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Turkestanite

Big Photo

Darai-Pioz (Dara-i-Pioz; Dara-Pioz) Glacier, Alai (Alayskiy) Range, Tien Shan Mts, Region of Republican Subordination, Tajikistan
© O. Dziallas

Show Turkestanite Photos (10)
Formula:
(K,[ ])(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · nH
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:Brown, apple-green
Lustre:Vitreous, DullHardness:5½ - 6
Name:Named after the discovery locality, along the Turkestan Ridge, Dara-i-Pioz massif, Tien-Shan Mountains, Tadjikistan.


Steacyite Group. The thorium analogue of Arapovite.

Classification of Turkestanite

IMA status:Approved 1996
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/E.10-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.CH.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
H : [Si4O12]8- 4-membered double rings
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Type Occurrence of Turkestanite

Co-type Localities:Dzhelisu Massif, Upper Khodzhaachkan River, Sokh Valley, Alai (Alay) Range, Osh Oblast, Kyrgyzstan
Darai-Pioz (Dara-i-Pioz; Dara-Pioz) Glacier, Alai (Alayskiy) Range, Tien Shan Mts, Region of Republican Subordination, Tajikistan

Physical Properties of Turkestanite

Lustre:Vitreous, Dull
Colour:Brown, apple-green
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6

Crystallography of Turkestanite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:P4/mcc {P4/m 2/c 2/c}
Cell Parameters:a = 7.592Å, c = 14.824Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.953
Unit Cell Volume:V 854.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2

Optical Data of Turkestanite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.611 nε = 1.606
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.005

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

Chemical Properties of Turkestanite

Formula:
(K,[ ])(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · nH
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, K, O, Si, Th
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, K, Na, O, Si, Th, U

Relationship of Turkestanite to other Species

Member of Group:
Steacyite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.CH.05Hyalotekite
(Ba,Pb,Ca,K)
 
6
(B,Si,Al)
 
2
(Si,Be)
 
10
O
 
28
(F,Cl)
9.CH.05Kapitsaite-(Y)
(Ba,K,Pb)
 
4
(Y,Ca)
 
2
Si
 
8
(B,Si)
 
4
O
 
28
F
9.CH.10Iraqite-(La)
K(Ca,Na)
 
2
(La,Ce,Th)[(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
]
9.CH.10Steacyite
([ ],K)(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
9.CH.10Arapovite
(K,[ ])(Ca,Na)
 
2
(U,Th)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · H
 
2
O

Other Names for Turkestanite

Synonyms:
IMA1996-036
Other Languages:
German:Turkestanit
Russian:Туркестанит
Spanish:Turkestanita

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 Turkestanite

Reference List:Pautov, L.A. et al.: Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva (1997): 126(6): 45-55.

Kabalov, Yu. K., E. V. Sokolova, L. A. Pautov, J. Schneider: Kristallografiya (1998): 43: 632-636.

Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1999): 9: 424-432.

Internet Links for Turkestanite

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    Localities for Turkestanite

    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.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Narsaq
    		Soerensen, H. (2001): The Ilimaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland: status of mineralogical research with new results, Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin 190, GEUS
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Alai (Alay) Range
        • Sokh Valley
          • Upper Khodzhaachkan River
    		[Zap. Vser. Mineral. Obshchest. 126 (6), 45; Min; Rec 31:204]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
        • Windhoek
          • Aris
    		Uwe Kolitsch (single-crystal X-ray diffraction)
    Tajikistan
     
    • Region of Republican Subordination
      • Tien Shan Mts
        • Alai (Alayskiy) Range
    		CanMin 42:107-119 (2004)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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