Sogdianite
About Sogdianite
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Sogdianite.Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Sogdianite
Classification of Sogdianite
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
M : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered double rings (sechser-Doppelringe)
63 : CYCLOSILICATES Condensed Rings
2 : Condensed Rings (Milarite - Osumilite group)
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
1 : Aluminosilicates of Li
Mineral Symbols
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sog | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Sog | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Sogdianite
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Optical Data of Sogdianite
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
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.
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
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 Sogdianite
Crystallography of Sogdianite
Crystal Structure
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| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005692 | Sogdianite | Sokolova E V, Hawthorne F C, Pautov L A (2000) The crystal chemistry of Li-bearing minerals with the milarite-type structure: The crystal structure of end-member sogdianite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 853-859 | ![]() | 2000 | Dara-i-Pioz, Tadjikistan | 0 | 293 |
| 0002224 | Sogdianite | Cooper M A, Hawthorne F C, Grew E S (1999) The crystal chemistry of sogdianite, a milarite-group mineral American Mineralogist 84 764-768 | ![]() | 1999 | Dara-i-Pioz, Tadjikistan | 0 | 293 |
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.20 Å | (100) |
| 2.90 Å | (100) |
| 4.09 Å | (90) |
| 1.838 Å | (80) |
| 1.326 Å | (80) |
| 1.517 Å | (70) |
| 4.51 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4a: Earth’s earliest continental crust | >4.4-3.0 |
| 19 : Granitic intrusive rocks | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Sogdianite
Other Language Names for Sogdianite
Relationship of Sogdianite to other Species
| Agakhanovite-(Y) | K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Almarudite | K◻2Mn2+2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mmm |
| Aluminosugilite | KNa2Al2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Armenite | Ba(H2O)2Ca2Al3[Al3Si9O30] | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnna |
| Berezanskite | K◻2Ti2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Brannockite | K◻2Sn2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Chayesite | K◻2Mg2(Mg2Fe3+)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Darapiosite | KNa2Mn2(Zn2Li)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Dusmatovite | K(K◻)Mn2+2Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Eifelite | KNa2(MgNa)Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Friedrichbeckeite | K(◻Na)Mg2(Be2Mg)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Klöchite | K◻2(Fe2+Fe3+)Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Laurentthomasite | K◻2Mg2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Merrihueite | K(◻Na)Fe2+2Fe2+3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Milarite | K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Oftedalite | K◻2(ScCa)Be3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Osumilite | K◻2Fe2+2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Osumilite-(Mg) | K◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Plechovite | Ca2[K(H2O)]KBe3Si12O30 | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Poudretteite | K◻2Na2B3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Roedderite | K(◻Na)Mg2Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6m2 : P62c |
| Shibkovite | K(◻K)Ca2Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Sugilite | KNa2Fe3+2Li3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| Trattnerite | ◻(◻)2Fe3+2Mg3[Si12O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
| 'UM1990-73-SiO:KMnNaZn' | K(KNa0.5◻0.5)(Mn1.5Na0.5)Zn3[Si12O30] | Hex. |
| 'Unnamed (Mn3+-dominant analog of Sugilite)' | KNa2Mn3+2Li3[Si12O30] | |
| Yagiite | Na◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc |
Common Associates
| 13 photos of Sogdianite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 13 photos of Sogdianite associated with Zektzerite | LiNaZrSi6O15 |
| 12 photos of Sogdianite associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 11 photos of Sogdianite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 6 photos of Sogdianite associated with Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| 6 photos of Sogdianite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 6 photos of Sogdianite associated with Arfvedsonite | NaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Sogdianite associated with Polylithionite | KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2 |
| 3 photos of Sogdianite associated with Hydroxycalciopyrochlore | (Ca,Na,U,◻)2(Nb,Ti)2O6(OH) |
| 1 photo of Sogdianite associated with Tienshanite | KNa3Na6Ca2Ba6Mn6(Ti4+,Nb)6B12Si36O114(O,OH,F)11 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.CM. | Agakhanovite-(Y) | K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM. | Plechovite | Ca2[K(H2O)]KBe3Si12O30 |
| 9.CM.05 | Friedrichbeckeite | K(◻Na)Mg2(Be2Mg)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Laurentthomasite | K◻2Mg2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | 'UM1990-73-SiO:KMnNaZn' | K(KNa0.5◻0.5)(Mn1.5Na0.5)Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Eifelite | KNa2(MgNa)Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Almarudite | K◻2Mn2+2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Armenite | Ba(H2O)2Ca2Al3[Al3Si9O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Merrihueite | K(◻Na)Fe2+2Fe2+3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Oftedalite | K◻2(ScCa)Be3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Roedderite | K(◻Na)Mg2Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Shibkovite | K(◻K)Ca2Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Milarite | K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Berezanskite | K◻2Ti2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Poudretteite | K◻2Na2B3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Darapiosite | KNa2Mn2(Zn2Li)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Chayesite | K◻2Mg2(Mg2Fe3+)[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Osumilite-(Mg) | K◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Osumilite | K◻2Fe2+2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Sugilite | KNa2Fe3+2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Trattnerite | ◻(◻)2Fe3+2Mg3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Brannockite | K◻2Sn2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Klöchite | K◻2(Fe2+Fe3+)Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Dusmatovite | K(K◻)Mn2+2Zn3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.05 | Yagiite | Na◻2Mg2Al3[Al2Si10O30] |
| 9.CM.9.CM. | Aluminosugilite | KNa2Al2Li3[Si12O30] |
| 9.CM.10 | Faizievite | K2Na(Ca6Na)Ti4Li6[Si6O18]2[Si12O30]F2 |
Radioactivity
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 3.6907% | 1,144 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
Internet Links for Sogdianite
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References for Sogdianite
Localities for Sogdianite
Showing 4 localities.
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 | |
| Imaoka et al. (2021) |
South Africa | |
| Michael O’Donoghue et al. (2006) |
Tajikistan (TL) | |
| Dusmatov et al. (1968) +5 other references |
USA | |
| Micro Probe Volume VI Number 8 +1 other reference |







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Washington Pass, Golden Horn Batholith, Okanogan County, Washington, USA