Shubnikovite
A mixture of two or more distinct mineral species
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About Shubnikovite
Aleksei V. Shubnikov
Colour:
Bright blue, light blue
Hardness:
2
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Aleksei Vasilievich Shubnikov (Алексе́й Васи́льевич Шу́бников) (29 March 1887, Moscow, Russian Empire - 27 April 1970, USSR), director of the Crystallographic Institute, Academy of Sciences, Moscow. He was considered one of the greatest crystallographers of his time; in particular, he developed the theory of antisymmetry. He helped initiate the International Union of Crystallography, wrote several important books and was known for his excellent lectures.
First Recorded Locality:
Having been considered a highly questionable mineral (cf. Giester et al., 2007, who suggested that it is probably one of the arsenate members of the Lavendulan Group), it was finally discredited in 2026 since it was shown that it corresponds to a mixture of lavendulan and richelsdorfite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3641
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3641:8
IMA Classification of Shubnikovite
Discredited
Approval history:
IMA 25-G: Shubnikovite is discredited since it corresponds to a mixture of lavendulan and richelsdorfite.
Classification of Shubnikovite
8..
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
:
:
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
:
:
42.8.8.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : (AB)5(XO4)3Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : (AB)5(XO4)3Zq·xH2O
22.2.5
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Snk | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Shubnikovite
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Bright blue, light blue
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Comment:
3.38 (unclear if this is measured or calculated)
Optical Data of Shubnikovite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.64 nβ = 1.69 nγ = 1.69
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.050
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
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 biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (-0°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (-0°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X light blue, Y:Z greenish-blue
Crystallography of Shubnikovite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Comment:
Questionable
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
First Recorded Occurrence of Shubnikovite
General Appearance of First Recorded Material:
Platey
Place of Conservation of First Recorded Material:
Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, 456/1-3.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 57262.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 57262.
Geological Setting of First Recorded Material:
Found in oxidation zone
Other Language Names for Shubnikovite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
Other Information
Notes:
Easily fusible, soluble in acids
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 Shubnikovite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3641.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Shubnikovite
Localities for Shubnikovite
Showing 6 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Germany | |
| Baumann et al. (03/2021) |
| ... |
Greece | |
| Wendel (2000) +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Fernando Caboni et al. (2024) |
| Fernando Caboni et al. (2024) |
Russia (FRL) | |
| Pekov (1998) |
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Khovu-Aksy Ni-Co deposit, Chedi-Kholsky District, Tuva, Russia