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Kamaishilite

A valid IMA mineral species
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07496780017271924084648.jpg
Site of beneficiation plant

Kamaishi mine, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Formula:
Ca2(Al2SiO6)(OH)2
Colour:
colourless
Specific Gravity:
2.82 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named in 1981 by E. Uchida and J.T. Iiyama after the type locality, Kamaishi mine, Japan.
Dimorph of:
Bicchulite
Chemically very similar to gehlenite (anhydrous).


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
2144
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2144:5

IMA Classification of KamaishiliteHide

Classification of KamaishiliteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
9.FB.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
B : Tektosilicates with additional anions
Dana 8th ed.:
76.2.3.6

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:
16.9.11

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
KamIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of KamaishiliteHide

Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Density:
2.82 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of KamaishiliteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.629 nε = 1.629
Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).

This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic (convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.

For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Isotropic, nearly.

Chemistry of KamaishiliteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ca2(Al2SiO6)(OH)2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O43.802 %
Ca27.430 %
Al18.467 %
Si9.611 %
H0.690 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Ca
Al
Si
H
Elements listed:
Al, Ca, H, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mg,H2O

Crystallography of KamaishiliteHide

Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.850 Å, c = 8.770 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.991
Unit Cell V:
686.89 ÅÂģ (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Grains to 0.1 mm.
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: Body-centered cell.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.607 Å(100)
2.799 Å(85)
2.777 Å(40)
2.547 Å(40)
1.557 Å(35)
2.085 Å(30)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations

Type Occurrence of KamaishiliteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Kamaishi mine, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
General Appearance of Type Material:
grains up to about 0.1 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan, M23560.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
vesuvianite skarn in a marble
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
VesuvianitePerovskiteCalciteMagnetiteChalcopyrite
Reference:
Uchida, E., Iiyama, J.T. (1981) On kamaishilite, Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2, a new mineral dimorphous (tetragonal) with bicchulite from the Kamaishi mine, Japan. Proceedings of the Japan Academy: 57B: 239-243.

Synonyms of KamaishiliteHide

Other Language Names for KamaishiliteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.FB.Perchukite-(Y)PbYAsSi2O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.FB.Åsgruvanite-(Ce)Ce16Ca5Al(SiO4)6(AsO3)8(CO3)2Cl4F3(OH)2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
9.FB.SteudeliteNa3(K17Ca7)Ca4(Al24Si24O96)(SO3)6F6 · 4H2OHex. 6m2 : P62c
9.FB.Wenlanzhangite-(Y)Y2V3+2V4+2(SiO4)2O4(OH)4Tric. 1 : P1
9.FB.SlyudyankaiteNa28Ca4(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6(S6)1/3(CO2) · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
9.FB.Bolotinaite(Na7â—ŧ)(Al6Si6O24)F · 4H2OIso. 43m : I43m
9.FB.SapozhnikoviteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(HS)2Iso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.BetziteNa6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4Hex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Quadridavyne(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4Hex. 6/m : P63/m
9.FB.05SulfhydrylbystriteNa5K2Ca[Al6Si6O24](S5)2(SH)Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Marinellite(Na,K)42Ca6(Al6Si6O24)6(SO4)8Cl2 · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Afghanite(Na,K)22Ca10(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6Cl6Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Bystrite(Na,K)7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(S5)ClTrig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Franzinite(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.5H2OHex.
9.FB.05KyanoxaliteNa7(Al6-xSi6+xO24)(C2O4)0.5+x · 5H2O (0 < x < 0.5)Hex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Vishnevite(Na,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3) · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Farneseite(Na,Ca,K)56(Al6Si6O24)7(SO4)12 · 6H2OHex. 6/m : P63/m
9.FB.05Alloriite(Na,Ca,K)26Ca4(Al6Si6O24)4(SO4)6Cl6Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Liottite(Na,K)16Ca8(Al6Si6O24)3(SO4)5Cl4Hex. 6 : P6
9.FB.05DepmeieriteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(PO4,CO3)1-x · 3H2O (x<0.5)Hex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Biachellaite(Na,Ca,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2(OH)0.5 · H2OTrig. 3 : P3
9.FB.05Cancrinite(Na,Ca,â—ŧ)8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3,SO4)2 · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05CancrisiliteNa7(Al5Si7O24)(CO3) · 3H2OHex. 6mm : P63mc
9.FB.05FantappiÃĻite[Na82.5Ca33K16.5](Si99Al99O396)(SO4)33 · 4H2OTrig. 3 : R3
9.FB.05CarbobystriteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3) · 3.5H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05MicrosommiteNa4K2Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)Cl2Hex. 622 : P6322
9.FB.05PitiglianoiteNa6K2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Tounkite(Na,Ca,K)8(Si6Al6)O24(SO4)2Cl · 0.5H2OHex. 622 : P6222
9.FB.05Balliranoite(Na,K)6Ca2(Si6Al6O24)Cl2(CO3)Hex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Giuseppettite(Na,K,Ca)7-8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,Cl)1-2Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Sacrofanite(Na61K19Ca32)(Si84Al84O336)(SO4)26Cl2F6 · 2H2OHex.
9.FB.05KircheriteNa5Ca2K(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.33H2OTrig. 32 : R32
9.FB.05HydroxycancriniteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(OH)2 · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Davyne(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(Cl2,SO4)2Hex. 6/m : P63/m
9.FB.10HaÞyneNa3Ca(Si3Al3)O12(SO4)Iso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10LazuriteNa7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)(S3) · H2OIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10DanaliteBe3Fe2+4(SiO4)3SIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10HelvineBe3Mn2+4(SiO4)3SIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10SodaliteNa4(Si3Al3)O12ClIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10NoseanNa8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · H2OIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10GenthelviteBe3Zn4(SiO4)3SIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10BicchuliteCa2(Al2SiO6)(OH)2Iso. 43m : I43m
9.FB.10Tsaregorodtsevite(N(CH3)4)(AlSi5O12)Orth. 222 : I222
9.FB.10VladimirivanoviteNa6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,S3,S2,Cl)2 · H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.FB.10Tugtupite(BeAlSi)Na4(SiO4)3ClTet. 4 : I4
9.FB.15MarialiteNa4Al3Si9O24ClTet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FB.15MeioniteCa4Al6Si6O24CO3Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FB.15Silvialite(Ca,Na)4(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3)Tet. 4/m : I4/m

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for KamaishiliteHide

References for KamaishiliteHide

Localities for KamaishiliteHide

Showing 3 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Japan (TL)
 
  • Iwate Prefecture
    • Kamaishi City
Uchida et al. (1981)
Romania
 
  • Hunedoara County
    • VaÅĢa de Jos
      • Cerboia Valley
Pascal et al. (2001)
  • Maramureș County
    • TÃĒrgu Lăpuș
HÎRTOPANU et al. (2025)
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