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Tancoite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Tancoite, etc.

Tanco Mine, Bernic Lake, Lac-du-Bonnet area, Manitoba, Canada

Tancoite, etc.

Tanco Mine, Bernic Lake, Lac-du-Bonnet area, Manitoba, Canada

Tancoite, etc.

Tanco Mine, Bernic Lake, Lac-du-Bonnet area, Manitoba, Canada

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About TancoiteHide

Tanco Mine

Tanco Mine, Bernic Lake, Lac-du-Bonnet area, Manitoba, Canada

Formula:

LiNa₂Al(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)

Colour:

Colorless to light pink

Lustre:

Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous

Hardness:

4 - 4½

Specific Gravity:

2.752

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Name:

Named in 1980 by Robert A. Ramik, Bozidar Darko Sturman, Pete J. Dunn, and Alexander Sergevich Povarennykh for its discovery locality, the Tanco Mine (pegmatite), Bernic Lake, Manitoba, Canada.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Tanco Mine, Bernic Lake, Lac-du-Bonnet area, Manitoba, Canada

Colorless to pale pink tabular crystals

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

3879

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3879:5

GUID
(UUID V4):

e3e37ae7-3c23-4300-89a3-21c577cb8120

IMA Classification of TancoiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

1979

First published:

1980

Type description reference:

Ramik, R. A., Sturman, B. D., Dunn, P. J., Povarennykh, A. S. (1980) Tancoite, a new lithium sodium aluminum phosphate from the Tanco pegmatite, Bernic Lake, Manitoba. The Canadian Mineralogist, 18 (2) 185-190

Classification of TancoiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

8.BG.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H₂O
G : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH, etc.):RO₄ = 0.5:1

Dana 8th ed.:

41.4.7.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : (AB)₅(XO₄)₂Z_q

Hey's CIM Ref.:

19.8.4

19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Tco	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of TancoiteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colorless to light pink

Streak:

White

Hardness:

4 - 4½ on Mohs scale

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Imperfect/Fair
{010} and {100}

Fracture:

Conchoidal, Sub-Conchoidal

Density:

2.752 g/cm³ (Measured) 2.724 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of TancoiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.541 n_β = 1.563 n_γ = 1.564

2V:

Measured: 23° , Calculated: 24°

Birefringence:

0.023

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.023

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Low

Dispersion:

Optical Extinction:

XYZ = cba

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of TancoiteHide

Mindat Formula:

LiNa₂Al(PO₄)(PO₃OH)(OH)

Elements listed:

Al, H, Li, Na, O, P - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of TancoiteHide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal

Space Group:

Pbca

Cell Parameters:

a = 14.08 Å, b = 14.13 Å, c = 6.97 Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.996 : 1 : 0.493

Unit Cell V:

1,386.68 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Comment:

Pbcb

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0015695	Tancoite	Hawthorne F C (1983) The crystal structure of tancoite Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 31 121-135		1983		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Tancoite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Hawthorne F C'
_journal_name_full 'Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen'
_journal_volume 31 
_journal_year 1983
_journal_page_first 121
_journal_page_last 135
_publ_section_title
;
 The crystal structure of tancoite
;
_database_code_amcsd 0015695
_chemical_formula_sum 'H2 Na2 Li Al P2 O9'
_cell_length_a 6.948
_cell_length_b 14.089
_cell_length_c 14.065
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 1376.828
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.777
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P b c b'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '-x,1/2+y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,-z'
  'x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  'x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x,y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
H2   0.58700   0.70400   0.13200   0.01267
Na1   0.50000   0.00000   0.00000   0.02786
Na2   0.50000   0.51430   0.25000   0.02786
Na3   0.02470   0.25000   0.00000   0.01646
Na4   0.00000   0.24790   0.25000   0.02660
Li   0.26140   0.87160   0.12580   0.03673
Al1   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.00418
Al2   0.00000   0.50220   0.25000   0.00709
P1   0.27550   0.36750   0.12710   0.00823
P2   0.26330   0.64160   0.12000   0.00621
O1   0.18520   0.09450   0.28630   0.00887
O2   0.17760   0.40330   0.22020   0.00760
O3   0.18290   0.59140   0.03400   0.01520
O4   0.16430   0.59680   0.54200   0.00887
O5   0.26410   0.25870   0.12930   0.01621
O6   0.19680   0.74550   0.12000   0.01494
O7   0.48090   0.40500   0.12700   0.01798
O8   0.48280   0.63300   0.12110   0.01545
O9   0.11400   0.00310   0.12170   0.00861
H1   0.18400   0.06500   0.14700   0.01267
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Na1 0.02103 0.04626 0.01503 -0.00446 -0.00644 0.00502
Na2 0.02690 0.04425 0.01303 0.00000 -0.00842 0.00000
Na3 0.03546 0.01408 0.00100 0.00000 0.00000 -0.00201
Na4 0.04353 0.01106 0.02505 0.00000 -0.00941 0.00000
Li 0.02910 0.00905 0.07316 -0.00595 0.02673 -0.01004
Al1 0.01149 0.00402 -0.00301 0.00099 -0.00396 0.00100
Al2 0.00073 0.00603 0.01403 0.00000 0.00495 0.00000
P1 0.00660 0.01006 0.00802 0.00347 0.00248 0.00100
P2 0.00685 0.00804 0.00401 -0.00298 -0.00050 0.00100
O1 0.00905 0.00804 0.00902 -0.00793 -0.00149 -0.00402
O2 0.00905 0.00804 0.00601 0.00744 0.00149 0.00000
O3 0.02495 0.01006 0.01002 -0.00298 -0.00446 0.00301
O4 0.01223 0.01207 0.00401 -0.00050 0.00248 0.00000
O5 0.02543 0.00804 0.01503 0.00099 -0.00050 -0.00201
O6 0.02617 0.00704 0.01203 -0.00248 0.00248 -0.00100
O7 0.00978 0.02916 0.01503 -0.00099 0.00347 0.01004
O8 0.00562 0.02514 0.01503 0.00298 0.00149 0.00803
O9 0.00880 0.01307 0.00401 0.00099 0.00743 0.00000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
4.672 Å	(100)
3.413 Å	(90)
3.150 Å	(100)
2.479 Å	(90)
1.760 Å	(40)
1.438 Å	(40)
1.429 Å	(40)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
34 : Complex granite pegmatites

Type Occurrence of TancoiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Tanco Mine, Bernic Lake, Lac-du-Bonnet area, Manitoba, Canada

General Appearance of Type Material:

Isolated crystals up to 1 mm in length and as druses of columnar individuals, oriented subparallel to [001].

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Harvard Mineralogical Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, number 117129 (cotype).
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, number M5553/4 (cotype).
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, number BM 1980,52 (cotype).
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 146248 (type).
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, number M36416-M34418 (cotype).

Geological Setting of Type Material:

LCA granite pegmatite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Spodumene	Quartz	Lithiophosphate	Fluorapatite	Cookeite
Calcite	Baryte

Reference:

Ramik, R.A., Sturman, B.D., Dunn, P.J., Povarennykh, A.S. (1980) Tancoite, a new lithium sodium aluminum phosphate from the Tanco pegmatite, Bernic Lake, Manitoba. Canadian Mineralogist: 18: 185-190.

Synonyms of TancoiteHide

IMA1979-045

Other Language Names for TancoiteHide

German:Tancoit

Russian:Танкоит

Spanish:Tancoita

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

1 photo of Tancoite associated with Lithiophosphate	Li₃PO₄
1 photo of Tancoite associated with Apatite	Ca₅(PO₄)₃(Cl/F/OH)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

8.BG.	Canosioite	Ba₂Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.	Aldomarinoite	Sr₂Mn³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.	Dongchuanite	Pb₄ZnZn₂(PO₄)₄(OH)₂	Tric. 1 : P1
8.BG.	Cuprodongchuanite	Pb₄CuZn₂(PO₄)₄(OH)₂	Tric. 1 : P1
8.BG.05	Arsentsumebite	Pb₂Cu(AsO₄)(SO₄)(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Bearthite	Ca₂Al(PO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Brackebuschite	Pb₂Mn³⁺(VO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Gamagarite	Ba₂Fe³⁺(VO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Goedkenite	Sr₂Al(PO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	UM1994-19-PO:CuHMoPb	Pb₂Cu(PO₄)(MoO₄,AsO₄,CrO₄,GaO₄)(OH)
8.BG.05	Tsumebite	Pb₂Cu(PO₄)(SO₄)(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Arsenbrackebuschite	Pb₂Fe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2/m
8.BG.05	Feinglosite	Pb₂Zn(AsO₄)₂ · H₂O	Mon. 2/m
8.BG.05	Bushmakinite	Pb₂Al(PO₄)(VO₄)(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Tokyoite	Ba₂Mn³⁺(VO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Calderónite	Pb₂Fe³⁺(VO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Ferribushmakinite	Pb₂Fe³⁺(PO₄)(VO₄)(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Lombardoite	Ba₂Mn³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.05	Unnamed (possible ordered As-analogue of Tokyoite)	Ba₂Mn[(As,V)O₄]₂(OH)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/m
8.BG.10	Mélonjosephite	CaFe²⁺Fe³⁺(PO₄)₂(OH)	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam
8.BG.20	Dmisokolovite	K₃Cu₅AlO₂(AsO₄)₄	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.BG.25	Shchurovskyite	K₂CaCu₆O₂(AsO₄)₄	Mon. 2 : B2
8.BG.30	Wrightite	K₂Al₂O(AsO₄)₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmma
8.BG.35	Polyarsite	Na₇CaMgCu₂(AsO₄)₄F₂Cl	Mon. 2/m

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for TancoiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-3879.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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References for TancoiteHide

Reference List:

Hawthorne, F. C. (1983) The crystal structure of tancoite. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 31 (1). 121-135 doi:10.1007/bf01084765

(2023) Tancoite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for TancoiteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.

Canada (TL)

Manitoba

Lac-du-Bonnet area

Bernic Lake

ⓘ Tanco Mine (TL)

153-155. +3 other references

Tancoite

About TancoiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of TancoiteHide

Classification of TancoiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of TancoiteHide

Optical Data of TancoiteHide

Chemistry of TancoiteHide

Crystallography of TancoiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of TancoiteHide

Synonyms of TancoiteHide

Other Language Names for TancoiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for TancoiteHide

References for TancoiteHide

Localities for TancoiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide