Kurchatovite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Kurchatovite
Igor Vasilyevich Kurchatov
Formula:
Ca(Mg,Mn2+)[B2O5]
Colour:
Pale gray
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
3.02
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Igor Vasil’evich Kurchatov (Игорь Васильевич Курчатов) (12 January 1903, Simsky Zavod, Ufa Governorate, Russian Empire – 7 February 1960, Moscow, Soviet Union), physicist, Institute of Nuclear Energy, Moscow, Russia. He is widely known as the director of the Soviet atomic bomb project.
Dimorph of:
Hayashi et al. (2017) report a Fe(II) analogue (Mg-rich).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2293
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2293:0
IMA Classification of Kurchatovite
Approved
IMA Formula:
CaMgB2O5
Approval year:
1965
First published:
1966
Classification of Kurchatovite
6.BA.10
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
B : Diborates
A : Neso-diborates with double triangles B2(O,OH)5; 2(2D); 2(2D) + OH, etc.
24.4.2.1
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
4 : A2[X2O5]
24 : ANHYDROUS BORATES
4 : A2[X2O5]
9.7.6
9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn
9 : Borates
7 : Borates of Mn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kht | 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 Kurchatovite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pale gray
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
One perfect, parallel elongation; two imperfect
One perfect, parallel elongation; two imperfect
Density:
3.02 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Kurchatovite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.635(1) nβ = 1.681(1) nγ = 1.698(1)
2V:
Measured: 66°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.063
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.
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:
r > v slight
Chemistry of Kurchatovite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(Mg,Mn2+)[B2O5]
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Kurchatovite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.15(2) Å, b = 36.4(1) Å, c = 5.55(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.306 : 1 : 0.152
Unit Cell V:
2,252.52 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
24
Morphology:
Granular to 4mm
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.
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
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0006973 | Kurchatovite | Callegari A, Mazzi F, Tadini C (2003) Modular aspects of the crystal structures of kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite European Journal of Mineralogy 15 277-282 | 2003 | Solongo, Siberia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.78 Å | (100) |
| 1.922 Å | (90) |
| 2.67 Å | (80) |
| 1.232 Å | (80) |
| 2.26 Å | (70) |
| 2.01 Å | (70) |
| 1.633 Å | (60) |
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) |
Type Occurrence of Kurchatovite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Masses. Replaced by a fine-grained aggregate of szaibelyite, calcite and chlorite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A. E. Fersman Museum, Moscow, Russia.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Iron bearing skarn
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Kurchatovite
Other Language Names for Kurchatovite
Dutch:Kurchatoviet
German:Kurchatovit
Russian:Курчатовит
Simplified Chinese:硼镁钙石
Spanish:Kurchatovita
Traditional Chinese:硼鎂鈣石
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Kurchatovite associated with Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 3 photos of Kurchatovite associated with Fedorovskite | Ca2Mg2B4O7(OH)6 |
| 2 photos of Kurchatovite associated with Sakhaite | Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 1 photo of Kurchatovite associated with Solongoite | Ca2(H3B3O7)(OH)Cl |
| 1 photo of Kurchatovite associated with Frolovite | Ca[B(OH)4]2 |
| 1 photo of Kurchatovite associated with Szaibélyite | MgBO2(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.BA.05 | Suanite | Mg2[B2O5] |
| 6.BA.10 | Clinokurchatovite | Ca(Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)[B2O5] |
| 6.BA.15 | Szaibélyite | MgBO2(OH) |
| 6.BA.15 | Sussexite | Mn2+BO2(OH) |
| 6.BA.20 | Wiserite | (Mn2+,Mg)14(B2O5)4(OH)8 · (Si,Mg)(O,OH)4Cl |
Fluorescence of Kurchatovite
Bright violet in long wave UV
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
Solongo material [cm-1]: 3550w, 3495w, 1469, 1440sh, 1387s, 1356s, 1323s, 1277, 1277, 1223s, 1170sh, 1159s, 984w, 977w, 856, 787, 761, 713, 669, 633, 614, 509, 462, 422, 405
Thermal Behaviour:
DTA shows a weak endothermal reaction at 765°, (due to calcite?) and a sharp endothermal effect at 1000° (melting).
Notes:
Insoluble in water, slowly soluble when heated in HCl.
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 Kurchatovite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2293.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Kurchatovite
Reference List:
Callegari, Athos, Mazzi, Fiorenzo, Tadini, Carla (2003) Modular aspects of the crystal structures of kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 15 (2) 277-282 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2003/0015-0277
Chukanov, Nikita V. (2014) Springer Geochemistry/Mineralogy - Infrared spectra of mineral species. Springer Netherlands. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-7128-4
Localities for Kurchatovite
Showing 3 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.
Japan | |
| Hayashi et al. (2017) |
Russia (TL) | |
| [AmMin 85:1322] +2 other references |
| Chukanov (2014) |
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Solongo B deposit, Ozernoe ore cluster, Yeravninsky District, Buryatia, Russia