Kvanefjeldite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Kvanefjeldite
The Kvanefjeld Mountain, Greenland.
Kvanefjeld adit, Kvanefjeld deposit, Kuannersuit Plateau, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland
Kvanefjeld adit, Kvanefjeld deposit, Kuannersuit Plateau, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland
Formula:
Na4(Ca,Mn)(Si3O7)2(OH)2
Colour:
Pink with a distinct violet hue
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Specific Gravity:
2.55
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after the type locality, Kvanefjeld mountain, Greenland.
This page provides mineralogical data about Kvanefjeldite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2302
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2302:9
IMA Classification of Kvanefjeldite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na4CaSi6O14(OH)2
Approval year:
1982
First published:
1984
Classification of Kvanefjeldite
9.DP.30
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
P : Transitional ino-phyllosilicate structures
72.5.3.1
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
5 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with corrugated and complex layers
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
5 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with corrugated and complex layers
14.18.28
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
18 : Silicates of Mn and Na, K, Mg, Ca or Fe
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
18 : Silicates of Mn and Na, K, Mg, Ca or Fe
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kva | 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 Kvanefjeldite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
almost pearly on the {010} cleavage
Colour:
Pink with a distinct violet hue
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Good on f010g; poor on {101}
Good on f010g; poor on {101}
Density:
2.55 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.53 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Kvanefjeldite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.522(1) nβ = 1.522(1) nγ = 1.543(1)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.021
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:
None to Very Low
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:
r < v distinct
Chemistry of Kvanefjeldite
Mindat Formula:
Na4(Ca,Mn)(Si3O7)2(OH)2
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Ti,Al,Y,Fe,Mg,K
Crystallography of Kvanefjeldite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.213(2) Å, b = 15.878(4) Å, c = 9.058(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.643 : 1 : 0.57
Unit Cell V:
1,468.86 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Space Group: Pcab
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014783 | Kvanefjeldite | Johnsen O, Leonardsen E S, Falth L, Annehed H (1983) Crystal structure of kvanefjeldite: The introduction of [Si3O7OH] layers with eight-membered rings Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1983 505-512 | 1983 | Ilimaussaq alkaline intrusion, South Greenland | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.117 Å | (10) |
| 4.355 Å | (7) |
| 3.880 Å | (7) |
| 4.447 Å | (6) |
| 3.388 Å | (6) |
| 3.313 Å | (5) |
| 2.576 Å | (5) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 22 : Hydration and low-? subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23) |
Type Occurrence of Kvanefjeldite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Streaks and veinlets
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1983.136, GGU 47887; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 127475; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 162234.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alkaline intrusive complex
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Kvanefjeldite
Other Language Names for Kvanefjeldite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Kvanefjeldite associated with Villiaumite | NaF |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DP.05 | Meliphanite | (Ca,Na)2(Be,Al)[Si2O6(OH,F)] |
| 9.DP.15 | Leucosphenite | BaNa4Ti2B2Si10O30 |
| 9.DP.20 | Ferriprehnite | Ca2Fe3+(Si3AlO10)(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.20 | Prehnite | Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2 |
| 9.DP.25 | Amstallite | CaAl[(Al,Si)4O8(OH)2](OH)2 · (H2O,Cl) |
| 9.DP.35 | Lemoynite | (Na,K)2CaZr2Si10O26 · 5H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Hogarthite | (Na,K)2CaTi2Si10O26 · 8H2O |
| 9.DP.35 | Natrolemoynite | Na4Zr2Si10O26 · 9H2O |
| 9.DP.40 | Altisite | Na3K6Ti2Al2Si8O26Cl3 |
| 9.DP.45 | Chiappinoite-(Y) | Y2Mn(Si3O7)4 |
| 9.DP.50 | Esquireite | BaSi6O13 · 7H2O |
| 9.DP.55 | Lavinskyite | K(LiCu)Cu6(Si4O11)2(OH)4 |
| 9.DP.55 | Plancheite | Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O |
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 Kvanefjeldite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2302.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Kvanefjeldite
Reference List:
Petersen, Ole V., Johnsen, Ole, Leonardsen, Erik S., Ronsbo, Jorn G. (1984) Kvanefjeldite, a new mineral species from the Ilimaussaq alkaline complex, Southwest Greenland. The Canadian Mineralogist, 22 (3) 465-467
Localities for Kvanefjeldite
Showing 2 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.
Greenland | |
| Petersen (2001) |
| - (n.d.) +1 other reference |
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Kvanefjeld adit, Kvanefjeld deposit, Kuannersuit Plateau, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland