Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Azurite vs. Smithsonite
It's carbonate-vs-carbonate to kick off Mineral Cup 2026 with copper-rich Azurite against zinc-rich Smithsonite.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Depmeierite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About DepmeieriteHide

09821550017272471861693.jpg
Wulf H. H. Depmeier
Formula:
Na8(Al6Si6O24)(PO4,CO3)1-x · 3H2O (x<0.5)
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
2.32
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named in 2010 by Igor V. Pekov, L. V. Olysych, N. V. Chukanov, K. V. Van, and D. Yury Pushcharovsky in honor of German crystallographer and mineralogist Wulf Helmut Heinz Depmeier [b.1944], Professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography at Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel. He is a well known specialist in crystal chemistry of the sodalite-cancrinite family of minerals and structurally related synthetic compounds.
Cancrinite group; the PO4-dominant analogue of cancrinite, vishnevite, hydroxycancrinite and kyanoxalite, first found in the Karnasurt mine, the underground workings on Mt Karnasurt.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
39787
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39787:8

IMA Classification of DepmeieriteHide

Classification of DepmeieriteHide

9.FB.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
B : Tektosilicates with additional anions
76.2.9.24

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
DepIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of DepmeieriteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Comment:
Coarse grains have a bluish tint
Streak:
White
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {1010}
Fracture:
Step-Like
Density:
2.32(1) g/cm3 (Measured)    2.313 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of DepmeieriteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.493(2) nε = 1.497(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.004
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of DepmeieriteHide

Mindat Formula:
Na8(Al6Si6O24)(PO4,CO3)1-x · 3H2O (x<0.5)
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O47.357 %
Na17.561 %
Si16.090 %
Al15.457 %
P2.957 %
H0.577 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of DepmeieriteHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
P63
Setting:
P63
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.7345(2) Å, c = 5.1798(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.407
Unit Cell V:
727.46 ų
Z:
1

Crystal StructureHide

Load
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
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0017798DepmeieritePekov I V, Olysych L V, Chukanov N V, Van K V, Pushcharovsky D Y (2010) Depmeierite Na8[Al6Si6O24](PO4,CO3)1-x*3H2O (x<0.5) - a new cancrinite group mineral from the Lovozero alkaline massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia) Zapiski Rossiiskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchetstva 139 63-742010Lovozero alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
6.380 Å(30)
4.695 Å(91)
3.681 Å(37)
3.250 Å(100)
2.758 Å(33)
2.596 Å(31)
2.436 Å(21)
2.121 Å(24)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks

Type Occurrence of DepmeieriteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Equant grains up to 1 cm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (registration no. 3882/1).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In a 1.5 cm thick hydrothermal veinlet cutting the peralkaline rocks of a differentiated foyaite–urtite–lujavrite complex.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of DepmeieriteHide

Other Language Names for DepmeieriteHide

Relationship of Depmeierite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Cancrinite Group:
Afghanite(Na,K)22Ca10(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6Cl6Trig. 3m : P31c
Alloriite(Na,Ca,K)26Ca4(Al6Si6O24)4(SO4)6Cl6Trig. 3m : P31c
Balliranoite(Na,K)6Ca2(Si6Al6O24)Cl2(CO3)Hex. 6 : P63
BetziteNa6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4Hex. 6 : P63
Biachellaite(Na,Ca,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2(OH)0.5 · H2OTrig. 3 : P3
Bystrite(Na,K)7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(S5)ClTrig. 3m : P31c
Cancrinite(Na,Ca,◻)8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3,SO4)2 · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
CancrisiliteNa7(Al5Si7O24)(CO3) · 3H2OHex. 6mm : P63mc
CarbobystriteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3) · 3.5H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
Davyne(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(Cl2,SO4)2Hex. 6/m : P63/m
Fantappièite[Na82.5Ca33K16.5](Si99Al99O396)(SO4)33 · 4H2OTrig. 3 : R3
Farneseite(Na,Ca,K)56(Al6Si6O24)7(SO4)12 · 6H2OHex. 6/m : P63/m
Franzinite(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.5H2OHex.
Giuseppettite(Na,K,Ca)7-8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,Cl)1-2Trig. 3m : P31c
HydroxycancriniteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(OH)2 · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
KircheriteNa5Ca2K(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.33H2OTrig. 32 : R32
KyanoxaliteNa7(Al6-xSi6+xO24)(C2O4)0.5+x · 5H2O (0 < x < 0.5)Hex. 6 : P63
Liottite(Na,K)16Ca8(Al6Si6O24)3(SO4)5Cl4Hex. 6 : P6
Marinellite(Na,K)42Ca6(Al6Si6O24)6(SO4)8Cl2 · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
MicrosommiteNa4K2Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)Cl2Hex. 622 : P6322
PitiglianoiteNa6K2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
Quadridavyne(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4Hex. 6/m : P63/m
Sacrofanite(Na61K19Ca32)(Si84Al84O336)(SO4)26Cl2F6 · 2H2OHex.
SteudeliteNa3(K17Ca7)Ca4(Al24Si24O96)(SO3)6F6 · 4H2OHex. 6m2 : P62c
SulfhydrylbystriteNa5K2Ca[Al6Si6O24](S5)2(SH)Trig. 3m : P31c
Tounkite(Na,Ca,K)8(Si6Al6)O24(SO4)2Cl · 0.5H2OHex. 622 : P6222
'UM2004-48-SiO:AlClCaNaS'(Na,Ca)8(Si6Al6)O24(SO4)1.7Cl1.3
'UM2009-23-SiO:AlCCaClHKNaS'(Na,Ca)24K10[(Si,Al)60O120](SO4)5.6Cl1.5(CO3)0.4 · 11H2OTrig. 3 : P3
Vishnevite(Na,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3) · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.FB.Perchukite-(Y)PbYAsSi2O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.FB.Åsgruvanite-(Ce)Ce16Ca5Al(SiO4)6(AsO3)8(CO3)2Cl4F3(OH)2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
9.FB.SteudeliteNa3(K17Ca7)Ca4(Al24Si24O96)(SO3)6F6 · 4H2OHex. 6m2 : P62c
9.FB.Wenlanzhangite-(Y)Y2V3+2V4+2(SiO4)2O4(OH)4Tric. 1 : P1
9.FB.SlyudyankaiteNa28Ca4(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6(S6)1/3(CO2) · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
9.FB.Bolotinaite(Na7◻)(Al6Si6O24)F · 4H2OIso. 43m : I43m
9.FB.SapozhnikoviteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(HS)2Iso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.BetziteNa6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4Hex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Quadridavyne(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)Cl4Hex. 6/m : P63/m
9.FB.05SulfhydrylbystriteNa5K2Ca[Al6Si6O24](S5)2(SH)Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Marinellite(Na,K)42Ca6(Al6Si6O24)6(SO4)8Cl2 · 3H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Afghanite(Na,K)22Ca10(Si24Al24O96)(SO4)6Cl6Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Bystrite(Na,K)7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(S5)ClTrig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Franzinite(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.5H2OHex.
9.FB.05KyanoxaliteNa7(Al6-xSi6+xO24)(C2O4)0.5+x · 5H2O (0 < x < 0.5)Hex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Vishnevite(Na,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3) · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Farneseite(Na,Ca,K)56(Al6Si6O24)7(SO4)12 · 6H2OHex. 6/m : P63/m
9.FB.05Alloriite(Na,Ca,K)26Ca4(Al6Si6O24)4(SO4)6Cl6Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Liottite(Na,K)16Ca8(Al6Si6O24)3(SO4)5Cl4Hex. 6 : P6
9.FB.05Biachellaite(Na,Ca,K)8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2(OH)0.5 · H2OTrig. 3 : P3
9.FB.05Cancrinite(Na,Ca,◻)8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3,SO4)2 · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05CancrisiliteNa7(Al5Si7O24)(CO3) · 3H2OHex. 6mm : P63mc
9.FB.05Fantappièite[Na82.5Ca33K16.5](Si99Al99O396)(SO4)33 · 4H2OTrig. 3 : R3
9.FB.05CarbobystriteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(CO3) · 3.5H2OTrig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05MicrosommiteNa4K2Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)Cl2Hex. 622 : P6322
9.FB.05PitiglianoiteNa6K2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Tounkite(Na,Ca,K)8(Si6Al6)O24(SO4)2Cl · 0.5H2OHex. 622 : P6222
9.FB.05Balliranoite(Na,K)6Ca2(Si6Al6O24)Cl2(CO3)Hex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Giuseppettite(Na,K,Ca)7-8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,Cl)1-2Trig. 3m : P31c
9.FB.05Sacrofanite(Na61K19Ca32)(Si84Al84O336)(SO4)26Cl2F6 · 2H2OHex.
9.FB.05KircheriteNa5Ca2K(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)2 · 0.33H2OTrig. 32 : R32
9.FB.05HydroxycancriniteNa8(Al6Si6O24)(OH)2 · 2H2OHex. 6 : P63
9.FB.05Davyne(Na,K)6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(Cl2,SO4)2Hex. 6/m : P63/m
9.FB.10HaüyneNa3Ca(Si3Al3)O12(SO4)Iso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10LazuriteNa7Ca(Al6Si6O24)(SO4)(S3) · H2OIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10DanaliteBe3Fe2+4(SiO4)3SIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10HelvineBe3Mn2+4(SiO4)3SIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10KamaishiliteCa2(Al2SiO6)(OH)2Tet.
9.FB.10SodaliteNa4(Si3Al3)O12ClIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10NoseanNa8(Al6Si6O24)(SO4) · H2OIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10GenthelviteBe3Zn4(SiO4)3SIso. 43m : P43n
9.FB.10BicchuliteCa2(Al2SiO6)(OH)2Iso. 43m : I43m
9.FB.10Tsaregorodtsevite(N(CH3)4)(AlSi5O12)Orth. 222 : I222
9.FB.10VladimirivanoviteNa6Ca2(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,S3,S2,Cl)2 · H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.FB.10Tugtupite(BeAlSi)Na4(SiO4)3ClTet. 4 : I4
9.FB.15MarialiteNa4Al3Si9O24ClTet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FB.15MeioniteCa4Al6Si6O24CO3Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FB.15Silvialite(Ca,Na)4(Al6Si6O24)(SO4,CO3)Tet. 4/m : I4/m

Fluorescence of DepmeieriteHide

Non fluorescent.

Other InformationHide

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 DepmeieriteHide

References for DepmeieriteHide

Reference List:

Localities for DepmeieriteHide

Showing 2 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
France
 
  • Occitanie
    • Aveyron
      • Rodez
        • Sévérac-d'Aveyron
publication date: November 2018 +1 other reference
Russia (TL)
 
  • Murmansk Oblast
    • Lovozersky District
Pekov et al. (2010) +2 other references
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 1, 2026 06:31:34 Page updated: August 19, 2026 00:34:23
Go to top of page