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Tinaksite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Tinaksite

  
Tinaksite is named for its composition: titanium (Ti), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and silicon (Si) - Ti-Na-K-Si-te. The picture at left shows orange Tinaksite associated with purple Charoite, yellow
Canasite and black Aegirine.

Discovered in 1965;   IMA status: Valid (IMA approved)

 

Chemistry

 

 

Chemical Formula:

K2Na(Ca,Mn2+)2(Ti,Fe)Si7O19(OH)

 

Potasium Sodium Calcium Manganese Titanium Iron Oxide Silicate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

751.73 gm

Composition:

Potassium

10.40 %

K

12.53 %

K2O

 

Sodium

3.06 %

Na

4.12 %

Na2O

 

Calcium

9.33 %

Ca

13.05 %

CaO

 

Titanium

5.41 %

Ti

9.03 %

TiO2

 

Manganese

1.83 %

Mn

2.36 %

MnO

 

Iron

1.11 %

Fe

1.43 %

FeO

 

Silicon

26.15 %

Si

55.95 %

SiO2

 

Hydrogen

0.13 %

H

1.20 %

H2O

 

Oxygen

42.57 %

O

 

 

 

 

100.00 %

 

99.68 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

 

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.22-30

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DG.75

 

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains

Related to:

Tinaksite Group.

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Triclinic - Unknown or Uncertain Class

Crystal Habit:

As well-formed long prismatic crystals, to 15 cm; commonly as bundles and rosettes of radiating crystals, or compact fibrous aggregates, to 10 cm.

Twinning:

None

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

{010} Perfect, {110} Indistinct

Fracture:

Fibrous

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

6.0

Density:

2.82 - 2.90 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Barely Detectable; GRapi = 148.49 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

Color:

Pink, Pale Yellow, Light Brown, Orange

Transparency:

Transparent to Translucent

Luster:

Vitreous on cleavages

Refractive Index:

1.593 - 1.666  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.0730

Dispersion:

Strong

Pleochroism:

X = Y = colorless; Z = pale orange-yellow or orange-brown

 

 

Occurances

   

   

Geological Setting:

An accessory mineral in potassic feldspar metasomatites at the contact with limestones (Murun massif, Russia).

Common Associations:

Potassic Feldspar, Aegirine, Quartz, Canasite, Xonotlite (Murun massif, Russia); Orthoclase, Pyroxene, Aegirine, Astrophyllite, Hisingerite (Khibiny massif, Russia).

Common Impurities:

Al, Fe, Mg, H2O

Type Locality:

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

Year Discovered:

1965

View mineral photos:

Tinaksite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 


Tinaksite is a fairly common but relatively unknown mineral that is most commonly found as light brown to orange fibrous aggregates in Charoite. It is often chatoyant and contrasted against swirling purple Charoite makes for beautiful cabochons. The picture above shows orange Tinaksite associated with purple Charoite, yellow
Canasite and black Aegirine. Tinaksite is extremely rare as a faceted gem.

Tinaksite is found at only two localities in the world, and both are in Russia; in the Murun massif, southwest of Olekminsk, Yakutia, and on Mt. Rasvumchorr, Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula.
 

  
Tinaksite gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Tinaksite gems. Please check back soon.
 

 

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