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Turkestanite

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Big Photo

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

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Formula:
(K,◻)(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · nH
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:Brown, apple-green
Lustre:Vitreous, DullHardness:5½ - 6
Member of:Steacyite Group
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:Steacyite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Arapovite
(K,◻)(Ca,Na)
 
2
(U,Th)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · H
 
2
O
Iraqite-(La)
K(Ca,Na)
 
2
(La,Ce,Th)[(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
]
Steacyite
(◻,K)(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
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.

Vilalva, F.C.J., and Vlach, S.R.F. (2010): Major- and trace-element composition of REE-rich turkestanite from peralkaline granites of the Morro Redondo Complex, Graciosa Province, south Brazil. Mineralogical Magazine 74(4), 645-658.

Internet Links for Turkestanite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Turkestanite on Google
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    • External Links:
  • Look for Turkestanite on Webmineral
  • Look for Turkestanite on Athena Mineralogy[Link Broken?]
  • Look for Turkestanite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • Search for Turkestanite from all mineral dealers at minfind.com
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • Find Turkestanite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
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    • Localities for Turkestanite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Brazil
     
    • Paraná
      • Morro Redondo complex
    		Vilalva, F.C.J., and Vlach, S.R.F. (2010): Mineralogical Magazine 74(4), 645-658
    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
    PETERSEN O. V., JOHNSEN O., MICHEELSEN H. I. (1999) TURKESTANITE FROM THE ILIMAUSSAQ ALKALINE COMPLEX, SOUTH GREENLAND. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Monatshefte no9, pp. 424-432
    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)
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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