Chiolite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Chiolite
Formula:
Na5Al3F14
Colour:
Nearly colourless, snow-white
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.998
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
From the Greek χιώυ, snow, and λίθος, stone, in allusion to its appearance and similarity to cryolite (ice-stone).
This page provides mineralogical data about Chiolite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1006
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1006:7
Similar Names
| Chileit (of Breithaupt) | A synonym of Goethite | |
| Chileite | A synonym of Mottramite | |
| Chiluite | A valid IMA mineral species | Bi3Te6+Mo6+O10.5 |
| Criolite | A synonym of Cryolite | |
| Tialite | A synonym of 'Tieilite' |
IMA Classification of Chiolite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Chiolite
3.CE.05
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
E : Phyllo-aluminofluorides
3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
E : Phyllo-aluminofluorides
11.6.11.1
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
8.6.6
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cio | 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 Chiolite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Nearly colourless, snow-white
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=122 - 206 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Comment:
Previously given as Mohs 3.5-4. Modern measurement and discussion by Pauly (1985).
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {001}; on {011} distinct.
On {001}; on {011} distinct.
Density:
2.998 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.989 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chiolite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.349 nε = 1.342
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.007
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 (negative)
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 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.
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.
Chemistry of Chiolite
Mindat Formula:
Na5Al3F14
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Chiolite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P4/mnc
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.01 Å, c = 10.4 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.484
Unit Cell V:
511.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Crystals dipyramidal {011}. Distinct crystals small and rare. Massive, granular.
Twinning:
On {011}, distorted into prismatic shapes at times.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
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Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0013413 | Chiolite | Jacoboni C, Leble A, Rousseau J J (1981) Determination precise de la structure de la chiolite Na5Al3F14 et etude par R.P.E. de Na5Al3F14:Cr3+ Journal of Solid State Chemistry 36 297-304 | 1981 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015747 | Chiolite | Brosset C (1938) Die kristallstruktur des chioliths Zeitschrift fur Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie 238 201-208 | 1938 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.91 Å | (100) |
| 5.18 Å | (80) |
| 2.32 Å | (70) |
| 1.99 Å | (70) |
| 1.79 Å | (70) |
| 1.75 Å | (70) |
| 1.55 Å | (70) |
Comments:
Synthetic; composite pattern, ICDD 2-749.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Chiolite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Vernadsky State Geological Museum, Moscow, Russia, numbers 18270, 18271.
Geowissenschaftliches Zentrum, Georg August Universität-Göttingen, Russia, numbers GZG.MIN.3.2.7.1, GZG.MIN.3.2.7.5, GZG.MIN.3.27.6.
Geowissenschaftliches Zentrum, Georg August Universität-Göttingen, Russia, numbers GZG.MIN.3.2.7.1, GZG.MIN.3.2.7.5, GZG.MIN.3.27.6.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Cryolite-bearing pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Chiolite
Other Language Names for Chiolite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Chiolite associated with Cryolite | Na2NaAlF6 |
| 6 photos of Chiolite associated with Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
| 5 photos of Chiolite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 5 photos of Chiolite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 3 photos of Chiolite associated with Hydrokenoralstonite | Na0.5(Al,Mg)2(F,OH)6 · H2O |
| 2 photos of Chiolite associated with 'Sericite' | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Chiolite associated with Chlorite Group | |
| 2 photos of Chiolite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 2 photos of Chiolite associated with Jarlite | Na(Sr,Na)7MgAl6F32(OH,H2O)2 |
| 1 photo of Chiolite associated with Elpasolite | K2NaAlF6 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 3.CE.05 | 'Khodnevite' | Na2AlF5 (?) |
Other Information
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 Chiolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1006.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Chiolite
Reference List:
Dana, James D. (1850) A System of Mineralogy (3rd ed.). G. P. Putnam. 711pp.p.234 - as Chodneffite
Localities for Chiolite
Showing 8 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.
Brazil | |
| 7. symposium on volcanism and ... +2 other references |
| Bastos Neto et al. (2026) | |
Greenland | |
| Nordenshiöld (1886) +2 other references |
Russia (TL) | |
| Bailey (1980) +2 other references |
| Raade et al. (1980) | |
| Victor V. Sharygin analytycal data (2012) +2 other references |
Ukraine | |
| Bailey (1980) |
USA | |
| Kearns (1995) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout ChioliteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Ivigtut Mine, Ivigtut stock, Arsuk Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland