The name aklimaite reflects an allegory in two aspects: light colour of the mineral and strong efforts during the study of its unusual crystal structure on imperfect crystal. The old Turkic, probably with Arabian roots, names Aklima (women name) and Aklim (men name) mean, in particular, “light in intellect”. Choice of Turkic word for the naming of the mineral is caused by its type locality in Balkaria: Balkarian language belongs to the Turkic language family.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Xenolith no. 1, Lakargi Mountain, Upper Chegem volcanic caldera (Verkhnechegemskaya caldera), Baksan Valley, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia

This page provides mineralogical data about Aklimaite.

Hide all sections | Show all sections

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

42244

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:42244:8

GUID
(UUID V4):

84898d0d-ee06-44f6-a396-df5041dd3845

IMA Classification of AklimaiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

Ca₄[Si₂O₅(OH)₂](OH)₄ · 5H₂O

Approval year:

2011

First published:

2012

Type description reference:

Zadov, A. E., Pekov, I. V., Zubkova, N. V., Gazeev, V. M., Chukanov, N. V., Yapaskurt, V. O., Kartasheov, P. M., Galuskin, E. V., Galuskina, I. O., Pertsev, N. N., Gurbanov, A. G., Pushcharovsky, D. Yu. (2013) Aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH)2](OH)4 · 5H2O, a new natural hydrosilicate from Mount Lakargi, the Northern Caucasus, Russia. Geology of Ore Deposits, 55 (7) 541-548 doi:10.1134/s1075701513070131

Classification of AklimaiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2023):

9.H0.

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
H : Unclassified silicates
0 :

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Akm	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of AklimaiteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colorless or light-pinkish

Streak:

White

Hardness:

3 - 4 on Mohs scale

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Perfect
{001}

Density:

2.20(1) g/cm³ (Measured) 2.274 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Comment:

The low measured value is due to micro cavities in blocky crystals

Optical Data of AklimaiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.548(2) n_β = 1.551(3) n_γ = 1.553(2)

2V:

Measured: 70° , Calculated: 78°

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.005

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Low

Comments:

Z = b

Chemistry of AklimaiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Ca₄[Si₂O₅(OH)₂](OH)₄ · 5H₂O

Elements listed:

Ca, H, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AklimaiteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

B2/m

Setting:

C1 2/m 1

Cell Parameters:

a = 16.907((5) Å, b = 3.6528(8) Å, c = 13.068(4) Å
β = 117.25(4)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 4.629 : 1 : 3.578

Unit Cell V:

717.48 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Type material crystals are columnar or lath-shaped up 3×0.1×0.01 mm in size, flattened by (001) and elongate along [010].

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow

Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0019808	Aklimaite	Zubkova N V, Pekov I V, Pushcharovsky D Y, Zadov A E, Chukanov N V (2012) The crystal structure of aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH)2](OH)45H2O* Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 227 452-455		2012	Mount Lakargi in KabardinoBalkaria, North Caucasus, Russia	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Aklimaite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Zubkova N V'
'Pekov I V'
'Pushcharovsky D Y'
'Zadov A E'
'Chukanov N V'
_journal_name_full 'Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie'
_journal_volume 227 
_journal_year 2012
_journal_page_first 452
_journal_page_last 455
_publ_section_title
;
 The crystal structure of aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH)2](OH)4*5H2O
;
_database_code_amcsd 0019808
_chemical_compound_source 'Mount Lakargi in KabardinoBalkaria, North Caucasus, Russia'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Ca4 Si2 O16 H16'
_cell_length_a 16.907
_cell_length_b 3.6528
_cell_length_c 13.068
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 117.25
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 717.483
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.262
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'C 1 2/m 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  'x,-y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,z'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Cal   0.00000   0.00000   0.50000   1.00000   0.02050
Ca2  -0.14346   0.50000   0.60449   1.00000   0.01860
Ca3   0.02580   0.00000   0.86590   0.50000   0.02950
Si  -0.20100   0.42380   0.34470   0.50000   0.01390
O1  -0.10070   0.50000   0.44480   1.00000   0.02300
O-H2   0.03800   0.00000   0.34580   1.00000   0.01920
O3  -0.26730   0.50000   0.39960   1.00000   0.02110
O-H4  -0.08860   0.50000   0.81500   0.50000   0.04900
Wat4  -0.08860   0.50000   0.81500   0.50000   0.04900
O-H5   0.40750   0.00000   0.17430   0.50000   0.04400
Wat5   0.40750   0.00000   0.17430   0.50000   0.04400
Wat6   0.17680   0.00000   0.01530   1.00000   0.08700
O7  -0.21220   0.00000   0.29950   0.50000   0.02100
Wat8  -0.02240   0.00000   0.95330   0.50000   0.03100
O-H9  -0.22480  -0.34100   0.22890   0.50000   0.02630

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
11.64 Å	(100)
8.30 Å	(10)
4.349 Å	(9)
3.073 Å	(20)
2.948 Å	(32)
2.901 Å	(11)
2.576 Å	(10)
2.320 Å	(12)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust	>4.50
10 : Basalt-hosted zeolite minerals

Type Occurrence of AklimaiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Xenolith no. 1, Lakargi Mountain, Upper Chegem volcanic caldera (Verkhnechegemskaya caldera), Baksan Valley, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia

General Appearance of Type Material:

Intergrown spherulites 3-5 mm in diameter sitting on fine fibrous spherolites of bultfonteinite and covered with colorless isometric crystals of ettringite.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Xenolith of skarned limestone in ignimbrite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Zadov, A.E., Pekov, I.V., Zubkova, N.V., Gazeev, V.M., Chukanov, N.V., Yapaskurt, V.O., Kartashov, P.M., Galuskin, E.V., Galuskina, I.O., Pertzev, N.N., Gurbanov, A.G., Pushcharovsky, D.Yu. (2012) Aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH2)](OH)4·5Н2O, a new natural hydrosilicate from Lakargi area (the North Caucazus, Russia). Zapiski RMO: 141(2): 21-31.

Download:

https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/ZRMO141_21.pdf

Synonyms of AklimaiteHide

IMA2011-050

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.H0.	Bridgmanite	(Mg,Fe)SiO₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
9.H0.	Davemaoite	CaSiO₃	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pm3m

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for AklimaiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-42244.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

Look for Aklimaite on Google

Look for Aklimaite images on Google

Look for Aklimaite on Bing

Look for Aklimaite images on Bing

Look for Aklimaite on DuckDuckGo

Look for Aklimaite images on DuckDuckGo

Look for Aklimaite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Aklimaite on Webmineral

Look for Aklimaite on Wikipedia

Look for Aklimaite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service

Blue Gems Australian & International

Buy from David K Joyce minerals

Buy from McDougall Minerals

Buy rare minerals from Excalibur Minerals

Wilensky Exquisite Minerals

The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals

References for AklimaiteHide

Reference List:

Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2011) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2011, CNMNC Newsletter No. 10. Mineralogical Magazine, 75 (5) 2549-2561 doi:10.1180/minmag.2011.075.5.2549

Zubkova, Natalia V., Pekov, Igor V., Pushcharovsky, Dmitry Yu., Zadov, Aleksandr. E., Chukanov, Nikita V. (2012) The crystal structure of aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH)2](OH)4· 5 H2O. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 227 (7) 452-455 doi:10.1524/zkri.2012.1468

(2023) Aklimaite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for AklimaiteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.

Russia (TL)

Kabardino-Balkaria

Baksan Valley

Upper Chegem volcanic caldera (Verkhnechegemskaya caldera)

Lakargi Mountain

ⓘ Xenolith no. 1 (TL)

Aklimaite