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Yuksporite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  (K,Ba)(Na,Sr)Ca₂(Si,Ti)₄O₁₁(F,OH)·H₂O
[Hydrated Potassium Barium Sodium Calcium Titanium Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide]

Discovered in 1922;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Yuksporite is named after its discovery locality, Mount Yukspor, Khibina alkaline complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.35-40

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DG.95

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

Related to:

Umbite Group. Ashcroftine-(Y) Series.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Fibrous, scaly, or lamellar; in irregular aggregates, to 10 cm.

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[???] Perfect

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven, Fibrous, Granular

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

5.0

Density:

3.05 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Barely Detectable; GRapi = 86.57 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) 

Optical Properties

Color:

Brownish Pink to Red

Transparency:

Semitransparent

Luster:

Vitreous, Silky

Refractive Index:

1.644 - 1.660  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.0160

Dispersion:

Strong

Pleochroism:

Relatively Strong; X = pale rose-yellow; Y = Z = rose-yellow

Occurances

Geological Setting:

In veins in nepheline syenite in a differentiated alkalic massif (Khibiny massif, Russia).

Common Associations:

Aegirine, Astrophyllite, Biotite, Pectolite, Titanite (Khibiny massif, Russia); Aegirine, Barium Lamprophyllite, Kalsilite, Potassic Feldspar, Lamprophyllite, Tausonite, Titanite, Wadeite (Murun massif, Russia)

Common Impurities:

Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Sr, Cl

Type Locality:

Hackman Valley, Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1922

View mineral photos:

Yuksporite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Yuksporite is a rare silicate mineral that only comes from one place on earth: near Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Northern Region, Russia. It is also one of the few silicate gem minerals that contains Titanium. The others are Astrophyllite, Benitoite, Neptunite and Sphene (Titanite). There are also a few oxide gem minerals that contain Titanium: Anatase, Brookite and Rutile. Yuksporite is typically found as fine-fibrous agregate material and never as distinct crystals and so is a cabochon type gem. Its brownish-pink to red colors and chatoyance make for an attractive and unusual gem.
 

  
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