Afghanite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Afghanite
Formula:
(Na,K)22Ca10(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6Cl6
Colour:
White, light blue, dark blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Specific Gravity:
2.55
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after the country of its discovery, Afghanistan.
Structurally related to UM2004-48-SiO:AlClCaNaS.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Afghanite.
Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Afghanite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(Na,K)22Ca10(Si24Al24)O96(SO4)6Cl6
Approval year:
1967
First published:
1968
Classification of Afghanite
9.FB.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
B : Tektosilicates with additional anions
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
B : Tektosilicates with additional anions
76.2.5.1
76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
17.10.12
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
10 : Silicates with sulphate, molybdate or tungstate
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
10 : Silicates with sulphate, molybdate or tungstate
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Afg | 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 Afghanite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
White, light blue, dark blue
Comment:
Colourless in thin section
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Cleavage:
Perfect
{1010}
{1010}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.55 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.65 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Afghanite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.523 nε = 1.529
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.006
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Chemistry of Afghanite
Mindat Formula:
(Na,K)22Ca10(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6Cl6
Crystallography of Afghanite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P3 1c
Setting:
P3 1c
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.8013(7) Å, c = 21.4119(18) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.673
Unit Cell V:
3,038.74 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
As stout to slender, thin tabular laths and as rounded grains.
Comment:
Cell data from Ballirano et al. (1996). Previously assumed space group P63mc is incorrect.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0018843 | Afghanite | Ballirano P, Bosi F (2012) Thermal behavior of afghanite, an ABABACAC member of the cancrinite group American Mineralogist 97 630-640 | 2012 | Case Collina, Latium, Italy | 0 | 293 | |
0006636 | Afghanite | Ballirano P, Bonaccorsi E, Maras A, Merlino S (1997) Crystal structure of afghanite, the eight-layer member of the cancrinite-group: evidence for long-range Si,Al ordering European Journal of Mineralogy 9 21-30 | 1997 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.688 Å | (100) |
3.298 Å | (100) |
4.82 Å | (80) |
3.997 Å | (60) |
2.865 Å | (60) |
2.130 Å | (60) |
1.792 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Geological Setting:
In silicified limestone xenoliths in pumice (Pitigliano quarry, Italy).
Type Occurrence of Afghanite
General Appearance of Type Material:
In thin veinlets cutting lazurite crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogy-Crystallography Laboratory, University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris;
National School of Mines, Paris, France;
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1969,72.
National School of Mines, Paris, France;
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1969,72.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Bariand,P., Cesbron, F., Giraud, R. (1968) Une nouvelle espèce minérale: l'afghanite de Sar-e-sang, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Comparaison avec les minéraux du groupe de la cancrinite. Bulletin de la Société Francaise de Minéralogie et Christallographie: 91: 34-42.
Synonyms of Afghanite
Other Language Names for Afghanite
Relationship of Afghanite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Alloriite | (Na,Ca,K)26Ca4(Al6Si6O24)4(SO4)6Cl6 | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
Balliranoite | (Na,K)6Ca2(Si6Al6O24)Cl2(CO3) | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Betzite | Na6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4 | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Biachellaite | (Na,Ca,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2(OH)0.5 · H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
Bystrite | (Na,K)7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(S5)Cl | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
Cancrinite | (Na,Ca,◻)8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3,SO4)2 · 2H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Cancrisilite | Na7(Al5Si7O24)(CO3) · 3H2O | Hex. 6mm : P63mc |
Carbobystrite | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3) · 3.5H2O | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
Davyne | (Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(Cl2,SO4)2 | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Depmeierite | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(PO4,CO3)1-x · 3H2O (x | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Fantappièite | [Na82.5Ca33K16.5](Si99Al99O396)(SO4)33 · 4H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
Farneseite | (Na,Ca,K)56(Al6Si6O24)7(SO4)12 · 6H2O | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Franzinite | (Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.5H2O | Hex. |
Giuseppettite | (Na,K,Ca)7-8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,Cl)1-2 | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
Hydroxycancrinite | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(OH)2 · 2H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Kircherite | Na5Ca2K(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.33H2O | Trig. 3 2 : R3 2 |
Kyanoxalite | Na7(Al6-xSi6+xO24)(C2O4)0.5+x · 5H2O (0 < x < 0.5) | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Liottite | (Na,K)16Ca8(Al6Si6O24)3(SO4)5Cl4 | Hex. 6 : P6 |
Marinellite | (Na,K)42Ca6(Al6Si6O24)6(SO4)8Cl2 · 3H2O | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
Microsommite | Na4K2Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)Cl2 | Hex. 6 2 2 : P63 2 2 |
Pitiglianoite | Na6K2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · 2H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Quadridavyne | (Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4 | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Sacrofanite | (Na61K19Ca32)(Si84Al84O336)(SO4)26Cl2F6 · 2H2O | Hex. |
Slyudyankaite | Na28Ca4(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6(S6)1/3(CO2) · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Steudelite | Na3(K17Ca7)Ca4(Al24Si24O96)(SO3)6F6 · 4H2O | Hex. 6 m2 : P62c |
Sulfhydrylbystrite | Na5K2Ca[Al6Si6O24](S5)2(SH) | Trig. 3m : P3 1c |
Tounkite | (Na,Ca,K)8(Si6Al6)O24(SO4)2Cl · 0.5H2O | Hex. 6 2 2 : P62 2 2 |
UM2004-48-SiO:AlClCaNaS | (Na,Ca)8(Si6Al6)O24(SO4)1.7Cl1.3 | |
UM2009-23-SiO:AlCCaClHKNaS | (Na,Ca)24K10[(Si,Al)60O120](SO4)5.6Cl1.5(CO3)0.4 · 11H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
Vishnevite | (Na,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3) · 2H2O | Hex. 6 : P63 |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
128 photos of Afghanite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
73 photos of Afghanite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
45 photos of Afghanite associated with Lazurite | Na7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)(S3) · H2O |
16 photos of Afghanite associated with Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
10 photos of Afghanite associated with Marialite | Na4Al3Si9O24Cl |
8 photos of Afghanite associated with Diopside | CaMgSi2O6 |
8 photos of Afghanite associated with Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
6 photos of Afghanite associated with Marble | |
6 photos of Afghanite associated with Sodalite Group | |
6 photos of Afghanite associated with Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.FB. | Steudelite | Na3(K17Ca7)Ca4(Al24Si24O96)(SO3)6F6 · 4H2O |
9.FB. | Sapozhnikovite | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(HS)2 |
9.FB. | Betzite | Na6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4 |
9.FB. | Slyudyankaite | Na28Ca4(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6(S6)1/3(CO2) · 2H2O |
9.FB. | Bolotinaite | (Na7◻)(Al6Si6O24)F · 4H2O |
9.FB. | Wenlanzhangite-(Y) | Y2V3+2V4+2(SiO4)2O4(OH)4 |
9.FB.05 | Bystrite | (Na,K)7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(S5)Cl |
9.FB.05 | Cancrinite | (Na,Ca,◻)8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3,SO4)2 · 2H2O |
9.FB.05 | Cancrisilite | Na7(Al5Si7O24)(CO3) · 3H2O |
9.FB.05 | Davyne | (Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(Cl2,SO4)2 |
9.FB.05 | Franzinite | (Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.5H2O |
9.FB.05 | Giuseppettite | (Na,K,Ca)7-8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,Cl)1-2 |
9.FB.05 | Hydroxycancrinite | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
9.FB.05 | Liottite | (Na,K)16Ca8(Al6Si6O24)3(SO4)5Cl4 |
9.FB.05 | Microsommite | Na4K2Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)Cl2 |
9.FB.05 | Pitiglianoite | Na6K2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · 2H2O |
9.FB.05 | Quadridavyne | (Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4 |
9.FB.05 | Sacrofanite | (Na61K19Ca32)(Si84Al84O336)(SO4)26Cl2F6 · 2H2O |
9.FB.05 | Tounkite | (Na,Ca,K)8(Si6Al6)O24(SO4)2Cl · 0.5H2O |
9.FB.05 | Vishnevite | (Na,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3) · 2H2O |
9.FB.05 | Marinellite | (Na,K)42Ca6(Al6Si6O24)6(SO4)8Cl2 · 3H2O |
9.FB.05 | Farneseite | (Na,Ca,K)56(Al6Si6O24)7(SO4)12 · 6H2O |
9.FB.05 | Alloriite | (Na,Ca,K)26Ca4(Al6Si6O24)4(SO4)6Cl6 |
9.FB.05 | Biachellaite | (Na,Ca,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2(OH)0.5 · H2O |
9.FB.05 | Fantappièite | [Na82.5Ca33K16.5](Si99Al99O396)(SO4)33 · 4H2O |
9.FB.05 | Kyanoxalite | Na7(Al6-xSi6+xO24)(C2O4)0.5+x · 5H2O (0 < x < 0.5) |
9.FB.05 | Balliranoite | (Na,K)6Ca2(Si6Al6O24)Cl2(CO3) |
9.FB.05 | Carbobystrite | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3) · 3.5H2O |
9.FB.05 | Depmeierite | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(PO4,CO3)1-x · 3H2O (x |
9.FB.05 | Kircherite | Na5Ca2K(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.33H2O |
9.FB.05 | Sulfhydrylbystrite | Na5K2Ca[Al6Si6O24](S5)2(SH) |
9.FB.10 | Bicchulite | Ca2(Al2SiO6)(OH)2 |
9.FB.10 | Danalite | Be3Fe2+4(SiO4)3S |
9.FB.10 | Genthelvite | Be3Zn4(SiO4)3S |
9.FB.10 va | Hackmanite | Na8Al6Si6O24(Cl2,S) |
9.FB.10 | Haüyne | Na3Ca(Si3Al3)O12(SO4) |
9.FB.10 | Helvine | Be3Mn2+4(SiO4)3S |
9.FB.10 | Kamaishilite | Ca2(Al2SiO6)(OH)2 |
9.FB.10 | Lazurite | Na7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)(S3) · H2O |
9.FB.10 | Nosean | Na8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · H2O |
9.FB.10 | Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
9.FB.10 | Tsaregorodtsevite | (N(CH3)4)(AlSi5O12) |
9.FB.10 | Tugtupite | Na4BeAlSi4O12Cl |
9.FB.10 | Vladimirivanovite | Na6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,S3,S2,Cl)2 · H2O |
9.FB.15 | Marialite | Na4Al3Si9O24Cl |
9.FB.15 | Meionite | Ca4Al6Si6O24CO3 |
9.FB.15 | Silvialite | (Ca,Na)4(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3) |
Other Information
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 Afghanite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-41.html
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References for Afghanite
Reference List:
Hogarth, Donald D. (1979) Afghanite: new occurrences and chemical composition. The Canadian Mineralogist, 17 (1) 47-52
Hassan, I., Grundy, H. D. (1984) The crystal structures of sodalite-group minerals. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, 40 (1) 6-13 doi:10.1107/s0108768184001683
Ballirano, Paolo, Bonaccorsi, Elena, Maras, Adriana, Merlino, Stefanο (1996) Crystal structure of afghanite, the eight-layer member of the cancrinite-group: evidence for long-range Si,Al ordering. European Journal of Mineralogy, 9 (1) 21-30 doi:10.1127/ejm/9/1/0021
Localities for Afghanite
Locality List
- 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.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Quick NavTopAbout AfghaniteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Ladjuar Medam, Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan