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Afghanite Display collections
<(Na,K)₂₂Ca₁₀>24Al₂₄O₉₆>(SO4)₆Cl₆
A sodium calcium potassium silica aluminum oxide sulfate chlorite carbonate. Found at least at six localities and will certainly be found at others. The crystals from Afghanistan are by far the best ones found thus far. See the Afghanistan entry for details.

AfghaniteAfghanistanBadakhshan Province, Sar-e-Sang.








Originally described by Bariand and others. “It forms the core of a crystal of lazurite, associated with sodalite, nepheline, phlogopite, olivine, and pyrite” (American Mineralogist, Vol.53, p.2105. 1968) “Tabular,…crystals show several orders of dipyramids, penetration turning sometimes present. Bluish, or colorless transparent. ..Forms cores in lazurite crystals. Pseudomorphs of lazurite and afghanite after quartz from Sar-e Sang.”₁ The material has the general morphology of quartz but since it occurs in a marble deficient in quartz these may not be quartz pseudomorphs. Prior to 2001 this mineral was for rare species collections only. At the 2002 Tucson gem and mineral show, specimens with crystals up to about a half an inch were sparingly available. Prices for anything decent were in excess of $1000. Like the lazurite specimens from the same locality these specimens were not of free standing crystals, but had been worked out of the host rock to give them their best display. At this point, 2002, it is not clear exactly what these specimens with the large crystals are. It may be wishful thinking on the part of some specimen dealers when they call them afghanite but then again if a crystal contains two or more minerals in its structure, what mineral name do you give it. A naming convention for such crystals has not yet been developed let alone agreed upon. “Most I’ve analyzed are borderlines and intergrowths, not pure end-members. They are all visually indistinguishable from most of the other blue cancrinite group minerals!”₂
1. Dana’s New Mineralogy, 8th edition, p 1634, Gains et. all. - 2. Tony Nickishire, personal communication May 2002.
Dudley Blauwett gave a number of specimens to Frank Hawthorne for analysis. Ask him what he has found.

AfghaniteItalyLatium, Viterbo Province, Montenero Quarry

We need someone to tell us about the afghanite specimens from this locality.


AfghaniteItalyLatium, Viterbo Province, Valentano, Mezzano

We need someone to tell us about the afghanite specimens from this locality.


AfghaniteItalyLatium, Viterbo Province, Vico Lake, Vetralla, Tre Croci


We need someone to tell us about the afghanite specimens from this locality.


AfghaniteItalyTuscany, Pitigliano
“Afghanite occurs as clear to almost opaque, colorless to white blocky small but sharp crystals scattered in a vuggy matrix. Another cancrinite group mineral from this locality, each specimen will probably yield several nice afghanite micros. Matrix sizes from 2.5cm to 6.0cm @ 20.00, 30.00, and 45.00 each.”₁
1. Tony Nikischer, Excalibur Mineral Company price list, .


AfghaniteRussiaTransbaikalia (Zabaykalye), Buriatia (Buryatia) Republic, Baikal area, Sludyanka (Slyudyanka), Tunka Valley, Malo-Bystrinskoye lazurite deposit.


AfghaniteItalyTuscany, Pitigliano
“Afghanite occurs as clear to almost opaque, colorless to white blocky small but sharp crystals scattered in a vuggy matrix. Another cancrinite group mineral from this locality, each specimen will probably yield several nice afghanite micros. Matrix sizes from 2.5cm to 6.0cm @ 20.00, 30.00, and 45.00 each.”₁
1. Tony Nikischer, Excalibur Mineral Company price list.



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