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Aksaite

Formula:
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, light grey, ...
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after its discovery locality in Kazakhstan.
This page provides mineralogical data about Aksaite.

Classification of Aksaite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.17-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.FA.05

6 : BORATES
F : Hexaborates
A : Neso-hexaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.6.4.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : Hexaborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.2.6

9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Aksaite

Type Locality:Chelkar salt dome, Aksai Valley, Aqtöbe Oblysy (Aktubinsk [Aktyubinsk; Aktubinskaya] Oblast'), Kazakhstan
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Smithsonian - 160056
Year of Discovery:1962
Geological Setting of type material:Salt dome

Physical Properties of Aksaite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, light grey, white
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
on {100}{010}
Density (measured):2.066 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.972 g/cm3

Crystallography of Aksaite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pbca {P21/b 21/c 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 12.54Å, b = 24.35Å, c = 7.48Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.515 : 1 : 0.307
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,284.01 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Elongated crystals
Comment:On synthetic material.

Optical Data of Aksaite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.473(1) nβ = 1.508(1) nγ = 1.528(1)
2V:Measured: 88° , Calculated: 78°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.055

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Aksaite

Formula:
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Aksaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.FA.10Mcallisterite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
6.FA.15Admontite
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 4H
 
2
O
6.FA.20Rivadavite
Na
 
6
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
6.FA.25Teruggite
Ca
 
4
Mg[AsO
 
4
|B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.2.1Hambergite
Be
 
2
[O|OH|BO
 
2
]
9.2.2Suanite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.2.3Kotoite
Mg
 
3
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
9.2.4Szaibélyite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)(B
 
2
O
 
4
(OH))]
9.2.5Preobrazhenskite
Mg
 
3
B
 
11
O
 
15
(OH)
 
9
9.2.7Wightmanite
Mg
 
5
[O|(OH)
 
5
|BO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.2.8Pinnoite
Mg[B
 
2
O(OH)
 
6
]
9.2.9Kurnakovite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.10Halurgite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.11Inderite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.12Hungchaoite
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 9H
 
2
O
9.2.13Admontite
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 4H
 
2
O
9.2.14Mcallisterite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
9.2.15Rivadavite
Na
 
6
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.2.16Kaliborite
KMg
 
2
H[B
 
6
O
 
8
(OH)
 
5
]
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
9.2.17Iquiqueite
K
 
3
Na
 
4
Mg(CrO
 
4
)B
 
24
O
 
39
(OH)·12H
 
2
O

Other Names for Aksaite

Other Languages:
German:Aksait
Russian:Аксаит
Spanish:Aksaita

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 Aksaite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 48: 209, 930-935.

American Mineralogist: 56: 1553-1566.

Internet Links for Aksaite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Aksaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Aksaite

    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.
    (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.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Aqtöbe Oblysy (Aktubinsk [Aktyubinsk; Aktubinskaya] Oblast')
      • Aksai Valley
    		[Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index, 3rd Edition"]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • Strathclyde (Ayrshire)
        • Beith
    		BMS Database
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 20th Oct 2009 16:38:10