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Vistepite

Big Photo

Rhodonite occurrence, Muzeinyi Valley, Inyl'chek Range, Issyk-Kul'skaya Oblast, Kyrgyzstan
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Formula:
SnMn
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
System:TriclinicColour:Orange-yellow
Hardness:4½
Name:Named after Victor Ivanovich Stepanov (1924-1988), Curator of Minerals, Institute of Mineralogy (Moscow).
This page provides mineralogical data about Vistepite.

Classification of Vistepite

IMA status:Approved 1991
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.18-45
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.BD.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
D : Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in tetrahedral [4] and greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:78.1.10.1

78 : Unclassified Silicates
1 : Miscellaneous
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Type Occurrence of Vistepite

Type Locality:Rhodonite occurrence, Muzeinyi Valley, Inyl'chek Range, Issyk-Kul'skaya Oblast, Kyrgyzstan
Year of Discovery:1992

Physical Properties of Vistepite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Orange-yellow
Hardness (Mohs):4½

Crystallography of Vistepite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.973(2) Å, b = 7.365(2) Å, c = 7.665(1) Å
α = 89.94(2)°, β = 62.94(2)°, γ = 76.88(2)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.947 : 1 : 1.041
Unit Cell Volume:V 339.05 ų
Z:1
Morphology:Acicular
Twinning:Twinned, with [100] as twin axis and (010) as composition plane; pseudo-monoclinic.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.392 (100)
3.210 (82)
2.230 (69)
2.826 (59)

Optical Data of Vistepite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.696 nβ = 1.711 nγ = 1.715
2V:Measured: 54° to 57°, Calculated: 54°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.019

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

Chemical Properties of Vistepite

Formula:
SnMn
 
4
B
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
Essential elements:B, Mn, O, Si, Sn
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Mn, O, Si, Sn
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Ca

Relationship of Vistepite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.BD.05Bertrandite
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BD.10Hemimorphite
Zn
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BD.15Junitoite
CaZn
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BD.20Axinite-(Fe)
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mg)
Ca
 
2
MgAl
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.BD.20Axinite-(Mn)
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.BD.20Tinzenite
(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
Al
 
2
[OH|BSi
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.BD.30Boralsilite
Al
 
16
B
 
6
Si
 
2
O
 
27
9.BD.35Werdingite
(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
14
Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
37

Other Names for Vistepite

Synonyms:
IMA1991-012
German names:
Vistepit
Russian names:
Вистепит
Spanish names:
Vistepita

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 Vistepite

Reference List:Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva (1992): 121(4): 107-112.

New Minerals (1997), New Minerals 1990-1994.

Hybler, J., Petricek, V., Jurek, K., Skala, R. & Cisarova, I. (1997): Structure determination of vistepite SnMn4B2Si4O16(OH)2: isotypism with bustamite, revised crystallographic data and composition. Canadian Mineralogist 35, 1283-1292.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Vistepite

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    Localities for Vistepite

    (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.
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Issyk-Kul'skaya Oblast
      • Inyl'chek Range
        • Muzeinyi Valley
    		Pautov L.A., Belakovskii D.I., Skala R. e.a. Vistepite MnSnB2Si5O20 - a new borosilicate of manganese and tin, - ZVMO, 1992, 121, no. 4, 107-112
    Mineral and/or Locality
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