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Volkovskite

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Nepskoe K salt deposit, Nepa River basin, Lower Tunguska, Irkutskaya Oblast', Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
KCa
 
4
[B
 
5
O
 
8
OH]
 
4
[B(OH)
 
3
]
 
2
Cl·4H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Colourless, pink
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after A.I. Volkovskaya, Russian petrographer.


Veatchite Group.

Classification of Volkovskite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/K.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.EC.20

6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
C : Phyllo-pentaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.5.16.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:10.1.14

10 : Borates with other anions
1 : Borates with halide
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Type Occurrence of Volkovskite

Type Locality:Inder B deposit and salt dome, Atyrau (Gur'yev), Atyrau Oblysy (Atyrau Oblast'), Kazakhstan
Year of Discovery:1966

Physical Properties of Volkovskite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, pink
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Volkovskite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.57Å, b = 23.92Å, c = 6.52Å
α = 90.58°, β = 119.1°, γ = 95.56°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.275 : 1 : 0.273
Unit Cell Volume:V 889.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Volkovskite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.523 - 1.536 nβ = 1.530 - 1.539 nγ = 1.596 - 1.603
2V:Measured: 24° to 37°, Calculated: 26° to 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.073

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

Chemical Properties of Volkovskite

Formula:
KCa
 
4
[B
 
5
O
 
8
OH]
 
4
[B(OH)
 
3
]
 
2
Cl·4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, Ca, Cl, H, K, O
All elements listed in formula:B, Ca, Cl, H, K, O

Relationship of Volkovskite to other Species

Related to:
  • Veatchite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    6.EC.05Biringuccite
    Na
     
    2
    		B
     
    5
    		O
     
    8
    		(OH)·H
     
    2
    		O
    6.EC.05Nasinite
    Na
     
    4
    		B
     
    10
    		O
     
    17
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O
    6.EC.10Gowerite
    Ca[B
     
    5
    		O
     
    8
    		(OH)][B(OH)
     
    3
    		]·3H
     
    2
    		O
    6.EC.15P-Veatchite
    6.EC.15Veatchite
    Sr
     
    2
    		B
     
    11
    		O
     
    16
    		(OH)
     
    5
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    6.EC.25Tuzlaite
    NaCaB
     
    5
    		O
     
    8
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
    6.EC.30Heidornite
    Na
     
    2
    		Ca
     
    3
    		B
     
    5
    		O
     
    8
    		(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		Cl(OH)
     
    2
    6.EC.35Brianroulstonite
    Ca
     
    3
    		[B
     
    5
    		O
     
    6
    		(OH)
     
    6
    		](OH)Cl
     
    2
    		·8H
     
    2
    		O
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    10.1.1Teepleite
    Na
     
    2
    		[Cl|B(OH)
     
    4
    		]
    10.1.2Bandylite
    Cu[Cl|B(OH)
     
    4
    		]
    10.1.3Berborite
    Be
     
    2
    		[(OH,F)|BO
     
    3
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    10.1.4Fluoborite
    Mg
     
    3
    		[(F,OH)
     
    3
    		|BO
     
    3
    		]
    10.1.5Boracite
    Mg
     
    3
    		[Cl|B
     
    7
    		O
     
    13
    		]
    10.1.6Karlite
    Mg
     
    7
    		[(OH,Cl)
     
    5
    		|(BO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    10.1.7Shabynite
    Mg
     
    5
    		[(Cl,OH)
     
    2
    		|(OH)
     
    5
    		|BO
     
    3
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    10.1.8/9/10Hilgardite
    Ca
     
    2
    		B
     
    5
    		O
     
    9
    		Cl·H
     
    2
    		O
    10.1.11Solongoite
    Ca
     
    2
    		(H
     
    3
    		B
     
    3
    		O
     
    7
    		)(OH)Cl
    10.1.12Hydrochlorborite
    Ca
     
    4
    		B
     
    8
    		O
     
    15
    		Cl
     
    2
    		·21H
     
    2
    		O
    10.1.13Ekaterinite
    Ca
     
    2
    		[(Cl,OH)
     
    2
    		|B
     
    4
    		O
     
    7
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    10.1.15Chelkarite
    CaMgB
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    		(Cl,OH)
     
    2
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O Or near, with Cl:OH = 3:1
    10.1.16Johachidolite
    CaAlB
     
    3
    		O
     
    7
    10.1.17Satimolite
    KNa
     
    2
    		Al
     
    4
    		[Cl|B
     
    2
    		O
     
    5
    		]
     
    3
    		 · 13H
     
    2
    		O
    10.1.18Chambersite
    Mn
    2+
    3
    		[Cl|B
     
    7
    		O
     
    13
    		]
    10.1.19Congolite
    (Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)
     
    3
    		B
     
    7
    		O
     
    13
    		Cl
    10.1.20Ericaite
    Fe
    2+
    3
    		[Cl|B
     
    7
    		O
     
    13
    		]

    Other Names for Volkovskite

    Other Languages:
    German:Volkovskit
    Russian:Волковскит
    Spanish:Volkovskita

    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 Volkovskite

    Reference List:Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva (1966): 95: 45-50.

    Canadian Mineralogist (1990): 28: 351-356.

    Canadian Mineralogist (1999): 37: 731-762.

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

    Articles/Blogs about Volkovskite

    Internet Links for Volkovskite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Volkovskite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Volkovskite

    (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.
    Canada
     
    • New Brunswick
      • Kings Co.
    		Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1469-1487.
        • Sussex
          • Cardwell Parish
            • Penobsquis
    		Canadian Mineralogist (2002): 40(6): 1675-1686.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Atyrau Oblysy (Atyrau Oblast')
      • Atyrau (Gur'yev)
    		No reference listed
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lower Tunguska
            • Nepa River basin
    USA
     
    • Alabama
      • Clarke Co.
    		Rocks & Min.: 64:472.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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