Kirchhoffite
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About Kirchhoffite
Formula:
Cs(BSi2O6)
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
3.622
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 2010 by Atali A. Agakhanov, Leonid A. Pautov, Vladimir Yu. Karpenko, Elena Sokolova, and Frank C. Hawthorne in honor of Gustav Kirchhoff [March 12, 1824 Königsberg, East Prussia (Germany)– October 17, 1887 (Berlin, Germany] who was co-discoverer of cesium and who co-developed the field of chemical spectroscopy. Kirchhoff also developed, among many other discoveries, laws governing electrical circuits and proposed the fundamentals of what he termed "black body radiation."
Classification of Kirchhoffite
Approved
Approval year:
2009
First published:
2012
9.GB.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
B : Chains of single connected 4-membered rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
B : Chains of single connected 4-membered rings
77.1.1.8
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
Physical Properties of Kirchhoffite
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.622 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.639 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Kirchhoffite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.592 nε = 1.600
Birefringence:
0.008
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.008

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:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemical Properties of Kirchhoffite
Formula:
Cs(BSi2O6)
IMA Formula:
CsBSi2O6
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Kirchhoffite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
I41/acd
Setting:
I41/acd
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.019(2) Å, c = 12.900(2) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.991
Unit Cell V:
2,186.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
16
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0019219 | Kirchhoffite | Agakhanov A A, Pautov L A, Karpenko V Y, Sokolova E, Hawthorne F C (2012) Kirchhoffite, CsBSi2O6, a new mineral species from the Darai-Pioz Alkaline Massif,Tajikistan: Description and crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 50 523-529 | 2012 | Upper Dara-Pioz alkaline massif, Garm district, Tajikistan | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.32 Å | (32) |
3.48 Å | (82) |
3.26 Å | (100) |
2.770 Å | (67) |
2.373 Å | (21) |
2.294 Å | (41) |
2.109 Å | (34) |
1.768 Å | (22) |
Comments:
The crystal structure of kirchhoffite was refined to an R1 index of 3.1% based on 487 observed reflections collected on a four-circle diffractometer with MoKα X-radiation. In the structure, there are two tetrahedrally coordinated sites: Si is occupied by silicon, = 1.610 Å, B is occupied by boron, = 1.465 Å, and Cs is [12]-coordinated,
= 3.301 Å. Tetrahedra form a [BSi2O6] framework, the topology of which is identical to that of tetragonal pollucite, CsAlSi2O6. The [12]-coordinated Cs atoms occupy the channels along [111] formed by six-membered rings of tetrahedra. Kirchhoffite, CsBSi2O6, is a B analogue of the tetragonal modification of pollucite.
Type Occurrence of Kirchhoffite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Occurs as colorless equant grains 10 to 80 μm in diameter
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, russia, reg. no. 3923/1
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Agakhanov, A.A., Pautov, L.A., Karpenko, V.Y., Sokolova, E., Hawthorne, F.C., (2012) Kirchhoffite, CsBSi2O6, a new mineral species from the Darai-Pioz Alkaline Massif, Tajikistan: Description and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist: 50: 523-529.
Synonyms of Kirchhoffite
Other Language Names for Kirchhoffite
Spanish:Kirchhoffita
Relationship of Kirchhoffite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Alflarsenite | NaCa2Be3Si4O13(OH) · 2H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
Amicite | K2Na2Al4Si4O16 · 5H2O | Mon. 2 |
Ammonioleucite | (NH4)(AlSi2O6) | Tet. |
Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Bellbergite | (K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2O | Hex. |
Bikitaite | LiAlSi2O6 · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Boggsite | Ca8Na3(Si,Al)96O192 · 70H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Imma |
Brewsterite-Ba | (Ba,Sr)[Al2Si6O16] · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
Brewsterite-Sr | (Sr,Ba,Ca)[Al2Si6O16] · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
Chabazite-Levyne Subgroup | M[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O | |
Chiavennite | CaMnBe2Si5O13(OH)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Clinoptilolite | M3-6(Si30Al6)O72 · 20H2O | |
Cowlesite | CaAl2Si3O10 · 6H2O | Orth. |
Dachiardite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O | Mon. |
Dachiardite-K | K4(Si20Al4O48) · 13H2O | Mon. |
Dachiardite-Na | (Na2,Ca,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O | Mon. |
Direnzoite | NaK6MgCa2(Al13Si47O120) · 36H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn |
Edingtonite | Ba[Al2Si3O10] · 4H2O | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
Epistilbite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 5H2O | Mon. |
Erionite | M2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O | |
Faujasite | M3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O | |
Ferrierite | Zeolite Group. | |
Ferrochiavennite | Ca1-2Fe[(Si,Al,Be)5Be2O13(OH)2] · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Flörkeite | (K3Ca2Na)[Al8Si8O32] · 12H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Garronite-Ca | Na2Ca5Al12Si20O64 · 27H2O | Tet. 4 2m : I4m2 |
Gaultite | Na4Zn2Si7O18 · 5H2O | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
Gismondine-Ba | Ba2Al4Si4O16 · 4-6H2O | |
Gismondine-Ca | CaAl2Si2O8 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Gmelinite | In 1997, gmelinite was split into Gmelinite-Ca, Gmelinite-Na and Gmelinite-K. | |
Gobbinsite | Na5(Si11Al5)O32 · 11H2O | Orth. |
Goosecreekite | Ca[Al2Si6O16] · 5H2O | Mon. |
Gottardiite | Na3Mg3Ca5Al19Si117O272 · 93H2O | Orth. |
Heulandite | Heulandite is the name applied to specimens with unknown dominance of the extra-framework cations. | |
Hsianghualite | Ca3Li2(Be3Si3O12)F2 | Iso. 4 3 2 : I41 3 2 |
Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Lovdarite | K2Na6Be4Si14O36 · 9H2O | Orth. mm2 |
Maricopaite | Pb7Ca2(Si,Al)48O100 · 32H2O | Orth. |
Martinandresite | Ba2(Al4Si12O32) · 10H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn |
Mazzite-Mg | (Mg,K,Ca)5(Si26Al10)O72 · 28H2O | Hex. |
Mazzite-Na | Na8[Al4Si14O36]2 · 30H2O | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
Merlinoite | (K,Na)5(Ca,Ba)2Al9Si23O64 · 23H2O | Orth. |
Montesommaite | (K,Na)9Al9Si23O64 · 10H2O | Orth. |
Mordenite | (Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2O | Orth. |
Mutinaite | Na3Ca4Si85Al11O192 · 60H2O | Orth. |
Nabesite | Na2BeSi4O10 · 4H2O | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
Natrolite Subgroup | A subgroup of the Zeolite Group. | |
Offretite | KCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2O | Hex. 6 m2 : P6m2 |
Pahasapaite | Li8(Ca,Li,K)10.5Be24(PO4)24 · 38H2O | Iso. 2 3 : I2 3 |
Parthéite | Ca2(Si4Al4) O15 (OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Paulingite-Ca | (Ca,K,Na,Ba, ◻)10 (Si, Al)42O84 · 34H2O | Iso. |
Paulingite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2,Ba)5[Al10Si35O90] · 45H2O | Iso. |
Paulingite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca,Ba)5[Al10Si35O90] · 45H2O | Iso. |
Perlialite | K9Na(Ca,Sr)[Al2Si4O12]6 · 15H2O | Hex. |
Phillipsite subgroup | Zeolite Group. | |
Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
Roggianite | Ca2Be(OH)2Al2Si4O13 · 2.5H2O | Tet. |
Stilbite subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O | |
Terranovaite | (Na,Ca)8(Si68Al12)O160 · 29H2O | Orth. |
Thomsonite-Ca | NaCa2[Al5Si5O20] · 6H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Thomsonite-Sr | Na(Sr,Ca)2[Al5Si5O20] · 7H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Tschernichite | (Ca,Na2)[Al2Si4O12] · 4-8H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm |
Tschörtnerite | Ca4(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)3Cu3[Al3Si3O12]4(OH)8 · nH2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
UM1996-38-SiO:AlCaHNa | Na-Ca-Al-Si-O-H | |
UM1999-33-SiO:AlHKNa | K7Na5Al12Si20O64 · 24H2O | |
UM2002-40-SiO:AlCaHKMgNa | (Mg,Ca,Na,K)7.5(Al12.8Si51.2)O128 · 65H2O | Tet. 4 2 2 : P41 2 2 |
Unnamed (Ca analogue of Merlinoite) | (Ca,K,Na)5(Ca,Ba)2Al9Si23O64 · 23H2O ? | |
Wairakite | Ca(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m |
Weinebeneite | CaBe3(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
Wenkite | (Ba,K)4(Ca,Na)6[(Si,Al)20O39(OH)2](SO4)3 · 0.5H2O | Hex. |
Willhendersonite | KCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2O | Tric. |
Yugawaralite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 4H2O | Mon. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
9.GB.05 | Ammonioleucite | (NH4)(AlSi2O6) | Tet. |
9.GB.05 | Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
9.GB.05 | Hsianghualite | Ca3Li2(Be3Si3O12)F2 | Iso. 4 3 2 : I41 3 2 |
9.GB.05 | Lithosite | K6Al4Si8O25 · 2H2O | Mon. |
9.GB.05 | Leucite | K(AlSi2O6) | Tet. 4/m : I41/a |
9.GB.05 | Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
9.GB.05 | Wairakite | Ca(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m |
9.GB.10 | Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
9.GB.15 | Yugawaralite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 4H2O | Mon. |
9.GB.20 | Roggianite | Ca2Be(OH)2Al2Si4O13 · 2.5H2O | Tet. |
9.GB.25 | Goosecreekite | Ca[Al2Si6O16] · 5H2O | Mon. |
9.GB.30 | Montesommaite | (K,Na)9Al9Si23O64 · 10H2O | Orth. |
9.GB.35 | Parthéite | Ca2(Si4Al4) O15 (OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
77.1.1.1 | Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
77.1.1.2 | Pollucite | (Cs,Na)2(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
77.1.1.3 | Wairakite | Ca(Al2Si4O12) · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m |
77.1.1.4 | Laumontite | CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
77.1.1.5 | Hsianghualite | Ca3Li2(Be3Si3O12)F2 | Iso. 4 3 2 : I41 3 2 |
Fluorescence of Kirchhoffite
Not fluorescent
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.
References for Kirchhoffite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Agakhanov, A.A., Pautov, L.A., Karpenko, V.Yu., Sokolova, E., Hawthorne, F.C. (2010) Kirchhoffite IMA 2009-094, CNMNC Newsletter. Mineralogical Magazine: 74: 375-377.
Agakhanov, A.A., Pautov, L.A., Karpenko, V.Y., Sokolova, E., Hawthorne, F.C., (2012) Kirchhoffite, CsBSi2O6, a new mineral species from the Darai-Pioz Alkaline Massif, Tajikistan: Description and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist: 50: 523-529.
Belakovskiy, D., Cámara, F., Diego Gatta, G. (2014) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 99: 870-875.
Internet Links for Kirchhoffite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-40071.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Kirchhoffite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Tajikistan (TL) | |
| Agakhanov, A.A., Pautov, L.A., Karpenko, V.Y., Sokolova, E., Hawthorne, F.C., (2012) Kirchhoffite, CsBSi2O6, a new mineral species from the Darai-Pioz Alkaline Massif, Tajikistan: Description and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist: 50: 523-529. |
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Dara-i-Pioz Glacier, Districts of Republican Subordination, Tajikistan