Arctite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Arctite
Formula:
Na2Ca4(PO4)3F
Colour:
Colorless:
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.13
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1981 by Alexander Petrovich Khomyyakov, A. V. Bykova, and T. A. Kurova for the type locality's area, the Arctic region of Russia.
Type Locality:
There is a structural relation to nabimusaite (and thus to nabimusaite-dargaite series): arctite-nabimusaite type triple layers of {[W3B12](TO4)4} composition are mentioned by Galuskin et al. (2016).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
316
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:316:4
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Arctite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(Na5Ca)Ca6Ba(PO4)6F3
Approval year:
1980
First published:
1981
Classification of Arctite
8.BN.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
41.5.18.1
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
22.1.6
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
1 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with fluoride
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
1 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with fluoride
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Arc | 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 Arctite
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless:
Streak:
Colorless
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{0001}
{0001}
Density:
3.13 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.19 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Arctite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.578 nε = 1.577
Birefringence:
0.001
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.001
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:
Moderate (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 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.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Anomalously biaxial
Chemistry of Arctite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Ca4(PO4)3F
Element Weights:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| P2O5 | 33.83 % |
| SiO2 | 3.6 % |
| CaO | 31.8 % |
| BaO | 12 % |
| Na2O | 9.72 % |
| K2O | 1.64 % |
| Fe2O3 | 0.2 % |
| ZrO2 | 3.25 % |
| S | 0.22 % |
| F | 5.25 % |
| H2O | 0.5 % |
| Total: | 102.01 % |
Sample references:
Crystallography of Arctite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3m
Setting:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.078 Å, c = 41.203 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 5.821
Unit Cell V:
1,787.64 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
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
Remove metal-metal sticks
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012475 | Arctite | Sokolova E V, Yamnova N A, Egorov-Tismenko Y K, Khomyakov A P (1984) The crystal structure of a new phosphate of Na,Ca and Ba: (Na5Ca)Ca6Ba(PO4)6F3 Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 274 78-83 | 1984 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 13.80 Å | (25) |
| 3.54 Å | (21) |
| 3.43 Å | (32) |
| 3.06 Å | (25) |
| 2.804 Å | (25) |
| 2.746 Å | (100) |
| 2.719 Å | (21) |
| 1.769 Å | (20) |
Comments:
ICDD 33-1228
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Arctite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Colorless to white masses and rare crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, 120/1.
Geology Museum, Kola Branch, Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia, 5708/2.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 82132.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1994,2.
Geology Museum, Kola Branch, Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia, 5708/2.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 82132.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1994,2.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alkaline massif
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Arctite
Other Language Names for Arctite
Relationship of Arctite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Arctite Group:
| Ariegilatite | BaCa12(SiO4)4(PO4)2F2O | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Dargaite | BaCa12(SiO4)4(SO4)2O3 | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
| Nabimusaite | KCa12(SiO4)4(SO4)2O2F | Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 6 photos of Arctite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| 5 photos of Arctite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 5 photos of Arctite associated with Lamprophyllite | (Na,Mn2+)3(Sr,Na)2(Ti,Fe3+)3(Si2O7)2O2(OH,O,F)2 |
| 1 photo of Arctite associated with Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
| 1 photo of Arctite associated with Villiaumite | NaF |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.BN. | Fluoralforsite | Ba5(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN. | Aradite | BaCa6[(SiO4)(VO4)](VO4)2F |
| 8.BN. | Magganasite | CuFe3+3O(AsO4)3 |
| 8.BN. | Fluorpyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN. | Fluorsigaiite | Ca2Sr3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Pieczkaite | Mn5(PO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Fluorcaphite | SrCaCa3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Vanadinite | Pb5(VO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Hedyphane | Ca2Pb3(AsO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Hydroxylhedyphane | Ca2Pb3(AsO4)3(OH) |
| 8.BN.05 | 'Mimetite-M' | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Johnbaumite | Ca5(AsO4)3(OH) |
| 8.BN.05 | Pliniusite | Ca5(VO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | 'Hydroxylapatite-M' | Ca5(PO4)3OH |
| 8.BN.05 | Hydroxylpyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3(OH) |
| 8.BN.05 | Miyahisaite | (Sr,Ca)2Ba3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Carlgieseckeite-(Nd) | NaNdCa3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Belovite-(Ce) | NaCeSr3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Kuannersuite-(Ce) | NaCeBa3(PO4)3F0.5Cl0.5 |
| 8.BN.05 | Alforsite | Ba5(PO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | 'Unnamed (OH-analogue of Mimetite)' | Pb5(AsO4)3(OH) |
| 8.BN.05 | Stronadelphite | Sr5(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Parafiniukite | Ca2Mn3(PO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 va | 'Germanate-pyromorphite' | Pb5(PO4)2GeO4 |
| 8.BN.05 | Belovite-(La) | NaLaSr3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Fluorphosphohedyphane | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Fluorstrophite | SrCaSr3(PO4)3F |
| 8.BN.05 | Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
| 8.BN.05 | 'Johnbaumite-M' | Ca5(AsO4)3OH |
| 8.BN.05 | Phosphohedyphane | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Turneaureite | Ca5(AsO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Morelandite | Ca2Ba3(AsO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | 'Oxypyromorphite' | Pb10(PO4)6O |
| 8.BN.05 | Deloneite | (Na0.5REE0.25Ca0.25)(Ca0.75REE0.25)Sr1.5(CaNa0.25REE0.25)(PO4)3F0.5(OH)0.5 |
| 8.BN.05 | Chlorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Vanackerite | Pb4Cd(AsO4)3Cl |
| 8.BN.05 | Svabite | Ca5(AsO4)3F |
| 8.BN.10 | Krügerite | BaCa6(SiO4)2[(P0.5S0.5)O4]2F |
| 8.BN.15 | Goryainovite | Ca2(PO4)Cl |
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 Arctite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-316.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Arctite
Reference List:
Khomyakov, A. P., Bykova, A. V., Kurova, T. A. (1983) Arctite, Na2Ca4(PO4)3F, a new mineral. International Geology Review, 25 (6) 739-740 doi:10.1080/00206818309466761
Galuskin, E. V., Gfeller, F., Galuskina, I. O., Armbruster, T., Krzątała, A., Vapnik, Y., Kusz, J., Dulski, M., Gardocki, M., Gurbanov, A. G., Dzierżanowski, P. (2017) New minerals with a modular structure derived from hatrurite from the pyrometamorphic rocks. Part III. Gazeevite, BaCa6(SiO4)2(SO4)2O, from Israel and the Palestine Autonomy, South Levant, and from South Ossetia, Greater Caucasus. Mineralogical Magazine, 81 (3) 499-513 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.105
Localities for Arctite
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.
Russia | |
| Arzamastsev et al. (2008) |
| [World of Stones 95:5-6 | |
| Pekov | |
| ... | |
| Museum Victoria (Australia) | |
| Khomyakov et al. (1983) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout ArctiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Chemical AnalysisCrystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia