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Elbrusite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Elbrusite
Mount Elbrus
Formula:
Ca3(U6+0.5Zr1.5)[Fe3+O4]3
Colour:
Dark brown to black
Specific Gravity:
4.801 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Member of:
Name:
First named Elbrusite-(Zr), but according to the new nomenclature of the garnet supergroup (Grew et al. 2013) suffixes should not be used in naming minerals in the garnet supergroup. The name was thus changed to Elbrusite.
Elbrusite is named after Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, in Northern Caucasus, Russia. The mineral was first found in the Elbrus-Kyugen volcanic area.
Elbrusite is named after Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, in Northern Caucasus, Russia. The mineral was first found in the Elbrus-Kyugen volcanic area.
This page provides mineralogical data about Elbrusite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
40055
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:40055:2
Similar Names
| Elbrusite-(Sn) | A synonym of 'Unnamed (Stannian analog of elbrusite)' |
| Elbrussite | A variety of Clay minerals |
IMA Classification of Elbrusite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca3(Zr4+1.5U6+0.5)Fe3+3O12
Approval year:
2009
First published:
2010
Type description reference:
Galuskina, I. O., Galuskin, E. V., Armbruster, T., Lazic, B., Kusz, J., Dzierżanowski, P., Gazeev, V. M., Pertsev, N. N., Prusik, K., Zadov, A. E., Winiarski, A., Wrzalik, R., Gurbanov, A. G. (2010) Elbrusite-(Zr)--A new uranian garnet from the Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia. American Mineralogist, 95 (8) 1172-1181 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3507
Classification of Elbrusite
4.CC.32
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
C : With large and medium-sized cations
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
C : Metal: Oxygen = 2: 3,3: 5, and similar
C : With large and medium-sized cations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ebs | 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 Elbrusite
Colour:
Dark brown to black
Streak:
Brown
Density:
4.801 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Elbrusite
Mindat Formula:
Ca3(U6+0.5Zr1.5)[Fe3+O4]3
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Elbrusite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m(4/m32/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Ia3d
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.7456(9) Å
Unit Cell V:
2,070.53 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Dominant {110} and minor {211} forms.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| - Å | () |
Comments:
No X-ray powder diffraction data due to lack of material. Diffraction investigations using electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) show that the mineral is nearly completely metamict.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 51 : Pyrometamorphic minerals (see also #54 and #56) | <0.36 |
Type Occurrence of Elbrusite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Grains to 10–15 micrometers.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia, catalog no. 3840/1.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Xenoliths embedded in ignimbrites.
Reference:
Galuskina, I. O., Galuskin, E. V., Armbruster, T., Lazic, B., Kusz, J., Dzierżanowski, P., Gazeev, V. M., Pertsev, N. N., Prusik, K., Zadov, A. E., Winiarski, A., Wrzalik, R., Gurbanov, A. G. (2010) Elbrusite-(Zr)--A new uranian garnet from the Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia. American Mineralogist, 95 (8) 1172-1181 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3507
Synonyms of Elbrusite
Other Language Names for Elbrusite
Relationship of Elbrusite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Bitikleite Group:
| Bitikleite | Ca3(Sb5+Sn4+)[AlO4]3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Dzhuluite | Ca3(Sb5+Sn4+)[Fe3+O4]3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
| Usturite | Ca3(Sb5+Zr)[Fe3+O4]3 | Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Elbrusite associated with Stracherite | BaCa6(SiO4)2[(PO4)(CO3)]F |
| 2 photos of Elbrusite associated with Shulamitite | Ca3TiFe3+AlO8 |
| 2 photos of Elbrusite associated with Ariegilatite | BaCa12(SiO4)4(PO4)2F2O |
| 2 photos of Elbrusite associated with Spurrite | Ca5(SiO4)2(CO3) |
| 2 photos of Elbrusite associated with Brownmillerite | Ca2Fe3+AlO5 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.CC. | Bernwoodite | Ca5TiAl2Si2O14 |
| 4.CC. | Xuite | Ca3Fe3+2[(AlO3(OH)]3 |
| 4.CC. | Yttriaite-(Y) | Y2O3 |
| 4.CC. | Allendeite | Sc4Zr3O12 |
| 4.CC. | Chlorkyuygenite | Ca12Al14O32[(H2O)4Cl2] |
| 4.CC. | Magnesiohongruiite-(Fe3+) | (Mg2Fe3+)Fe3+NbO7(OH) |
| 4.CC. | Oboniobite | Mg4Nb2O9 |
| 4.CC. | Botuobinskite | SrFe2+Mg2(Cr3+6Ti4+12)[O36(OH)2] |
| 4.CC. | Mirnyite | SrZr4+Mg2(Cr3+6Ti4+12)O38 |
| 4.CC. | Haitaite-(La) | LaU4+Fe3+2(Ti13Fe2+4Fe3+)O38 |
| 4.CC. | Shagamite | KFe11O17 |
| 4.CC. | Bitikleite | Ca3(Sb5+Sn4+)[AlO4]3 |
| 4.CC. | Anzaite-(Ce) | Ce3+ 4Fe2+Ti6O18 (OH)2 |
| 4.CC. | Heamanite-(Ce) | (K0.5Ce0.5)TiO3 |
| 4.CC. | Priscillagrewite-(Y) | (Ca2Y)Zr2(AlO4)3 |
| 4.CC. | Strandite | Pb3Mn3+4Mn4+3O15 |
| 4.CC. | Saranovskite | SrCaFe2+2(Cr4Ti2)Ti12O38 |
| 4.CC.05 | Chrombismite | Bi3+16Cr6+O27 |
| 4.CC.10 | Freudenbergite | Na2(Ti,Fe)8O16 |
| 4.CC.10 | Fluormayenite | Ca12Al14O32F2 |
| 4.CC.10 | Fluorkyuygenite | Ca12Al14O32[(H2O)4F2] |
| 4.CC.15 | Grossite | CaAl4O7 |
| 4.CC.17 | Goldschmidtite | KNbO3 |
| 4.CC.20 | 'Unnamed (HBU UK-4)' | NaFe2+Zn2(Ti,Fe3+,Nb)6Ti12O38 |
| 4.CC.20 | Chlormayenite | Ca12Al14O32[◻4Cl2] |
| 4.CC.20 |
Xenolith no. 1, Lakargi Mountain, Upper Chegem volcanic caldera, Chegemsky District, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia