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Itsiite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Itsiite, etc.

Gun claim, Wilson Lake, Itsi Mountain, Watson Lake mining district, Yukon, Canada

Itsiite, etc.

Gun claim, Wilson Lake, Itsi Mountain, Watson Lake mining district, Yukon, Canada

Itsiite, etc.

Gun claim, Wilson Lake, Itsi Mountain, Watson Lake mining district, Yukon, Canada

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About ItsiiteHide

Gun claim area overview

Gun claim, Wilson Lake, Itsi Mountain, Watson Lake mining district, Yukon, Canada

Formula:

Ba₄Ca₂[Si₈B₄O₂₈]◻

may also be given as Ba₂Ca(BSi₂O₇)₂

Colour:

Colorless and light blue to medium greenish-blue

Lustre:

Vitreous

Hardness:

5½

Specific Gravity:

3.644 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Member of:

Hyalotekite Group

Name:

Itsiite is named for the Itsi Mountain Range, a spectacular, glaciated, multi-peaked massif within the Selwyn Mountains proper. “Itsi” means “wind” in the language of the Kaska, a First Nations people of the area.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Trench 1, Gun claim, Wilson Lake, Itsi Mountain, Watson Lake mining district, Yukon, Canada

Structurally related to hyalotekite and kapitsaite-(Y). The B₂◻ (or B2-vacancy-) analogue of hyalotekite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

45994

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:45994:7

GUID
(UUID V4):

8a2aca2c-e3b6-4abc-9731-df8fd34e48a8

IMA Classification of ItsiiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

Ba₂Ca(BSi₂O₇)₂

Approval year:

2013

First published:

2014

Type description reference:

Kampf, Anthony R., Peterson, Ronald C., Joy, Brian R. (2014) Itsiite, Ba₂Ca(BSi₂O₇)₂, a new mineral species from Yukon, Canada: Description and crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist, 52 (3) 401-407 doi:10.3749/canmin.52.3.401

Classification of ItsiiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

9.CH.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
H : [Si₄O₁₂]₈- 4-membered double rings

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
Its	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 ItsiiteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colorless and light blue to medium greenish-blue

Streak:

White

Hardness:

5½ on Mohs scale

Comment:

Based on scratch test

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Perfect
on {001}

Fracture:

Splintery

Density:

3.644 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Comment:

Could not be measured because the crystals are generally heavily included with cerchiaraite-(Fe)

Optical Data of ItsiiteHide

Type:

Uniaxial (-)

RI values:

n_ω = 1.623(1) n_ε = 1.619(1)

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.004

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

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of ItsiiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Ba₄Ca₂[Si₈B₄O₂₈]◻

may also be given as Ba₂Ca(BSi₂O₇)₂

Elements listed:

B, Ba, Ca, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of ItsiiteHide

Crystal System:

Tetragonal

Class (H-M):

4 2m - Scalenohedral

Space Group:

I4 2m

Setting:

I4 2m

Cell Parameters:

a = 10.9515(5) Å, c = 10.3038(7) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 0.941

Unit Cell V:

1235.79 Å³

Morphology:

Tetragonal plates flattened on {001} and exhibit the forms {001}, {101}, and {112}; ; the forms {101} and {112} are generally striated.

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)
0020420	Itsiite	Kampf A R, Peterson R C, Joy B R (2014) Itsiite, Ba2Ca(BSi2O7)2, a new mineral species from Yukon, Canada: description and crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 52 401-407		2014	Itsi Range, Yukon Territory, Canada	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Itsiite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Kampf A R'
'Peterson R C'
'Joy B R'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 52 
_journal_year 2014
_journal_page_first 401
_journal_page_last 407
_publ_section_title
;
 Itsiite, Ba2Ca(BSi2O7)2, a new mineral species from Yukon, Canada: description
 and crystal structure
;
_database_code_amcsd 0020420
_chemical_compound_source 'Itsi Range, Yukon Territory, Canada'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Ba2 Ca Si4 B2 O14'
_cell_length_a 10.9515
_cell_length_b 10.9515
_cell_length_c 10.3038
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 1235.790
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      3.616
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'I -4 2 m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  'y,-x,-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  'y,x,z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  '-y,x,-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  'x,-y,-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Ba   0.20510   0.20510   0.99881   0.00998
Ca   0.00000   0.00000   0.24310   0.00920
Si   0.51470   0.20071   0.23644   0.00622
B   0.50000   0.33200   0.00000   0.00440
O1   0.40560   0.40560   0.06650   0.00750
O2   0.56050   0.25250   0.09800   0.01000
O3   0.49730   0.30220   0.34540   0.01120
O4   0.62330   0.11060   0.28800   0.01400
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
Ba 0.00937 0.00937 0.01120 -0.00020 0.00087 0.00087
Ca 0.00770 0.00770 0.01210 -0.00120 0.00000 0.00000
Si 0.00520 0.00470 0.00880 -0.00040 0.00040 0.00030
B 0.00220 0.00530 0.00550 0.00000 0.00100 0.00000
O1 0.00690 0.00690 0.00870 0.00180 0.00060 0.00060
O2 0.00810 0.01030 0.01140 0.00140 0.00150 0.00360
O3 0.01280 0.00930 0.01170 0.00310 -0.00190 -0.00140
O4 0.01460 0.01190 0.01540 0.00590 -0.00300 0.00100

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.764 Å	(100)
3.446 Å	(60)
3.100 Å	(51)
2.899 Å	(96)
2.279 Å	(44)
2.145 Å	(69)
1.758 Å	(43)

Comments:

From Type Description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits

Type Occurrence of ItsiiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Trench 1, Gun claim, Wilson Lake, Itsi Mountain, Watson Lake mining district, Yukon, Canada

General Appearance of Type Material:

As intergrowths of tetragonal plates up to 1 mm across. Crystals of Itsiite are commonly heavily included with cerchiaraite-(Fe)

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Type material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA, catalogue number 64072

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Ba-rich skarn deposit associated with a quartz monzonite. Itsiite found in low temperature, late-stage veins

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Witherite	Sphalerite	Quartz	Pyrite	Diopside
Cerchiaraite-(Fe)

Reference:

Kampf, A.R., Peterson, R.C., Joy, B.R. (2014) Itsiite, Ba2Ca(BSi2O7)2, a new mineral species from Yukon, Canada: Description and crystal structure. Canadian Mineralogist: 52: 401-407.

Synonyms of ItsiiteHide

IMA2013-085

Relationship of Itsiite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Hyalotekite Group

Other Members of this group:

Hyalotekite	(Ba,Pb,K)₄(Ca,Y)₂(B,Be)₂(Si,B)₂Si₈O₂₈(F,Cl)	Tric. 1 : P1
Kapitsaite-(Y)	(Ba,K,Pb)₄(Y,Ca)₂Si₈(B,Si)₄O₂₈F	Tric. 1 : P1
Khvorovite	(Pb,Ba,K)₄Ca₂[Si₈B₂(Si,B)₂O₂₈]F	Tric.

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

3 photos of Itsiite associated with Cerchiaraite-(Fe)	Ba₄Fe³⁺₄O₃(OH)₃(Si₄O₁₂)[Si₂O₃(OH)₄]Cl
3 photos of Itsiite associated with Pellyite	Ba₂Ca(Fe,Mg)₂Si₆O₁₇
3 photos of Itsiite associated with Gillespite	BaFe²⁺Si₄O₁₀
3 photos of Itsiite associated with Witherite	BaCO₃
2 photos of Itsiite associated with Hedenbergite	CaFe²⁺Si₂O₆
1 photo of Itsiite associated with Pyrite	FeS₂

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.CH.05	Hyalotekite	(Ba,Pb,K)₄(Ca,Y)₂(B,Be)₂(Si,B)₂Si₈O₂₈(F,Cl)	Tric. 1 : P1
9.CH.05	Kapitsaite-(Y)	(Ba,K,Pb)₄(Y,Ca)₂Si₈(B,Si)₄O₂₈F	Tric. 1 : P1
9.CH.05	Khvorovite	(Pb,Ba,K)₄Ca₂[Si₈B₂(Si,B)₂O₂₈]F	Tric.
9.CH.10	Iraqite-(La)	KCa₂(La,Ce,Th)Si₈O₂₀	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mcc
9.CH.10	Steacyite	K_0.3(Na,Ca)₂ThSi₈O₂₀	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mcc
9.CH.10	Turkestanite	(K,◻)(Ca,Na)₂ThSi₈O₂₀ · nH₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mcc
9.CH.10	Arapovite	(K_1-x◻_x)(Ca,Na)₂U⁴⁺Si₈O₂₀ (x ~ 0.5)	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mcc

Fluorescence of ItsiiteHide

In UV light:

non-fluorescent

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Slowly decompose in concentrated HCl (about 1 h) and are unreactive in concentrated H2SO4 (days).

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 ItsiiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-45994.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

Look for Itsiite on Webmineral

Look for Itsiite on Wikipedia

Look for Itsiite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

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References for ItsiiteHide

Reference List:

Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2013) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2013. CNMNC Newsletter No 18. Mineralogical Magazine, 77 (8) 3249-3258 doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.8.15

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

Localities for ItsiiteHide

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
Yukon Watson Lake mining district Itsi Mountain Wilson Lake ⓘ Gun claim	Kampf et al. (2014) +1 other reference
ⓘ Trench 1 (TL)	Kampf et al. (2014)

Itsiite

About ItsiiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of ItsiiteHide

Classification of ItsiiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of ItsiiteHide

Optical Data of ItsiiteHide

Chemistry of ItsiiteHide

Crystallography of ItsiiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of ItsiiteHide

Synonyms of ItsiiteHide

Relationship of Itsiite to other SpeciesHide

Common AssociatesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Fluorescence of ItsiiteHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for ItsiiteHide

References for ItsiiteHide

Localities for ItsiiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide