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Chelyabinskite

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Formula:
(Ca,Mg)3(SO4,CO3)2[Si(OH)6] · 9H2O (?)
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Silky, Dull
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
1.908 - 1.912
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
After the area of occurrence, the Chelyabinsk coal basin, Urals Region, Russia.
A substance of anthropogenic origin (burning coal mine dumps). Current IMA regulations do not allow such substances to be validated as mineral species.

A questionable mineral, possessing many properties and values of, and possibly identical to Thaumasite.

Originally reported from Chelyabinsk coal basin, Chelyabinsk Oblast', Urals Region, Russia.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
6864
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6864:8

IMA Classification of ChelyabinskiteHide

IMA status notes:
Rejected by the IMA
Approval history:
Rejected by IMA: 1986

Classification of ChelyabinskiteHide

7.DG.45

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
D : Sulfates (selenates, etc.) with additional anions, with H2O
G : With large and medium-sized cations; with NO3, CO3, B(OH)4, SiO4 or IO3

Physical Properties of ChelyabinskiteHide

Silky, Dull
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
White
Hardness:
Density:
1.908 - 1.912 g/cm3 (Measured)    1.938 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of ChelyabinskiteHide

Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
nα = 1.475 nβ = 1.495 nγ = 1.508
2V:
Measured: 77° , Calculated: 76°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.033
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
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.
Dispersion:
none

Chemistry of ChelyabinskiteHide

Mindat Formula:
(Ca,Mg)3(SO4,CO3)2[Si(OH)6] · 9H2O (?)

Crystallography of ChelyabinskiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 19.01 Å, b = 20.93 Å, c = 22.45 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.908 : 1 : 1.073
Unit Cell V:
8,932.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
18

Other Language Names for ChelyabinskiteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.DG.MathesiusiteK5(UO2)4(SO4)4(VO5) · 4H2OTet. 4/m : P4/n
7.DG.05DarapskiteNa3(SO4)(NO3) · H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
7.DG.10Clinoungemachite(Na, K, Fe, SO4)Mon. 2/m
7.DG.10HumberstoniteNa7K3Mg2(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DG.10UngemachiteK3Na8Fe(SO4)6(NO3)2 · 6H2OTrig. 3 : R3
7.DG.15ChiyokoiteCa3Si(CO3)[B(OH)4]O (OH)5 · 12H2OHex. 6 : P63
7.DG.15KottenheimiteCa 3Si(SO4)2(OH)6 · 12H2O Hex. 6/m : P63/m
7.DG.15HielscheriteCa3Si(SO4)(SO3)(OH)6 · 11H2OHex. 6 : P63
7.DG.15JouravskiteCa3Mn4+(SO4)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2OHex. 6 : P63
7.DG.15ThaumasiteCa3(SO4)[Si(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2OHex. 6 : P63
7.DG.15BentoriteCa6Cr2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DG.15CarraraiteCa3(SO4)[Ge(OH)6](CO3) · 12H2OHex.
7.DG.15EttringiteCa6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DG.15BiruniteCa18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5SO4 · 15H2O(?)
7.DG.15SiwaqaiteCa6Al2(CrO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DG.15BuryatiteCa3(Si,Fe3+,Al)(SO4)B(OH)4(OH,O)6 · 12H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DG.15CharlesiteCa6(Al,Si)2(SO4)2[B(OH)4](OH,O)12 · 26H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DG.15TatarinoviteCa3Al(SO4)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2OHex. 6 : P63
7.DG.15ImayoshiiteCa3Al(CO3)[B(OH)4](OH)6 · 12H2OHex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
7.DG.15SturmaniteCa6Fe3+2(SO4)2.5[B(OH)4](OH)12 · 25H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
7.DG.20RapidcreekiteCa2(SO4)(CO3) · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn
7.DG.25TatarskiteCa6Mg2(SO4)2(CO3)2(OH)4Cl4 · 7H2OOrth.
7.DG.30NakauriiteCu8(SO4)4(CO3)(OH)6 · 48H2OOrth.
7.DG.35Chessexite(Na,K)4Ca2(Mg,Zn)3Al8(SO4)10(SiO4)2 · 40H2OOrth.
7.DG.40FuenzalidaiteK6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
7.DG.40CarlosruiziteK6(Na,K)4Na6Mg10(SeO4)12(IO3)12 · 12H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : P3c1
7.DG.55Ramazzoite[Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20][(H0.33SO4)3(H2O)36]Iso. 43m : P43m
7.DG.60WitzkeiteNa4K4Ca(NO3)2(SO4)4 · 2H2O Mon. 2/m : B2/b

Fluorescence of ChelyabinskiteHide

Bluish white fluorescence (UV).

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Boils intensely in HCl, leaving a siliceous residue.
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 ChelyabinskiteHide

References for ChelyabinskiteHide

Localities for ChelyabinskiteHide

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.
Russia
 
  • Chelyabinsk Oblast
Mineralogical Magazine 60:527
    • Korkinsky District
Cesnokov et al. (1998)
Pekov (1998)
 
and/or  
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