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Charoite

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Murunskyi Massif, Chara River (Charo River), Davan, Torgo River Basin, Aldan Shield, Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
© J. Witkowski

Show Charoite Photos (21)
Formula:
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba,Sr)
 
8
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
16
)(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Violet to deep lilac
Hardness:5 - 6
Name:For the type locality, near the Chara River
This page provides mineralogical data about Charoite.

Classification of Charoite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.35-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DG.90

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
Dana 8th edition ID:70.1.2.3

70 : INOSILICATES Column or Tube Structures
1 : Column or Tube Structures with columnar silicate units
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.1.14

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
1 : Silicates with fluoride (not containing Al)
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Type Occurrence of Charoite

Type Locality:Murunskyi Massif, Chara River (Charo River), Davan, Torgo River Basin, Aldan Shield, Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:University of Rome 24352
Year of Discovery:1978

Occurrences of Charoite

Geological Setting:Potassic feldspar metasomatites

Physical Properties of Charoite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Semitransparent
Colour:Violet to deep lilac
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 6
Hardness (Vickers):VHN50=412 kg/mm2
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good in three directions
Density (measured):2.54 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.77 g/cm3

Crystallography of Charoite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 31.82Å, b = 7.13Å, c = 22.1Å
β = 94.25°
Ratio:a:b:c = 4.463 : 1 : 3.1
Unit Cell Volume:V 5,000.19 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Fibrous, massive

Optical Data of Charoite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.550 nβ = 1.553 nγ = 1.559
2V:Measured: 28° to 30°, Calculated: 72°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.009

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r < v strong
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:X= rose
Z= colorless

Chemical Properties of Charoite

Formula:
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba,Sr)
 
8
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
16
)(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ba, Ca, F, H, K, Na, O, Si, Sr
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mn,Sr,Ba

Relationship of Charoite to other Species

Common Associates:
TinaksiteCanasite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DG.05Bustamite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)[SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.05Cascandite
Ca(Sc,Fe
3+
 
)[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Ferrobustamite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DG.05Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Sérandite
Na(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Wollastonite
Ca[SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.05Wollastonite-1A
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.10Clinotobermorite
Ca
 
5
[Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
]2.4H
 
2
O - Ca
 
5
[Si
 
6
O17]·5H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·7H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Riversideite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Tobermorite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
·5H
 
2
O
9.DG.15Foshagite
Ca
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.20Jennite
Ca
 
9
H
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
9.DG.25Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.DG.25Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.30Sørensenite
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
9.DG.35Xonotlite
Ca
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
9.DG.40Hillebrandite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.45Zorite
Na
 
2
Ti(Si,Al)
 
3
O
 
9
·nH
 
2
O
9.DG.45Chivruaiite
Ca
 
3
Ti
 
5
[(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
|O(OH)
 
4
]·14H
 
2
O
9.DG.50Haineaultite
(Na,Ca)
 
5
Ca(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(OH,F)
 
4
|Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.55Epididymite
NaBeSi
 
3
O
 
7
OH
9.DG.60Eudidymite
NaBeSi
 
3
O
 
7
OH
9.DG.65Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
·3H
 
2
O
9.DG.70Fenaksite
(K,Na)
 
4
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
9.DG.70Litidionite
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.70Manaksite
KNaMnSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.75Tinaksite
K
 
2
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.75Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.75Senkevichite
CsKNaCa
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.80Canasite
Ca
 
5
Na
 
4
K
 
2
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
(OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.80Fluorcanasite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
Si
 
12
O
 
30
F
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.85Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
9.DG.90Frankamenite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)[F,(OH)]
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.95Yuksporite
(K,Ba)NaCa
 
2
(Si,Ti)
 
4
O
 
11
(F,OH)·H
 
2
O
9.DG.95Eveslogite
(Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)
 
48
 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
12
Si
 
48
O
 
144
(OH)
 
12
](F,OH,Cl)
 
14
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.1.1Hectorite
Na
 
0.3
(Mg,Li)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(F,OH)
 
2
17.1.3Agrellite
NaCa
 
2
[F|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
17.1.4Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
[F|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
17.1.5Apophyllite-(KF)
KCa
 
4
[(F,OH)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
17.1.6Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
[(OH,F)|Si
 
8
O
 
20
] · 8H
 
2
O
17.1.7Hsianghualite
Ca
 
3
Li
 
2
Be
 
3
[F
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.1.8Leucophanite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(F,OH)]
17.1.9Norbergite
Mg
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
]
17.1.10Chondrodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
[(F,OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
17.1.11Humite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
[(F,OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
17.1.12Clinohumite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
9
[(F,OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]
17.1.13Canasite
Ca
 
5
Na
 
4
K
 
2
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
(OH,F)
 
4
17.1.15Cuspidine
Ca
 
4
[(F,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.1.16Bultfonteinite
Ca
 
2
[F|HSiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
17.1.17Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
17.1.18Rowlandite-(Y)
(Y,Fe
3+
 
,Ce)
 
3
[O|(F,OH)|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.1.19Yuksporite
(K,Ba)NaCa
 
2
(Si,Ti)
 
4
O
 
11
(F,OH)·H
 
2
O
17.1.20Yftisite-(Y)
(Y,Dy,Er)
 
4
(Ti,Sn)O(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(F,OH)
 
6
17.1.21Mosandrite
(Ca,Na,Ce)
 
12
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
[F
 
4
|(OH)
 
6
|SiO
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
3
]
17.1.22Hiortdahlite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
2
O
 
7
(O,OH,F)
 
2
17.1.23Burpalite
Na
 
2
CaZr[F
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.1.24Seidozerite
Na
 
8
Zr
 
3
Ti
 
3
Mn
2+
2
[O|F|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
4
17.1.25Thorosteenstrupine
CaMnThSi
 
4
O
 
11
(OH)F·6H
 
2
O
17.1.26Zircophyllite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
(Zr,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
(O,OH,F)
 
7
17.1.27Jinshajiangite
(Na,Ca)(Ba,K)(Fe,Mn)
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(F,O,OH)
 
2-3
17.1.28Rosenbuschite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[O|F|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.1.29Narsarsukite
Na
 
2
(Ti,Fe)Si
 
4
(O,F)
 
11
17.1.30Sonolite
Mn
2+
9
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
]

Other Names for Charoite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-019
German names:
Charoit
Spanish names:
Charoita

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.
Industrial Uses:Jewelry

References for Charoite

Reference List:M. I. Chiragov & A. F. Shirinova (2004), [Crystalline structure of charoite as a derivative of miserite, canasite and okenite.] (Russian with English abstract): Mineralogical Journal (Ukraine), 26(4), pp 5–9.

American Mineralogist: 63: 1282.

American Mineralogist: 73: 198 (1988)

Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 107: 94-100.

Acta Crystallographica: A40, Supplement C, 246.

Internet Links for Charoite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Charoite

    (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.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Aldan Shield
          • Torgo River Basin
            • Davan
    [Lapis 1993:4 p.13-20]
    Natural History Museum Vienna collection
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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