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Charoite

Big Photo

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia
© J. Witkowski

Show Charoite Photos (36)
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.92

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:Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, 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):Translucent
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.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.07Cascandite
Ca(Sc,Fe
3+
 
)[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.08Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·7H
 
2
O
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.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
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.60Eudidymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
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
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
5
(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.97Eveslogite
(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
NaCaBeSi
 
2
O
 
6
F
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
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
5
(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
BaKNaCaTi
 
2
Fe
3+
6
Mn
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
4
O
 
2
(OH)
 
8
F
 
2
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
Other Languages:
Dutch:Charoiet
German:Charoit
Italian:Charoite
Japanese:チャロアイト
Lithuanian:Čaroitas
Polish:Czaroit
Russian:Чароит
Spanish: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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  • Charoite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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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
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Aldan Shield
            • Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence
              • Murunskii Massif
    		Vorob\'yev E.I. (2008) Charoite, - Novosibirsk. GEO, p. 142 (in Rus.).
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Aldan Shield
          • Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence
    		[Lapis 1993:4 p.13-20]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Natural History Museum Vienna collection
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Vorob\'yov E.I. (2008) Charoite, - Novosibirsk. GEO, p. 142 (in Rus.).
    Vorob\'yov E.I. (2008) Charoite, - Novosibirsk. GEO, p. 142 (in Rus.).
    Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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