Log In
Touretite
A valid IMA mineral species - pending publication
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Touretite
Formula:
LiAl4Be4(B11Be)O28
Colour:
white to pinkish
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
8
Specific Gravity:
3.06
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
name was chosen to honor Jacques and Lydie Touret, for their contribution to mineralogical sciences.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
471232
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:471232:5
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Touretite
Approved, Pending publication
IMA Formula:
LiAl4Be4(B11Be)O28
Approval year:
2023
Type description reference:
Hatert, Frédéric; Depret, Martin; Bomal, Florent; Pezzotta, Federico; Vignola, Pietro; Wälle, Markus; Lefèvre, Pierre; Škoda, Radek; Kasatkin, Anatoly V.; Agakhanov, Atali A.; et al. (2025) Touretite, LiAl4Be4(B11Be)O28, A New Borate Mineral from the Ambalabe Pegmatite, Madagascar. The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology. doi:10.3749/250007
Classification of Touretite
6.GC.05
6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
C : Tekto-dodecaborates
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tte | 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 Touretite
Vitreous
Colour:
White to pinkish
Streak:
White
Hardness:
8 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.06(1) g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Touretite
Type:
Isotropic
RI values:
n = 1.6952(5)
Surface Relief:
Very 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
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Touretite
Mindat Formula:
LiAl4Be4(B11Be)O28
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Touretite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
43m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
P43m
Setting:
P43m
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.3120(1) Å
Unit Cell V:
390.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.267 Å | (64) |
| 3.261 Å | (37) |
| 2.976 Å | (100) |
| 2.576 Å | (17) |
| 2.431 Å | (13) |
| 2.306 Å | (17) |
| 2.104 Å | (30) |
| 1.826 Å | (13) |
Reference:
Hatert, Frédéric; Depret, Martin; Bomal, Florent; Pezzotta, Federico; Vignola, Pietro; Wälle, Markus; Lefèvre, Pierre; Škoda, Radek; Kasatkin, Anatoly V.; Agakhanov, Atali A.; et al. (2025) Touretite, LiAl4Be4(B11Be)O28, A New Borate Mineral from the Ambalabe Pegmatite, Madagascar. The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology. doi:10.3749/250007
Type Occurrence of Touretite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rhombic-dodecahedral crystals reaching 1 cm in diameter
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Laboratoire de Minéralogie, University of Liege, Bâtiment B18, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium, catalogue number ULG-21979, and the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milan, Italy, catalogue number M39042
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granitic pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Hatert, Frédéric; Depret, Martin; Bomal, Florent; Pezzotta, Federico; Vignola, Pietro; Wälle, Markus; Lefèvre, Pierre; Škoda, Radek; Kasatkin, Anatoly V.; Agakhanov, Atali A.; et al. (2025) Touretite, LiAl4Be4(B11Be)O28, A New Borate Mineral from the Ambalabe Pegmatite, Madagascar. The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology. doi:10.3749/250007
Synonyms of Touretite
Other Language Names for Touretite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Touretite associated with Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| 1 photo of Touretite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
Fluorescence of Touretite
does not show any fluorescence under short wave (254 nm) or long wave (366 nm) ultraviolet light.
Other Information
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 Touretite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-471232.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Touretite
Reference List:
Hatert, Frédéric; Depret, Martin; Bomal, Florent; Pezzotta, Federico; Vignola, Pietro; Wälle, Markus; Lefèvre, Pierre; Škoda, Radek; Kasatkin, Anatoly V.; Agakhanov, Atali A.; et al. (2025) Touretite, LiAl4Be4(B11Be)O28, A New Borate Mineral from the Ambalabe Pegmatite, Madagascar. The Canadian Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology. doi:10.3749/250007
Localities for Touretite
Showing 1 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Madagascar (TL) | |
| Hatert +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout TouretiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Ambalabe pegmatite, Manapa pegmatite Field, Anosiarivo Manapa, Betafo District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascar