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Chirvinskyite, (Na,Ca)13(Fe,Mn,□)2(Ti,Nb)2(Zr,Ti)3(Si2O7)4(OH,O,F)12, is a new wöhlerite-related zirconotitano-sorosilicate. It is triclinic, P 1¯, a = 7.0477(5), b = 9.8725(5), c = 12.2204(9) Å, α = 77.995(5), β = 82.057(6), γ = 89.988(5)°, V = 823.35(9) Å3, Z = 1. The mineral was found in albitized alkaline pegmatites in a foyaite of the Mt. Takhtarvumchorr (Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia, N 67°40′, E 33°33′). Chirvinskyite forms sheaf-like and radiated aggregates (up to 6 mm in diameter) of split fibrous crystals hosted by saccharoidal fluorapatite and albite. The mineral is pale cream in color, with a silky luster and a white streak. The cleavage is not recognized. Mohs hardness is 5. Chirvinskyite is biaxial (-), α 1.670(2), β 1.690(2), γ 1.705(2) (589 nm), 2Vcalc = 80.9°. The calculated and measured densities are 3.41 and 3.07(2) g·cm−3, respectively. The empirical formula based on Si = 8 apfu is (Na9.81Ca3.28K0.01)∑13.10(Fe0.72Mn0.69□0.54Mg0.05)∑2.00(Ti1.81Nb0.19)∑2.00(Zr2.27Ti0.63)∑2.90(Si2O7)4{(OH)5.94O3.09F2.97}∑12.00. Chirvinskyite belongs to a new structure type of minerals and inorganic compounds and is related to the wöhlerite-group minerals. Its modular “wallpaper” structure consists of disilicate groups Si2O7 and three types of “octahedral walls”. The mineral is named in honor of Petr Nikolaevich Chirvinsky (1880-1955), Russian geologist and petrographer, head of the Petrography Department of the Perm’ State University (1943-1953), for his contributions to mineralogy and petrology, including studies of the Khibiny alkaline massif.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 219 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Minerals |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Apr 2019 |
ID: 45423767