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Ertlite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About ErtliteHide

01246660017487224209113.jpg
Dr. Andreas Ertl
Formula:
NaAl3Al6(Si4B2O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O
Colour:
pink, yellowish-brown to grey or near-colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
7 - 8
Specific Gravity:
3.128 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
The new mineral ertlite is named in honor of Dr. Andreas Ertl-Winand (previously Ertl), crystallographer, mineralogist, and specialist in tourmaline crystallography at the Natural History Museum of Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) and the University of Vienna (Universität Wien), Austria.
A very B-rich tourmaline species and the first tourmaline with boron-bearing heteroatomic silicate group (diborotetrasilicate); third tourmaline-group representative with heteroatomic silicate group (compare adachiite and alumino-oxy-rossmanite).
Forms under low-temperature hydrothermal conditions as a late-stage phase in pegmatites in Madagascar and Myanmar.

The co-type sample has the lowest unit-cell volume ever recorded for a natural tourmaline.

Belongs to the sodic group of the tourmaline supergroup.

Based on the mineral paragenesis of the holotype sample, its most likely source is the Manjaka pegmatite, or, less likely, some of Tetezantsio pegmatites.
Co-type is from Sakangyi, Mogok Township, Mandalay Region, Myanmar, although there is a small chance the specimen could also be from Momeik Township, Kyaukme District, Shan 131 State, Myanmar, specifically from the Palelni mine, well known for pinkish mushroom tourmalines (Cempírek et al., 2025).


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
471107
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:471107:6

Similar NamesHide

EztliteA valid IMA mineral speciesPb22+Fe33+(Te4+ O3)3(SO4)O2Cl

IMA Classification of ErtliteHide

Classification of ErtliteHide

9.CK.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
C : Cyclosilicates
K : [Si6O18]12- 6-membered single rings, with insular complex anions

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

Physical Properties of ErtliteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pink, yellowish-brown to grey or near-colorless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7 - 8 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.128 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
3.135 cotype

Optical Data of ErtliteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.6624(5) nε = 1.639(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.023
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:
High (positive)
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
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic (convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.

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.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
slightly pleochroic in plane-polarized transmitted light, featuring a pale gray in the omega direction and colorless in the epsilon direction
Comments:
ω = 1.6624(5) and ε = 1.6541(3) (co-type)

Chemistry of ErtliteHide

Mindat Formula:
NaAl3Al6(Si4B2O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O53.261 %
Al26.077 %
Si12.064 %
B5.805 %
Na2.469 %
H0.325 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Al
Si
B
Na
H

Crystallography of ErtliteHide

Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
R3m
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.6509(8) Å, c = 7.0406(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.45
Unit Cell V:
1493.55 ų
Z:
3
Comment:
Parameters of type specimen from Madagascar; co-type from Myanmar has: a = 15.590(2), c = 7.009(1) Å, V = 1475.3(4) Å3.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Type Occurrence of ErtliteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
euhedral crystals and aggregates, up to 10 mm in diameter
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden, catalogue number GEO-NRM 20180012, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA, catalogue number 76302, and the Department of Mineralogy and Petrography, Moravian Museum, Zelný trh 6, 659 37 Brno, Czech Republic, specimen numbers B12566 and B12567
The co-type specimen is deposited in the collection of the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria (catalogue number O 3207; it includes the crystal fragment used for the crystal-structure determination).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A late-stage hydrothermal phase in open pockets within highly fractionated, B-rich granitic pegmatite dike of lithium-cesium-tantalum-enriched type (LCT-type).
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of ErtliteHide

Other Language Names for ErtliteHide

Dutch:Ertliet
German:Ertlit

Relationship of Ertlite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Tourmaline:
AdachiiteCaFe3Al6(Si5AlO18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Alumino-oxy-rossmanite◻Al3Al6(Si5AlO18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
BosiiteNaFe3+3(Al4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
Celleriite◻(Mn2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Chromium-draviteNaMg3Cr3+6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Chromo-alumino-povondraiteNaCr3(Al4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
DarrellhenryiteNa(Al2Li)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
DutrowiteNa(Fe2+2.5Ti0.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
ElbaiteNa(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Ferro-bosiiteNaFe3+3(Al4Fe2+2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
FeruviteCaFe2+3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Fluor-buergeriteNaFe3+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3O3FTrig. 3m : R3m
Fluor-draviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
Fluor-elbaiteNa(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
Fluor-liddicoatiteCa(Li2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
Fluor-rossmanite◻(Al2Li)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
Fluor-schorlNaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
Fluor-tsilaisiteNaMn2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
Fluor-uviteCaMg3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
Foitite◻(Fe2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
LiddicoatiteCa(Li2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
LucchesiiteCaFe2+3 Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
Magnesio-dutrowiteNa(Mg2.5Ti0.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
Magnesio-foitite◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Magnesio-lucchesiiteCaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
MaruyamaiteK(Al2Mg)(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
OleniteNaAl3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3O3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Oxy-chromium-draviteNaCr3(Cr4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O Trig. 3m : R3m
Oxy-draviteNa(Al2Mg)(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
Oxy-foitite◻(Fe2+Al2)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
Oxy-schorlNa(Fe2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
Oxy-vanadium-draviteNaV3(V4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
PovondraiteNaFe3+3(Mg2Fe3+4)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
PrincivalleiteNa(Mn2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
Rossmanite◻(LiAl2)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
SchorlNaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
TsilaisiteNaMn2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
'UM2000-64-SiO:BFeHKMg'(K,Na)Fe3+3(Mg2Fe3+4)Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3O
'UM2008-52-SiO:AlBCaFFeHLiMgNa'(Ca,Na,◻)(Al,Li,Fe,Mg)3Al6[Si6O18](BO3)3(OH,O)3(F,O)
'Unnamed (F analogue of feruvite)'CaFe2+3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3F
'Unnamed (Mn2+-F-analogue of foitite)'◻(Mn2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3F ?
'Unnamed (Pb-analogue of Fluor-liddicoatite)'Pb(Li2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3F
UviteCaMg3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
Vanadio-oxy-chromium-draviteNaV3(Cr4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O Trig. 3m : R3m
Vanadio-oxy-draviteNaV3(Al4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Ertlite associated with QuartzSiO2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.CK.AdachiiteCaFe3Al6(Si5AlO18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.Magnesio-dutrowiteNa(Mg2.5Ti0.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.DarrellhenryiteNa(Al2Li)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.Fluor-schorlNaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.PrincivalleiteNa(Mn2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.Alumino-oxy-rossmanite◻Al3Al6(Si5AlO18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.DutrowiteNa(Fe2+2.5Ti0.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.Ferro-bosiiteNaFe3+3(Al4Fe2+2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.BosiiteNaFe3+3(Al4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.Celleriite◻(Mn2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05FeruviteCaFe2+3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Chromium-draviteNaMg3Cr3+6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Fluor-rossmanite◻(Al2Li)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
9.CK.05Oxy-schorlNa(Fe2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Fluor-elbaiteNa(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Fluor-uviteCaMg3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Foitite◻(Fe2+2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Vanadio-oxy-draviteNaV3(Al4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Fluor-buergeriteNaFe3+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3O3FTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05'Unnamed (F analogue of feruvite)'CaFe2+3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3F
9.CK.05TsilaisiteNaMn2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Fluor-liddicoatiteCa(Li2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05UviteCaMg3(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05ElbaiteNa(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Fluor-tsilaisiteNaMn2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Oxy-foitite◻(Fe2+Al2)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
9.CK.05LiddicoatiteCa(Li2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Vanadio-oxy-chromium-draviteNaV3(Cr4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Rossmanite◻(LiAl2)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Oxy-vanadium-draviteNaV3(V4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05OleniteNaAl3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3O3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05'UM2000-64-SiO:BFeHKMg'(K,Na)Fe3+3(Mg2Fe3+4)Si6O18(BO3)3(OH)3O
9.CK.05Magnesio-lucchesiiteCaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05PovondraiteNaFe3+3(Mg2Fe3+4)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05LucchesiiteCaFe2+3 Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Chromo-alumino-povondraiteNaCr3(Al4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Fluor-draviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3FTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Oxy-draviteNa(Al2Mg)(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Oxy-chromium-draviteNaCr3(Cr4Mg2)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05'Luinaite-(OH)'NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Mon. m : Bm
9.CK.05SchorlNaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05Magnesio-foitite◻(Mg2Al)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)Trig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.05MaruyamaiteK(Al2Mg)(Al5Mg)(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3OTrig. 3m : R3m
9.CK.10Abenakiite-(Ce)Na26Ce6(Si6O18)(PO4)6(CO3)6(SO2)OTrig. 3 : R3
9.CK.15ScawtiteCa7(Si3O9)2CO3 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
9.CK.20Thorosteenstrupine(Ca,Th,Mn)3Si4O11F · 6H2O
9.CK.20Steenstrupine-(Ce)Na14Mn2+2Fe3+2Ce6Zr(Si6O18)2(PO4)6(PO3OH)(OH)2 · 2H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3m

Fluorescence of ErtliteHide

a weak dark red fluorescence under short-wave UV light.

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 ErtliteHide

References for ErtliteHide

Localities for ErtliteHide

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.
Austria
 
  • Styria
    • Deutschlandsberg District
      • Deutschlandsberg
Bačík et al. (2025) +1 other reference
Madagascar (TL)
 
  • Vakinankaratra
    • Antsirabe II District
      • Ibity
Cempírek et al. (2024) +1 other reference
Myanmar (TL)
 
  • Mandalay Region
    • Pyin-Oo-Lwin District
      • Mogok Township
        • Kyauk-Pyat-That
Cempírek et al. (2025)
 
and/or  
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