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Tinaksite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
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.
 

  
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