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Qeltite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Ca3TiSi2(Fe3+2Si)O14
Colour:
light-brown color with a red hue
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
3.48 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
The mineral is named after the Wadi Qelt in the close vicinity of the qeltite type locality Nabi Musa, Judean Desert, Palestine.
The Fe3+ analogue of paqueite.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
55545
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:55545:4

Similar NamesHide

GaultiteA valid IMA mineral speciesNa4Zn2Si7O18 · 5H2O

IMA Classification of QeltiteHide

Classification of QeltiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
9.HA.42

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
H : Unclassified silicates
A : With Alkali and Alkali-earth Elements

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

Physical Properties of QeltiteHide

Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Colour:
Light-brown color with a red hue
Streak:
Yellowish-white
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN25=708(17) kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Parting:
none
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
3.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of QeltiteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.85(5) nε = 1.90(5)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.050
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:
Strong
Comments:
light-colored, pink along Z and intensively-colored, red-brown along X/Y

Chemistry of QeltiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Ca3TiSi2(Fe3+2Si)O14
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O38.091 %
Ca20.447 %
Fe18.994 %
Si14.328 %
Ti8.140 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Ca, Fe, O, Si, Ti - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of QeltiteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
32 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P321
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.0077(5) Å, c = 4.9956(4) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.624
Unit Cell V:
277.42 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Rarely, tabular qeltite crystals with inclusions of fluorapatite and hematite more than 100 µm in length and about 10 µm in thickness are noted.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Type Occurrence of QeltiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Nabi Musa, Jericho Governorate, West Bank, Palestine
General Appearance of Type Material:
flattened crystals up to 40–50 µm in length and less than 5 µm in thickness. Its aggregates reach 100–200 µm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy Prospekt 18-2, Moscow 119071, Russia, registration number 5695/1
Geological Setting of Type Material:
gehlenite-rankinite-wollastonite paralava from a pyrometamorphic rock of the Hatrurim Complex
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AndraditeKalsiliteKhesinitePaqueitePseudowollastonite
Wollastonite
Reference:
Galuskina, Irina O., Stachowicz, Marcin, Vapnik, Yevgeny, Zeliński, Grzegorz, Woźniak, Krzysztof, Galuskin, Evgeny (2024) Qeltite – the first terrestrial high-temperature mineral with a langasite-type structure from the pyrometamorphic rocks of the Hatrurim Complex. Mineralogical Magazine, 88 (3). 335-344 doi:10.1180/mgm.2024.38

Synonyms of QeltiteHide

Other Language Names for QeltiteHide

Dutch:Qeltiet
German:Qeltit

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.HA.ShinichengiteCa5[BSi2O7(OH)2]2 · 6H2OTric. 1 : P1
9.HA.Kalyuzhnyite-(Ce)NaKCaSrCeTi(Si8O21)OF(H2O)3Mon. 2/m : P2/b
9.HA.MoragiteCa3TiSi2(Al2Si)O14Trig. 32 : P321
9.HA.05ErtixiiteNa2Si4O9Iso.
9.HA.10KenyaiteNa2Si22O41(OH)8 · 6H2OMon.
9.HA.20WawayandaiteCa6Mn2BBe9Si6O23(OH,Cl)15Mon.
9.HA.25MagbasiteKBaFe3+Mg7Si8O22(OH)2F6Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmma
9.HA.35DemagistrisiteBaCa2Mn3+4(Si3O10)(Si2O7)(OH)4 · 3H2OOrth. mm2 : Amm2
9.HA.37DonwilhelmsiteCaAl4Si2O11Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
9.HA.40KasatkiniteBa2Ca8B5Si8O32(OH)3 · 6H2O Mon.
9.HA.40'Igumnovite'Ca3Al2[SiO4]2[◻Cl4]Iso.
9.HA.42PaqueiteCa3TiSi2(Al,Ti,Si)3O14Trig. 32 : P321
9.HA.45RippiteK2(Nb,Ti)2(Si4O12)O(O,F)Tet.
9.HA.47ZagamiiteCaAl2Si3.5O11Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
9.HA.50RudenkoiteSr3(Al3.5Si3.5)O10(OH,O)8Cl2 · H2OMon.
9.HA.50'α-Carnegieite'NaAlSiO4
9.HA.52'Atheriastite'near Ca5MgFeAl6Si8O32 · 5H2O
9.HA.55'Foshallasite'Ca3[Si2O7] · 3H2O(?)
9.HA.57'Bhreckite'
9.HA.60NagelschmidtiteCa7(SiO4)2(PO4)2Hex. 6 : P61
9.HA.65Caryochroite[Na(Sr0.5Ca0.5)Mg]3[Fe3+8Mn(Fe2+0.5◻0.5)]10(Ti2Si12O37)(OH)14(H2O)3 Mon. 2/m
9.HA.70JuaniteCa10Mg4Al2Si11O39 · 4H2O or nearOrth.
9.HA.75TacharaniteCa12Al2Si18O33(OH)36Mon.
9.HA.80OyeliteCa10Si8B2O29 · 12.5H2OTric. 1 : P1
9.HA.85DenisoviteK14+x(Ca,Na,Mn,Fe)48[Si60O162]F16(Ox,OH4-x) · 2H2OMon.
9.HA.90TiettaiteK4Na12Fe3+Si16O41(OH)4 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Other InformationHide

Magnetism:
Non-Magnetic
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 QeltiteHide

References for QeltiteHide

Localities for QeltiteHide

Showing 3 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.
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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.
Israel
 
  • Southern District
    • Beersheba Subdistrict
      • Tamar Regional Council
        • Hatrurim Basin
Galuskina et al. (2024)
Galuskina et al. (2024)
Palestine (TL)
 
  • West Bank
    • Jericho Governorate
Miyawaki et al. (2021) +1 other reference
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