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Tsikourasite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Tsikourasite
Basilios Tsikouras
Formula:
Mo3Ni2P1+x
where x < 0.25
Colour:
Light yellow in plane-polarized light
Lustre:
Metallic
Specific Gravity:
9.182 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named in honor of Professor Basilios Tsikouras (b. 1965) of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam, for his contributions to the ore mineralogy and mineral deposits related to ophiolites.
Third Mo-Ni phosphide mineral after monipite and polekhovskyite.
Compare nickolayite.
Associates include "Ni-allabogdanite or Ni-barringerite and a V-sulphide".
A synthetic analogue is known.
Compare nickolayite.
Associates include "Ni-allabogdanite or Ni-barringerite and a V-sulphide".
A synthetic analogue is known.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
53483
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:53483:1
IMA Classification of Tsikourasite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mo3Ni2P1+x (x < 0.25)
Approval year:
2019
First published:
2019
Classification of Tsikourasite
1.BD.50
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
B : Metallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides and Hydrides
D : Phosphides
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
B : Metallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides and Hydrides
D : Phosphides
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tsi | 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 Tsikourasite
Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Light yellow in plane-polarized light
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
9.182 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tsikourasite
Anisotropism:
None
Bireflectance:
None
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) |
|---|---|
| 400nm | 54.6% |
| 420nm | 54.9% |
| 440nm | 55.2% |
| 460nm | 55.5% |
| 470nm | 55.7% |
| 480nm | 55.8% |
| 500nm | 56.1% |
| 520nm | 56.4% |
| 546nm | 56.8% |
| 540nm | 56.7% |
| 560nm | 57.0% |
| 589nm | 57.5% |
| 580nm | 57.3% |
| 600nm | 57.6% |
| 620nm | 58.0% |
| 640nm | 58.3% |
| 650nm | 58.5% |
| 660nm | 58.6% |
| 680nm | 58.9% |
| 700nm | 59.2% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 59.2%.
Colour in reflected light:
White yellow
Internal Reflections:
Not observed
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Tsikourasite
Mindat Formula:
Mo3Ni2P1+x
where x < 0.25
where x < 0.25
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Tsikourasite
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
43m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:
F43m
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.8215(5) Å
Unit Cell V:
1,267.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
16
Comment:
Isostructural with synthetic Mo3Ni2P1.18 (a=10.846(2)), synthesized at 1350 oC
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.705 Å | (20) |
| 2.483 Å | (18) |
| 2.209 Å | (65) |
| 2.083 Å | (100) |
| 1.913 Å | (32) |
| 1.803 Å | (12) |
| 1.275 Å | (26) |
| 1.089 Å | (12) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 7 : Ultramafic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Tsikourasite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Few- up to ca. 80-μm-sized grains; either isolated or in association.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
In the mineralogical collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Firenze, Via La Pira 4, I-50121, Firenze, Italy, catalogue number 3296/I.
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Mo1.778V1.071Fe0.082Co0.069) Σ3.000(Ni1.572Co0.428)Σ2.000(P0.981S0.079)Σ1.060
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| P | 7.97 % |
|---|---|
| S | 0.67 % |
| V | 14.13 % |
| Fe | 1.18 % |
| Co | 7.59 % |
| Ni | 23.9 % |
| Mo | 44.16 % |
| Total: | 99.6 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Mantle-hosted podiform chromitite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Tsikourasite
Other Language Names for Tsikourasite
Dutch:Tsikourasiet
German:Tsikourasit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Tsikourasite associated with Chromite | Fe2+Cr3+2O4 |
| 1 photo of Tsikourasite associated with Allabogdanite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
| 1 photo of Tsikourasite associated with Barringerite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
| 1 photo of Tsikourasite associated with Awaruite | Ni3Fe |
| 1 photo of Tsikourasite associated with Nickelphosphide | (Ni,Fe)3P |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.BD. | Murashkoite | FeP |
| 1.BD. | Orishchinite | Ni2P |
| 1.BD. | Nickolayite | FeMoP |
| 1.BD. | Grammatikopoulosite | NiVP |
| 1.BD. | Negevite | NiP2 |
| 1.BD. | Halamishite | Ni5P4 |
| 1.BD. | Transjordanite | Ni2P |
| 1.BD. | Zuktamrurite | FeP2 |
| 1.BD.05 | Nickelphosphide | (Ni,Fe)3P |
| 1.BD.05 | Schreibersite | (Fe,Ni)3P |
| 1.BD.10 | Barringerite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
| 1.BD.10 | Monipite | MoNiP |
| 1.BD.15 | Allabogdanite | (Fe,Ni)2P |
| 1.BD.15 | Florenskyite | FeTiP |
| 1.BD.15 | Andreyivanovite | FeCrP |
| 1.BD.20 | Melliniite | (Ni,Fe)4P |
| 1.BD.35 | Nazarovite | Ni12P5 |
| 1.BD.45 | Polekhovskyite | MoNiP2 |
| 1.BD.60 | Badengzhuite | TiP |
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 Tsikourasite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-53483.html
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External Links:
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References for Tsikourasite
Reference List:
Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Mills, Stuart J. (2019) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2019. CNMNC Newsletter 49. Mineralogical Magazine, 83 (3) 479-483 doi:10.1180/mgm.2019.35
Localities for Tsikourasite
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.
Greece (TL) | |
| Bindi +8 other references |
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Agios Stefanos mine, Domokos, Phthiotis, Central Greece, Greece