Kazakovite

Summary

Kazakovite was named in honor of Maria Efimovna Kazakova analytical chemist. It is a type locality of Karnasurt mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia.[2] It was approved by the IMA in 1974, the same year it was discovered.[3]

Kazakovite
General
CategoryMineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na6Mn2+Ti(Si6O18)
IMA symbolKzk[1]
Strunz classification9.CJ.15a
Dana classification61.1.2a.2
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classHexagonal scalenohedral
H-M symbol: (3 2/m)
Space groupR 3m
Unit cell1,168.92
Identification
ColorPale yellow
TwinningSimple, complex, and polysynthetic twins, axis normal to (1124)
CleavageNone
FractureIrregular/uneven, conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness4
LusterVitreous, greasy
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity2.84
Density2.84
Optical propertiesUniaxial (−)
Refractive indexnω = 1.648 – 1.650
nε = 1.625 – 1.638
Birefringence0.023
Common impuritiesAl, Fe, Nb, Mg, Ca, K, P, H2O
Other characteristics Radioactive

Properties edit

Kazakovite is a cation-saturated member of the lovozerite group and the zirsinalite-lovozerite subgroup. It occurs in sodalite syenites, and disseminated in ussingite. X-ray studies show the mineral to be rhombohedral. It occurs as small crystals (0.01 – 2 mm), and is showing the forms {1121} and {1124}.[4] Kazakovite mainly consists of oxygen (44.59%), silicon (25.65%) and sodium (19.58%), but also contains titanium (4.45%), manganese (3.40%), iron (1.73%) and potassium (0.61%). It has a barely detectable, 8.56 radioactivity measured in Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units. It is radioactive due to containing potassium, even though in low amounts. The concentration measured in GRapi is 11.68%.[5]

Tisinalite edit

After its discovery, it was quickly noticed the mineral is unstable in air. The mineral became covered in efflorescence of natron and thermonatrite after several days in room conditions. After special experimental studies, it was found that the mineral alters in air into H-kazakovite, better known as tisinalite. The process is complete after several weeks of exposure to moist air.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Kazakovite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  3. ^ "KAZAKOVITE". euromin.w3sites.net. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  4. ^ Fleischer, Michael (1975). "New Mineral Names" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 060: 161–162.
  5. ^ "Kazakovite Mineral Data". webmineral.com. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  6. ^ Pekov, Igor V.; Krivovichev, Sergey V.; Zolotarev, Andrey A.; Yakovenchuk, Viktor N.; Armbruster, Thomas; Pakhomovsky, Yakov A. (September 2009). "Crystal chemistry and nomenclature of the lovozerite group" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)