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Afghanite

Big Photo

Sar-e-Sang District, Koksha Valley (Kokscha; Kokcha), Badakhshan (Badakshan; Badahsan) Province, Afghanistan
© Ibrahim Jameel

Show Afghanite Photos (45)
Formula:
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
[(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:light blue
Hardness:5½ - 6
Name:The name is derived from the country of its discovery.
This page provides mineralogical data about Afghanite.

Classification of Afghanite

IMA status:Approved 1967
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.09-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
B : Tektosilicates with additional anions
Dana 8th edition ID:76.2.5.1

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.10.12

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

Type Locality:Sar-e-Sang District, Koksha Valley (Kokscha; Kokcha), Badakhshan (Badakshan; Badahsan) Province, Afghanistan
Year of Discovery:1968

Physical Properties of Afghanite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:light blue
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6
Cleavage:Perfect

Crystallography of Afghanite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 12.77Å, c = 21.35Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.672
Unit Cell Volume:V 3,015.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Afghanite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.523 nε = 1.529
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.006

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

Chemical Properties of Afghanite

Formula:
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
[(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Na, O, S, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, C, Ca, Cl, H, K, Na, O, S, Si

Relationship of Afghanite to other Species

Related to:
  • Cancrinite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    9.FB.05Bystrite
    (Na,K)
     
    7
    		Ca[(S
     
    3
    		)
     
    1.5
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Cancrinite
    Na
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Cancrisilite
    Na
     
    7
    		[CO
     
    3
    		|Al
     
    5
    		Si
     
    7
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Davyne
    (Na,K)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[(Cl
     
    2
    		,SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		SO
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Franzinite
    (Na,K)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 0.5H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Giuseppettite
    (Na,K,Ca)
     
    7-8
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		,Cl)
     
    1-2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Hydroxycancrinite
    Na
     
    8
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Liottite
    (Na,K)
     
    16
    		Ca
     
    8
    		[Cl
     
    4
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    5
    		|(Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.05Microsommite
    Na
     
    4
    		K
     
    2
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[Cl
     
    2
    		|SO
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Pitiglianoite
    Na
     
    6
    		K
     
    2
    		[SO
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Quadridavyne
    (Na,K)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[Cl
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Sacrofanite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    9
    		[{(OH)
     
    2
    		,SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		,Cl
     
    2
    		}
     
    3
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 0.5H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Tounkite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    8
    		[Cl|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Vishnevite
    (Na,K)
     
    8
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		)|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Marinellite
    (Na,K)
     
    42
    		Ca
     
    6
    		[Cl
     
    2
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    8
    		|(Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		)
     
    6
    		] · 3 H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Farneseite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    56
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    12
    		|Al
     
    42
    		Si
     
    42
    		O
     
    168
    		] · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Alloriite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    26
    		Ca
     
    4
    		[Cl
     
    6
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		|(Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		)
     
    4
    		]
    9.FB.05IMA2008-006
    [Na
     
    82.5
    		Ca
     
    33
    		K
     
    16.5
    		]
     
    132
    		(Si
     
    99
    		Al
     
    99
    		O
     
    396
    		)(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    33
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.10Bicchulite
    Ca
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		SiO
     
    6
    		]
    9.FB.10Danalite
    Fe
    2+
    4
    		Be
     
    3
    		[S|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.10Genthelvite
    Zn
     
    4
    		Be
     
    3
    		[S|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.10Haüyne
    (Na,Ca)
     
    4-8
    		[Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		(O,S)
     
    24
    		](SO
     
    4
    		,Cl)
     
    1-2
    9.FB.10Helvite
    Mn
    2+
    4
    		Be
     
    3
    		[S|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.10Kamaishilite
    Ca
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		SiO
     
    6
    		]
    9.FB.10Lazurite
    (Na,Ca)
     
    8
    		[(S,SO
     
    4
    		,Cl
     
    2
    		)|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.10Nosean
    Na
     
    8
    		[SO
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.10Sodalite
    Na
     
    8
    		[Cl
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.10Tsaregorodtsevite
    N(CH
     
    3
    		)
     
    4
    		[AlSi
     
    5
    		O
     
    12
    		]
    9.FB.10Tugtupite
    Na
     
    4
    		[Cl|BeAlSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		]
    9.FB.10Helvine
    9.FB.15Marialite
    Na
     
    4
    		[Cl|(AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.15Meionite
    Ca
     
    4
    		[CO
     
    3
    		|(Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.15Silvialite
    (Ca,Na)
     
    4
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		)|(Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    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
    		)
    17.10.7Tuscanite
    (K(Ca,Na)
     
    6
    		(Si,Al)
     
    10
    		O
     
    22
    		[SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		,(OH)
     
    2
    		]·H
     
    2
    		O
    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
    		]
    17.10.13Franzinite
    (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 Afghanite

    Synonyms:
    IMA1967-041
    German names:
    Afghanit
    Russian names:
    Афганит
    Spanish names:
    Afghanita

    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 Afghanite

    Reference List:Bull. Soc. Fr. Min. Crist. (1968): 91, 34-42.

    American Mineralogist: 53: 2105.

    European Journal of Mineralogy: 9: 21-30.

    Internet Links for Afghanite

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  • Look for Afghanite on Google
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  • Look for Afghanite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Afghanite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Afghanite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Afghanite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Afghanite

    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.
    Afghanistan
     
    No reference listed
      • Koksha Valley (Kokscha; Kokcha)
    		Dudley Blauwet priv. comm.(2008), RWMW collection
    Bull.Soc.fr.Min.Crist.(1968) 91, 34-42
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
    		Blass, G., Graf, H.W., Interessante Neuigkeiten über Cancrinit, Fluorit und Fuchsit aus der Vulkaneifel, Mineralien-Welt 12/1, 26-29, 2001
    Italy
     
    • Campania
      • Naples Province
        • Somma-Vesuvius Complex
    		- Parodi, G., Ballirano, P., Maras, A. (1996): Afghanite from Mt Vesuvius: A Rediscovery, The Mineralogical Record, Vol. 27, 109-114; www.dinet.it/Mineral-GMC/AMI/vesuvio.html.
    • Latium
      • Viterbo Province
    		Stoppani, F.S., Curti, E. (1982): I Minerali del Lazio. Ed. Olimpia, Firenze, 154-158
        • 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
        • Vico Lake
          • Vetralla
    		No reference listed
    Carlini, R., Signoretti, E., 2003. Località minori del vulcano Vicano: Villa S.Giovanni in Tuscia e Mazzocchio. Il Cercapietre. Not. del Gruppo Mineralogico Romano, 1-2: 33-41
    • Tuscany
      • Grosseto Province
    Liotti L., 1991. I minerali dei vulcani laziali a Pitigliano (Grosseto). Riv. Mineral. Ital., 15: 121-139.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Buriatia (Buryatia) Republic
          • Baikal area
            • Sludyanka (Slyudyanka)
              • Tunka Valley
                • Malaya Bystraya River
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    Hadacz, R. and Kynický, J. (2006): Lapis Lazuli z oblasti Bajkalu. In SAMEC, P. -- KYNICKÝ, J. Hlavní výsledky průzkumu území Mongolska v projektu Mongolsko 2000 -- 2005: shrnutí, hodnocení a interpretace (II). Brno: Mendelova zemědělská a lesnická univerzita v Brně, 2006, p. 95--96. ISBN 80-7157-920-3.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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