.591
2V:Measured: 40° , Calculated: 36°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

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

Chemical Properties of Tuscanite

Formula:
(K(Ca,Na)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
10
O
 
22
[SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
,(OH)
 
2
]·H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, K, O, S, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, C, Ca, H, K, Na, O, S, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg,Sr,Cl

Relationship of Tuscanite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.EG.05Cymrite
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
(O,OH)
 
8
·H
 
2
O
9.EG.10Naujakasite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Al,Fe)
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
26
9.EG.10Manganonaujakasite
Na
 
6
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
26
9.EG.15Dmisteinbergite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.EG.20Kampfite
Ba
 
6
[(Si,Al)O
 
2
]
 
8
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
 
2
(Cl,H
 
2
O)
 
2
9.EG.25Strätlingite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
7
·8H
 
2
O
9.EG.25Vertumnite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
24
·3H
 
2
O
9.EG.30Eggletonite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
2
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
O
 
29
(OH)
 
7
·11H
 
2
O
9.EG.30Ganophyllite
(K,Na,Ca)
 
2
Mn
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
(O,OH)
 
32
·8H
 
2
O
9.EG.30Tamaite
(Ca,K,Ba,Na)
 
3-4
Mn
 
24
(Si,Al)
 
40
(O,OH)
 
112
·21H
 
2
O
9.EG.35Coombsite
K(Mn,Fe,Mg)
 
13
(Si,Al)
 
18
O
 
42
(OH)
 
14
9.EG.35Zussmanite
K(Fe,Mg,Mn)
 
13
(Si,Al)
 
18
O
 
42
(OH)
 
14
9.EG.40Bannisterite
Ca
 
0.5
(K,Na)
 
0.5
(Mn,Fe,Zn)
 
10
(Si,Al)
 
16
O
 
38
(OH)
 
8
·5.5H
 
2
O
9.EG.40Franklinphilite
(K,Na)
 
4
(Mn,Zn,Mg,Fe)
 
48
(Si,Al)
 
72
(O,OH)
 
216
·6H
 
2
O
9.EG.40Lennilenapeite
K
 
6-7
(Mg,Mn,Fe,Zn)
 
48
(Si,Al)
 
72
(O,OH)
 
216
·16H
 
2
O
9.EG.40Parsettensite
K
 
1.2
Mn
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
O
 
26
(OH)
 
10
9.EG.40Stilpnomelane
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
(O,OH)
 
27
9.EG.45Latiumite
K
 
2
Ca
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
11
O
 
25
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
9.EG.50Jagoite
(Pb,Ca)
 
3
FeSi
 
3
O
 
10
(Cl,OH)
9.EG.55Wickenburgite
CaPb
 
3
Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
9.EG.60Hyttsjöite
Pb
 
18
Ba
 
2
Ca
 
5
Mn
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
Si
 
30
O
 
90
Cl·6H
 
2
O
9.EG.65Armbrusterite
K
 
5
Na
 
7
Mn
 
15
[(OH)
 
10
|(Si
 
9
O
 
22
)
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
9.EG.70Britvinite
[Pb
 
7
(OH)
 
3
F(BO
 
3
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)][Mg
 
4.5
(OH)
 
3
(Si
 
5
O
 
14
)]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.10.1Nosean
Na
 
8
[SO
 
4
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
17.10.2Pitiglianoite
Na
 
6
K
 
2
[SO
 
4
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.10.3Vishnevite
(Na,K)
 
8
[(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 2H
 
2
O
17.10.4Haüyne
(Na,Ca)
 
4-8
[Al
 
6
Si
 
6
(O,S)
 
24
](SO
 
4
,Cl)
 
1-2
17.10.5Liottite
(Na,K)
 
16
Ca
 
8
[Cl
 
4
|(SO
 
4
)
 
5
|(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
3
]
17.10.6Latiumite
K
 
2
Ca
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
11
O
 
25
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
17.10.8Microsommite
Na
 
4
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Cl
 
2
|SO
 
4
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
17.10.9Delhayelite
(Na,K)
 
10
Ca
 
5
Al
 
6
Si
 
32
O
 
80
(Cl
 
2
,F
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
3
·18H
 
2
O
17.10.10Hydrodelhayelite
KCa
 
2
AlSi
 
7
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
17.10.11Davyne
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
SO
 
24
]
17.10.12Afghanite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
[(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
17.10.13Franzinite
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
[(SO
 
4
)
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
17.10.14Giuseppettite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
7-8
[(SO
 
4
,Cl)
 
1-2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
17.10.15Sacrofanite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
9
[{(OH)
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
,Cl
 
2
}
 
3
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
17.10.16Chessexite
(Na,K)
 
4
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Zn)
 
3
Al
 
8
[(SO
 
4
)
 
10
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 40H
 
2
O
17.10.17Innelite
Na
 
2
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Mg,Ca,Fe)Ti
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
18
(OH,F)
 
1.5
SO
 
4
17.10.18Thaumasite
Ca
 
3
[CO
 
3
|SO
 
4
|Si(OH)
 
6
] · 12H
 
2
O
17.10.19Ellestadite
17.10.20Ellestadite-(Cl)
Ca
 
10
[Cl
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.10.21Ellestadite-(OH)
Ca
 
10
[(OH,Cl,F)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.10.22Ellestadite-(F)
Ca
 
10
[(F,Cl,OH)
 
2
|(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.10.23Mattheddleite
Pb
 
5
(Si
 
1.2
S
 
1.8
)O
 
12
(Cl
 
0.6
OH
 
0.4
)
17.10.24Queitite
Pb
 
4
Zn
 
2
[SO
 
4
|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.10.25Roeblingite
Pb
 
2
Ca
 
6
Mn
2+
 
[OH|SO
 
4
|Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
17.10.26Yoshimuraite
Ba
 
2
Mn
 
2
TiOSi
 
2
O
 
7
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
17.10.27Kegelite
Pb
 
12
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
Si
 
11
O
 
38
 or near
17.10.28Wenkite
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Ca,Na)
 
6
[(SO
 
4
)
 
3
|(Si,Al)
 
20
O
 
39
(OH)
 
2
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
17.10.29Macquartite
Pb
 
3
Cu(CrO
 
4
)(SiO
 
3
)(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
17.10.30Welinite
Mn
3+
6
(W
6+
 
,Mg)
 
0.7
[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]

Other Names for Tuscanite

Synonyms:
IMA1976-031
German names:
Tuscanit
Russian names:
Тусканит
Spanish names:
Tuscanita

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 Tuscanite

Reference List:American Mineralogy (1977): 62: 1110-1113, 1114-1120.

Bonaccorsi, E., Ventura, M., Merlino, S. (2005): Latiumite and tuscanite: crystal chemistry and thermal behaviour. GeoItalia 2005, Quinto Forum Italiano di Scienze della Terra Spoleto 2005, vol. Abstract, 2005, 00-01.

Internet Links for Tuscanite

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    Localities for Tuscanite

    (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.
    Italy
     
    • Latium
      • Rome Province
        • Campagnano di Roma
    		[MinRec 23:435]
            • Sacrofano Caldera
      • Viterbo Province
        • Onano
    		Cresta, S., Duronio, F., Mancinella, D. (2002): Geositi e sistema delle arre protette del Lazio: idee per la geoconservazione. Il Cercapietre, 1-2/2002, 48-55
        • Valentano
    		[MinRec 9:115]
    • Tuscany
      • Grosseto Province
        • Pitigliano
    		Amer.Min.(1977) 62, 1110-1113
    Mineral and/or Locality
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