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Turkestanite

Big Photo

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

Show Turkestanite Photos (6)
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, Alai Range, Osh Oblast, Kyrgyzstan
Dara-i-Pioz Glacier, Alayskiy (Alai) 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

Related to:
  • 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.

    Articles/Blogs about Turkestanite

    Internet Links for Turkestanite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Turkestanite

    (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
    		No reference listed
    Kyrgyzstan
     
    • Osh Oblast
      • Alai Range
        • Upper Khodzhaachkan River
    		[Zap. Vser. Mineral. Obshchest. 126 (6), 45; Min; Rec 31:204]
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
        • Windhoek
          • Aris
    		Uwe Kolitsch (single-crystal X-ray diffraction)
    Tajikistan
     
    • Region of Republican Subordination
      • Tien Shan Mts
        • Alayskiy (Alai) Range
    		CanMin 42:107-119 (2004)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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