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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

Member of Group:
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).

Internet Links for Volkovskite

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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)
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Lower Tunguska
            • Nepa River basin
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    USA
     
    • Alabama
      • Clarke Co.
    		Rocks & Min.: 64:472.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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