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Sakhaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Sakhaite
Formula:
Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl)
Formerly given as Ca12Mg4(BO3)7(CO3)4(OH)2Cl
Evans et al. (2018) give the formula as ~Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16(HCl,H2O)2
Finally accepted formula is given above.
Evans et al. (2018) give the formula as ~Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16(HCl,H2O)2
Finally accepted formula is given above.
Colour:
Colourless, gray to grayish white
Lustre:
Greasy
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
2.78 - 2.83
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
From Sakha, the name for Siberia in the language of Yakutsk.
Structurally related to harkerite with which it forms a solid solution (Sakhaite-Harkerite solid solution). Also chemically and structurally (at least in terms of the crystal system) related to UM1990-59-SiO:AlBCHMg.
Seems to be (in particular) a hydrochloride (chlorhydrate).
Seems to be (in particular) a hydrochloride (chlorhydrate).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3504
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3504:6
IMA Classification of Sakhaite
Approved
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
IMA Formula:
Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16·2(H2O,HCl)
Approval year:
1965
First published:
1966
Approval history:
Formula redefined due to the data from the Newsletter #60 (Miyawaki et al. 2021).
Classification of Sakhaite
6.AB.65
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
27.1.4.1
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
27 : COMPOUND BORATES
1 : Miscellaneous
10.4.4
10 : Borates with other anions
4 : Borates with carbonate
10 : Borates with other anions
4 : Borates with carbonate
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Skh | 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 Sakhaite
Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, gray to grayish white
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Density:
2.78 - 2.83 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.79 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Sakhaite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.638 - 1.641
Surface Relief:
High (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
Chemistry of Sakhaite
Mindat Formula:
Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl)
Formerly given as Ca12Mg4(BO3)7(CO3)4(OH)2Cl
Evans et al. (2018) give the formula as ~Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16(HCl,H2O)2
Finally accepted formula is given above.
Formerly given as Ca12Mg4(BO3)7(CO3)4(OH)2Cl
Evans et al. (2018) give the formula as ~Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16(HCl,H2O)2
Finally accepted formula is given above.
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Sakhaite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fd3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.685(3) Å
Unit Cell V:
3,166.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012390 | Sakhaite | Yakubovich O V, Steele I M, Gavrilenko P G, Urusov V S (2005) Crystal structure of sakhaite from the Solongo deposit in connection with the crystal chemical interpretation of the sakhaite-harkerite mineral series Crystallography Reports 50 226-234 | 2005 | Solongo deposit, Vitim Plateau, Buryatia, Zabaykalye, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012459 | Sakhaite | Yakubovich O V, Egorov-Tismenko Y K, Simonov M A, Belov N V (1978) Crystal structure of natural sakhaite Ca3Mg[BO3]2[CO3]*0.36H2O Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 239 1103-1106 | 1978 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.58 Å | (100) |
| 2.108 Å | (56) |
| 5.16 Å | (22) |
| 1.827 Å | (21) |
| 1.951 Å | (14) |
| 2.81 Å | (13) |
| 1.491 Å | (12) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations |
Type Occurrence of Sakhaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive, in veinlets.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, number 67237.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Found at the contact of a Mesozoic granitic massif with Middle and Lower Paleozoic dolomites. Occurs in lens-like bodies formed by the partial or complete replacement of kotoite marbles.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Sakhaite
Other Language Names for Sakhaite
Relationship of Sakhaite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Sakhaite associated with Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6 photos of Sakhaite associated with Olshanskyite | Ca2[B3O3(OH)6](OH) · 3H2O |
| 2 photos of Sakhaite associated with Kurchatovite | Ca(Mg,Mn2+)[B2O5] |
| 1 photo of Sakhaite associated with Löllingite | FeAs2 |
| 1 photo of Sakhaite associated with Magnetite | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.AB. | Chubarovite | KZn2(BO3)Cl2 |
| 6.AB. | Rhabdoborite-(Mo) | Mg12Mo6+1.33O6(BO3)6F2 |
| 6.AB.05 | Hambergite | Be2(BO3)(OH) |
| 6.AB.10 | Berborite | Be2(BO3)(OH) · H2O |
| 6.AB.15 | Jeremejevite | Al6(BO3)5(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.20 | Yuanfuliite | Mg(Fe3+,Al)O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.20 | Warwickite | (Mg,Ti,Fe,Al)2O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.25 | Karlite | (Mg,Al)6.5(BO3)3(OH)4(◻,Cl)0.5 |
| 6.AB.30 | Marinaite | Cu2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Savelievaite | Mg2Cr3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Fredrikssonite | Mg2Mn3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Vonsenite | Fe2+2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Azoproite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Fe3+,Ti,Mg)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Bonaccordite | Ni2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.35 | Folvikite | Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4 |
| 6.AB.35 | Pinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Takéuchiite | (Mg,Mn2+)2(Mn3+,Fe3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Blatterite | Sb5+3(Mn3+,Fe3+)9(Mn2+,Mg)35(BO3)16O32 |
| 6.AB.40 | Orthopinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Chestermanite | Mg2(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al,Sb3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Aluminomagnesiohulsite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Al,Mg,Sn)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Hulsite | Fe2+2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.45 | Magnesiohulsite | Mg2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.50 | Fluoborite | Mg3(BO3)(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.50 | Hydroxylborite | Mg3(BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.55 | Shabynite | Mg5(BO3)(OH)5(Cl,OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 6.AB.55 | Wightmanite | Mg5(BO3)O(OH)5 · 2H2O |
| 6.AB.60 | Gaudefroyite | Ca4Mn3+2-3(BO3)3(CO3)(O,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.70 | Harkerite | Ca48Mg16[AlSi4O15(OH)]4(BO3)16(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(F) | Mg2(BO3)(F,OH) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(OH) | Mg2(BO3)(OH) |
| 6.AB.80 | Jacquesdietrichite | Cu2(H2BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(V) | Mg12(V5+,Mo6+,W6+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} (x < 1) |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(W) | Mg12(W6+,V5+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} |
| 6.AB.85 | Painite | CaZrAl9(BO3)O15 |
| 6.AB.90 | Mengxianminite | (Ca,Na)2Sn2(Mg,Fe)3Al8[(BO3)(BeO4)O6]2 |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
The IR absorption spectrum indicates the presence of BO3 groups, but not of tetrahedral BO4-groups; the presence of strong hydrogen bonding is also indicated.
Thermal Behaviour:
DTA shows a double endothermic peak in the interval 670°-870°, corresponding to the loss of C02; dehydration occurs in the interval 340-450°.
Notes:
Readily soluble in acids, including acetic acid.
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 Sakhaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3504.html
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References for Sakhaite
Reference List:
Giuseppetti, Giuseppe, Mazzi, Fiorenzo, Tadini, Carla (1977) The crystal structure of harkerite. American Mineralogist, 62 (3-4) 263-272
Dunn, Pete J., Peacor, Donald R., Nelen, Joseph A., Ramik, Robert A., Innes, John (1990) A sakhaite-like mineral from the Kombat Mine in Namibia. Mineralogical Magazine, 54 (374) 105-108 doi:10.1180/minmag.1990.054.374.11
Yakubovich, O. V., Still, I. M., Gavrilenko, P. G., Urusov, V. S. (2005) Crystal structure of sakhaite from the Solongo deposit in connection with the crystallochemical interpretation of the sakhaite-harkerite mineral series. Crystallography Reports, 50 (2) 194-202 doi:10.1134/1.1887893






Titovskoe B deposit, Tas-Khayakhtakh Range, Dogdo River Basin, Polar Yakutia, Sakha, Russia