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Cancrinite

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Big Photo

Farnese, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy
© Di Domenico Dario

Show Cancrinite Photos (77)



Formula:
(Na,Ca,☐)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:grey-green, white, ...
Hardness:5 - 6
Member of:Cancrinite Group
Name:For Count Egor Frantsevich Kankrin (Georg Cancrin) (1774-1845), Russian Minister of Finance.


Cancrinite Group.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Cancrinite. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Cancrinite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
B : Tektosilicates with additional anions
Dana 8th edition ID:76.2.5.3

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.4.7

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
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Type Occurrence of Cancrinite

Type Locality:Ilmen Mts, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1839

Occurrences of Cancrinite

Geological Setting:Primary mineral in alkalic igneous rocks, alteration product of nepheline.

Physical Properties of Cancrinite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:grey-green, white, yellow, blue, orange, reddish
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {1010}, poor on {0001}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.42 - 2.51 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.49 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cancrinite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Class (H-M):6 - Pyramidal
Space Group:P63
Cell Parameters:a = 12.67(9) Å, c = 5.15(4) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.406
Unit Cell Volume:V 715.96 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Rarely as prismatic crystals.
Twinning:Rare lamellar
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Cancrinite

Type:Uniaxial (+/-)
RI values: nω = 1.507 - 1.528 nε = 1.495 - 1.503
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012 - 0.025

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

Chemical Properties of Cancrinite

Formula:
(Na,Ca,☐)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(CO
 
3
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, C, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, C, Ca, H, Na, O, S, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Fe,Mg,K,Cl,S

Relationship of Cancrinite to other Species

Member of:Cancrinite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Afghanite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
Alloriite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
26
Ca
 
4
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
Cl
 
6
Balliranoite
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Si
 
6
Al
 
6
O
 
24
)Cl
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
Biachellaite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
0.5
 · H
 
2
O
Bystrite
(Na,K)
 
7
Ca(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(S
 
3
)
 
1.5
 · H
 
2
O
Cancrisilite
Na
 
7
(Al
 
5
Si
 
7
O
 
24
)(CO
 
3
) · 3H
 
2
O
Davyne
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
Depmeierite
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
1-x
 · 3H
 
2
O (x<0.5)
Franzinite
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
Giuseppettite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
7-8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
,Cl)
 
1-2
Hydroxycancrinite
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
Kircherite
Na
 
5
Ca
 
2
K(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 0.33H
 
2
O
Kyanoxalite
Na
 
7
(Al
 
6-x
Si
 
6+x
O
 
24
)(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
0.5+x
 · 5H
 
2
O (0 < x < 0.5)
Liottite
(Na,K)
 
16
Ca
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
Cl
 
4
Marinellite
(Na,K)
 
42
Ca
 
6
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
Cl
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
Microsommite
Na
 
4
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)Cl
 
2
Pitiglianoite
Na
 
6
K
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
Quadridavyne
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)Cl
 
4
Sacrofanite
(Na,K)
 
98
Ca
 
20
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
14
(SO
 
4
)
 
26
Cl
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
Tounkite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · H
 
2
O
Vishnevite
(Na,K)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
) · 2H
 
2
O
Common Associates:
SodaliteOrthoclaseNephelineNatroliteMonticellite
Andradite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.FB.05Afghanite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Bystrite
(Na,K)
 
7
Ca(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(S
 
3
)
 
1.5
 · H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Cancrisilite
Na
 
7
(Al
 
5
Si
 
7
O
 
24
)(CO
 
3
) · 3H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Davyne
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(Cl
 
2
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
9.FB.05Franzinite
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Giuseppettite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
7-8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
,Cl)
 
1-2
9.FB.05Hydroxycancrinite
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Liottite
(Na,K)
 
16
Ca
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
3
(SO
 
4
)
 
5
Cl
 
4
9.FB.05Microsommite
Na
 
4
K
 
2
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)Cl
 
2
9.FB.05Pitiglianoite
Na
 
6
K
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Quadridavyne
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)Cl
 
4
9.FB.05Sacrofanite
(Na,K)
 
98
Ca
 
20
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
14
(SO
 
4
)
 
26
Cl
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Tounkite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Vishnevite
(Na,K)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
) · 2H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Marinellite
(Na,K)
 
42
Ca
 
6
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
6
(SO
 
4
)
 
8
Cl
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Farneseite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
56
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
7
(SO
 
4
)
 
12
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Alloriite
(Na,Ca,K)
 
26
Ca
 
4
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
6
Cl
 
6
9.FB.05Fantappièite
[Na
 
82.5
Ca
 
33
K
 
16.5
](Si
 
99
Al
 
99
O
 
396
)(SO
 
4
)
 
33
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Kyanoxalite
Na
 
7
(Al
 
6-x
Si
 
6+x
O
 
24
)(C
 
2
O
 
4
)
 
0.5+x
 · 5H
 
2
O (0 < x < 0.5)
9.FB.05Balliranoite
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Si
 
6
Al
 
6
O
 
24
)Cl
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
9.FB.05Carbobystrite
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(CO
 
3
) · 3.5H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Depmeierite
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(PO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
 
1-x
 · 3H
 
2
O (x<0.5)
9.FB.05Kircherite
Na
 
5
Ca
 
2
K(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 0.33H
 
2
O
9.FB.10Bicchulite
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
)(OH)
 
2
9.FB.10Danalite
Fe
2+
4
(Be
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
)S
9.FB.10Genthelvite
Zn
 
4
(Be
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
)S
9.FB.10Haüyne
(Na,Ca)
 
4-8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
(O,S)
 
24
)(SO
 
4
,Cl)
 
1-2
9.FB.10Helvine
Mn
2+
4
(Be
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
)S
9.FB.10Kamaishilite
Ca
 
2
(Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
)(OH)
 
2
9.FB.10Lazurite
(Na,Ca)
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(S,SO
 
4
,Cl
 
2
)
9.FB.10Nosean
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
)
9.FB.10Sodalite
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)Cl
 
2
9.FB.10Tsaregorodtsevite
(N(CH
 
3
)
 
4
)(AlSi
 
5
O
 
12
)
9.FB.10Tugtupite
Na
 
4
(AlBeSi
 
4
O
 
12
)Cl
9.FB.15Marialite
Na
 
4
Al
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
Cl
9.FB.15Meionite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
CO
 
3
9.FB.15Silvialite
(Ca,Na)
 
4
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.4.1Tilleyite
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
17.4.2Spurrite
Ca
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
17.4.3Paraspurrite
17.4.4Scawtite
Ca
 
7
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
CO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
17.4.5Fukalite
Ca
 
4
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
][CO
 
3
](OH)
 
2
17.4.6Meionite
Ca
 
4
Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
CO
 
3
17.4.8Carletonite
KNa
 
4
Ca
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
18
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH,F) · H
 
2
O
17.4.9Iimoriite-(Y)
Y
 
2
[SiO
 
4
][CO
 
3
]
17.4.10Kainosite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ce)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)(CO
 
3
) · H
 
2
O
17.4.11Caysichite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
Y
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
17.4.12Lepersonnite-(Gd)
Ca(Gd,Dy)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
24
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
(OH)
 
24
 · 48H
 
2
O
17.4.13Ashburtonite
Pb
 
4
Cu
 
4
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)(HCO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
Cl · H
 
2
O
17.4.14Surite
(Pb,Ca)
 
3
(Al,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
((Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
17.4.15Tundrite-(Ce)
Na
 
2
Ce
 
2
Ti(SiO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
O
 
2
17.4.16Tundrite-(Nd)
Na
 
3
(Nd,La)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Cancrinite

Other Languages:
German:Cancrinit
Russian:Канкринит
Simplified Chinese:钙霞石
Spanish:Cancrinita

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 Cancrinite

Reference List:

- +
Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 427-428.

Deer, W.A., R.A. Howie, and J. Zussman (1963) Rock-forming minerals, vol. 4, framework silicates, 310-320.

Foit, F.F., Jr. (1973) Cancrinite with a new superstructure from Bancroft, Ontario. Canadian Mineralogist: 11: 940-951.

Grundy, H.D. and I. Hassan (1982) The crystal structure of a carbonate-rich cancrinite. Canadian Mineralogist: 20: 239-251.

Canadian Mineralogist: 20: 239-251.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 122: 407-422.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1995) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume II. Silica, Silicates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 904pp., 2 sub-volumes: 109.

Internet Links for Cancrinite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Cancrinite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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