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Tychite

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Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
© 2008, JGW

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Formula:
Na
 
6
Mg
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, white; ...
Hardness:3½
Name:From Greek τυχή, "tyche", luck or chance, because the first and only one of the last 10 crystals of a stock of about 5,000 crystals of Northupite being examined by Penfield and Jamieson turned out to be Tychite.
Isostructural with:Northupite


Northupite Group. Ferrotychite-Tychite Series.
magnesium analogue of Ferrotychite and Manganotychite.

A complete series between Tychite and Northupite exists in artificial material.

Classification of Tychite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/C.03-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.BF.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
F : With (Cl), SO4, PO4, TeO3
Dana 8th edition ID:17.1.1.1

17 : COMPOUND CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:12.2.3

12 : Carbonates with other anions
2 : Carbonates with sulphate
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Type Occurrence of Tychite

Type Locality:Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1905
Geological Setting of type material:Lacustrine sedimentary clay bed.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ThenarditeSchaireritePirssoniteNorthupiteGaylussite

Physical Properties of Tychite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, white; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.456 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.59 g/cm3

Crystallography of Tychite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3 (2/m 3) - Diploidal
Space Group:Fd3 {F2/d 3}
Cell Parameters:a = 13.9038Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 2687.82 ų
Z:8
Morphology:Octahedral crystals.

Optical Data of Tychite

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Tychite

Formula:
Na
 
6
Mg
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
Essential elements:C, Mg, Na, O, S
All elements listed in formula:C, Mg, Na, O, S

Relationship of Tychite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Ferrotychite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.BF.05Ferrotychite
Na
 
6
(Fe,Mn,Mg)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
5.BF.05Manganotychite
Na
 
6
Mn
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
5.BF.05Northupite
Na
 
3
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
5.BF.10Bonshtedtite
Na
 
3
Fe
2+
 
(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
5.BF.10Bradleyite
Na
 
3
Mg(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
5.BF.10Crawfordite
Na
 
3
Sr(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
5.BF.10Sidorenkite
Na
 
3
Mn
2+
 
(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
5.BF.15Daqingshanite-(Ce)
(Sr,Ca,Ba)
 
3
(Ce,La)(CO
 
3
)
 
3-x
(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
 
2x
5.BF.20Reederite-(Y)
(Na,Mn)
 
15
Y
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
9
(FSO
 
3
)Cl
5.BF.25Mineevite-(Y)
Na
 
25
Ba(Y,Gd,Dy)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
11
(HCO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
F
 
2
Cl
5.BF.30Brianyoungite
Zn
 
3
(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
5.BF.35Philolithite
Pb
 
12
Mn
2+
 
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)O
 
6
(OH)
 
12
Cl
 
4
5.BF.40Leadhillite
Pb
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
5.BF.40Macphersonite
Pb
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
5.BF.40Susannite
Pb
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
12.2.1Burkeite
Na
 
6
(CO
 
3
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
12.2.2Hanksite
Na
 
22
K(SO
 
4
)
 
9
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Cl
12.2.4Motukoreaite
NaMg
 
19
Al
 
12
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
6.5
(OH)
 
54
 · 28H
 
2
O
12.2.5Ferrotychite
Na
 
6
(Fe,Mn,Mg)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
12.2.6Nakauriite
Cu
 
8
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
 · 48H
 
2
O
12.2.7Carbonatecyanotrichite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
12
 · 2H
 
2
O
12.2.8Rapidcreekite
Ca
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
) · 4H
 
2
O
12.2.9Tatarskite
Ca
 
6
Mg
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
Cl
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
12.2.10Schulenbergite
(Cu,Zn)
 
7
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
10
 · 3H
 
2
O
12.2.11Leadhillite
Pb
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
12.2.12Macphersonite
Pb
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
12.2.13Susannite
Pb
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
12.2.14Wherryite
Pb
 
7
Cu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
12.2.15Caledonite
Pb
 
5
Cu
 
2
(SO
 
4
)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
12.2.16Nasledovite
PbMn
 
3
Al
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)O
 
5
 · 5H
 
2
O
12.2.17Jouravskite
Ca
 
6
Mn
3+
2
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
12
 · 26H
 
2
O
12.2.18Schröckingerite
NaCa
 
3
(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(SO
 
4
)F · 10H
 
2
O
12.2.19Manganotychite
Na
 
6
Mn
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
12.2.20Hauckite
Fe
3+
3
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
24
Zn
 
18
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
81
12.2.21Paraotwayite
Ni(OH)
 
2-x
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
0.5x
12.2.22Carrboydite
(Ni,Cu)
 
14
Al
 
9
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
6
(OH)
 
43
 · 7H
 
2
O
12.2.23Mountkeithite
(Mg,Ni)
 
11
(Fe
3+
 
,Cr
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3.5
(OH)
 
24
 · 11H
 
2
O
12.2.24Camerolaite
Cu
 
4
Al
 
2
(HSbO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
10
 · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Tychite

Other Languages:
German:Tychit
Russian:Тихит
Spanish:Tychita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in dilute acids.
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 Tychite

Reference List:

- +
Penfield S.L., Jamieson G.S. (1905) On tychite, a new mineral from Borax Lake, California, and on its artificial production and its relations to northupite, American Journal of Science, 4th. Series: 20: 217-224. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Band 41: 235-242 (1905).

de Schulten (1906) Comptes rendus de l’Académie des Sciences de Paris: 143: 403.

Gossner and Koch (1931) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 80: 458.

Shiba and Watanabé (1931) Comptes rendus de l’Académie des Sciences de Paris: 193: 1421.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 294-295.

Keester, K.L., G.G. Johnson & V. Vand (1969) New data on tychite: American Mineralogist: 54: 302-305.

Acta Crystallographica (1980) B36: 1332.

Schmidt, G.R., J. Reynard, H. Yang and R. T. Downs (2006) Tychite, Na6Mg2(SO4)(CO3)4: structure analysis and Raman spectroscopic data. Acta Crystallographica E62, i207-i209.

Internet Links for Tychite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Tychite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
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    • Localities for Tychite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Uganda
     
    • Kasese District
    		Collection of NHM, Vienna
    USA
     
    • California
      • Lake Co.
        • Sulphur Creek District (Sulfur Creek District; Wilbur Springs District)
          • Clear Lake Oaks
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 233.
      • San Bernardino Co.
    		Penfield, Samuel Lewis & George S. Jamieson (1905), On tychite, a new mineral from Borax Lake, California, and on its artificial production and its relations to northupite: American Journal of Science, 4th. series: 20: 217; Gale, Hoyt Stoddard (1915), Salines in the Owens, Searles, and Panamint basins, southeastern California: USGS Bulletin 580: 308; Foshag, William Frederick (1935), Burkeite, a new mineral species from Searles Lake, California: American Mineralogist: 20: 51; Smith, George Irving & W.P. Pratt (1957), Core logs from Owens, China, Searles and Panamint Basins, California: USGS Bulletin 1045-A: 31; Pabst, Adolf, Dwight L. Sawyer, Jr. & George S. Switzer (1963), Galeite and related phases in the system Na2SO4.NaF.NaCl: American Mineralogist: 48: 487; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 208; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 279, 294, 340, 633; American Mineralogist (1969): 54: 302.
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