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Charoite

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

Show Charoite Photos (59)



Formula:
(K,Sr)
 
15-16
(Ca,Na)
 
32
[Si
 
6
O
 
11
(O,OH)
 
6
]
 
2
[Si
 
12
O
 
18
(O,OH)
 
12
]
 
2
[Si
 
17
O
 
25
(O,OH)
 
18
]
 
2
(OH,F)
 
4
 · ~3H
 
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

Lustre:Vitreous, Silky
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
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m {P1 1 21/m} {P21/m} {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 32.296Å, b = 19.651Å, c = 7.16Å
β = 96.3°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.643 : 1 : 0.364
Unit Cell Volume:V 4517 ų
Z:2
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,Sr)
 
15-16
(Ca,Na)
 
32
[Si
 
6
O
 
11
(O,OH)
 
6
]
 
2
[Si
 
12
O
 
18
(O,OH)
 
12
]
 
2
[Si
 
17
O
 
25
(O,OH)
 
18
]
 
2
(OH,F)
 
4
 · ~3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, K, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, F, H, K, Na, O, Si, Sr
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Mn,Sr,Ba

Relationship of Charoite to other Species

Common Associates:
TinaksiteCanasiteSteacyiteAegirine
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DG.05Bustamite
CaMn
2+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
6
)
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
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.05Wollastonite-1A
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.07Cascandite
Ca(Sc,Fe
3+
 
)(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
9.DG.08Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Clinotobermorite
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Riversideite
Ca
 
5
(HSi
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Tobermorite
Ca
 
4+x
(H
 
2-2x
Si
 
6
O
 
17
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.15Foshagite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.20Jennite
Ca
 
9
(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 8H
 
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
(SiO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
9.DG.45Zorite
Na
 
8
(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
5
 · 14H
 
2
O
9.DG.45Chivruaiite
Ca
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
5
 · 13-14H
 
2
O
9.DG.50Haineaultite
(Na,Ca)
 
5
Ca(Ti,Nb)
 
5
(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
8
 · 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
Si
 
4
O
 
10
F
17.1.4Apophyllite-(NaF)
NaCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)F · 8H
 
2
O
17.1.5Apophyllite-(KF)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(F,OH) · 8H
 
2
O
17.1.6Apophyllite-(KOH)
KCa
 
4
(Si
 
8
O
 
20
)(OH,F) · 8H
 
2
O
17.1.7Hsianghualite
Ca
 
3
Li
 
2
(Be
 
3
Si
 
3
O
 
12
)F
 
2
17.1.8Leucophanite
NaCaBeSi
 
2
O
 
6
F
17.1.9Norbergite
Mg
 
3
(SiO
 
4
)(F,OH)
 
2
17.1.10Chondrodite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(F,OH)
 
2
17.1.11Humite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
(F,OH)
 
2
17.1.12Clinohumite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(F,OH)
 
2
17.1.13Canasite
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
(OH,F)
 
4
17.1.15Cuspidine
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(F,OH)
 
2
17.1.16Bultfonteinite
Ca
 
2
(HSiO
 
4
)F · H
 
2
O
17.1.17Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
17.1.18Rowlandite-(Y)
(Y,Ce)
 
4
Fe
2+
 
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
F
 
2
 (?)
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)(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
O(F,OH)
 
6
17.1.21Mosandrite
Ti(◻,Ca,Na)
 
3
(Ca,REE)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
[H
 
2
O,OH,F]
 
4
 · H
 
2
O
17.1.22Hiortdahlite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(O,OH,F)
 
2
17.1.23Burpalite
Na
 
2
CaZr(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)F
 
2
17.1.24Seidozerite
Na
 
8
Mn
2+
2
Zr
 
3
Ti
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
O
 
4
F
 
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
BaNaFe
2+
4
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
2
F
17.1.28Rosenbuschite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)OF
17.1.29Narsarsukite
Na
 
4
(Ti,Fe)
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
20
](O,OH,F)
 
2
17.1.30Sonolite
Mn
2+
9
(SiO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,F)
 
2

Other Names for Charoite

Synonyms:
Charoite JadeIMA1977-019
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.


I.V.Rozhdestvenskaya, T.Kogure, E. Abe, & V.A.Drits (2009), A structural model for charoite. Mineralogical Magazine 73,883-890(2009)

I. Rozhdestvenskaya, E. Mugnaioli, M. Czank, W. Depmeier, U. Kolb, A. Reinholdt & T. Weirich (2010) The structure of charoite, (K,Sr,Ba,Mn)15-16(Ca,Na)32[(Si70(O,OH)180](OH,F)4.0.nH2O, solved by conventional and automated electron diffraction. Mineralogical Magazine, 74, 159-177.

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    • Localities for Charoite

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