Home Page About Mindat The Mindat Manual History of Mindat Copyright Status Who We Are Our Science Mindat Newsletter [Free Download]Contact Us

Donate to Mindat Sponsor a Page Corporate Sponsorship Sponsored Pages

Learning Center What Is a Mineral?The Most Common Minerals on Earth Information for Educators Mindat Articles Mindat Newsletter [Free Download]The Elements The Mineral Quiz

Minerals by Properties Minerals by Chemistry Mineral Visual Explorer Advanced Locality Search Random Mineral Random Locality Search by minID Minerals by Country Alphabetical Mineral Index Alphabetical Locality Search Mineral Association Search List of Countries Localities Near Me Photo Search Search Articles Search Glossary The Rock H. Currier Digital Library More Search Options

The Mindat Manual Add a New Photo Rate Photos Locality Edit Report Coordinate Completion Report Add Glossary Item

Minerals Petrology Fossils Meteorites Geologic Time

Mining Companies Statistics Mineral Museums Clubs & Organizations Mineral Shows & Events Device Settings Time Machine

Read Discussions Identification Request

Photo Search Photo Galleries Search by Colour Photo Colour Explorer New Photos Today New Photos Yesterday Members' Photo Galleries Past Photo of the Day Gallery Photography

Charoite

A valid IMA mineral species

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

Photos of Charoite (177)Discuss Charoite

Charoite Gallery Search Photos of Charoite

Edit Charoite Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Charoite, etc.

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Charoite

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Charoite, etc.

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Charoite, etc.

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Charoite

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Charoite, etc.

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Charoite, etc.

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Charoite

Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Hide all sections | Show all sections

About CharoiteHide

Chara river and Kodar range.

Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Formula:

(K,Sr)_15-16(Ca,Na)₃₂[Si₆O₁₁(O,OH)₆]₂[Si₁₂O₁₈(O,OH)₁₂]₂[Si₁₇O₂₅(O,OH)₁₈]₂(OH,F)₄ · ~3H₂O

Colour:

Violet to deep lilac, whitish-grey to brown

Lustre:

Vitreous, Silky

Hardness:

5 - 6

Specific Gravity:

2.54

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

For the type locality, near the Chara River, Russia.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Essential component of the rock charoitite.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Charoite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

972

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:972:4

Similar NamesHide

Chaoite

A valid IMA mineral species

IMA Classification of CharoiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

(K,Sr,Ba,Mn²⁺)_15-16(Ca,Na)₃₂Si₇₀(O,OH)₁₈₀(OH,F)₄·nH₂O

Approval year:

1977

Classification of CharoiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

9.DG.92

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains

Dana 8th ed.:

70.1.2.3

70 : INOSILICATES Column or Tube Structures
1 : Column or Tube Structures with columnar silicate units

Hey's CIM Ref.:

17.1.14

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
1 : Silicates with fluoride (not containing Al)

Mineral SymbolsHide

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
Cha	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 CharoiteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous, Silky

Transparency:

Translucent

Colour:

Violet to deep lilac, whitish-grey to brown

Comment:

Material from the type locality is vivid purple, due to trace manganese. Whitish-gray to brown from Patyn Mt.

Hardness:

5 - 6 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₅₀=412 kg/mm² - Vickers

Cleavage:

Distinct/Good
Good in three directions.

Density:

2.54 g/cm³ (Measured) 2.77 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of CharoiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (+)

RI values:

n_α = 1.55 n_β = 1.553 n_γ = 1.559

2V:

Measured: 28° to 30°, Calculated: 72°

Max. Birefringence:

δ = 0.009
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.

Thickness: 30 µm Order divisions

Rotation:

Surface Relief:

Low (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.

Focus:

In focus

Interference Figure:

This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure - the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are isogyres.

Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.

Thickness: 30 µm

Stage rotation: 0°

Dispersion:

r < v strong

Optical Extinction:

X = b, Z ∧ c = 5°.

Pleochroism:

Weak

Comments:

X = rose
Z = colorless

Chemistry of CharoiteHide

Mindat Formula:

(K,Sr)_15-16(Ca,Na)₃₂[Si₆O₁₁(O,OH)₆]₂[Si₁₂O₁₈(O,OH)₁₂]₂[Si₁₇O₂₅(O,OH)₁₈]₂(OH,F)₄ · ~3H₂O

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
O	43.761 %
Si	28.755 %
Ca	18.758 %
K	8.578 %
H	0.147 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Ca, F, H, K, Na, O, Si, Sr - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Al,Fe,Mn,Sr,Ba

Crystallography of CharoiteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

P2₁/m

Cell Parameters:

a = 32.296 Å, b = 19.651 Å, c = 7.16 Å
β = 96.3°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.643 : 1 : 0.364

Unit Cell V:

4517 Å³

Morphology:

Fibrous, massive.

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow

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)
0018568	Charoite	Rozhdestvenskaya I V, Mugnaioli E, Czank M, Depmeier W, Kolb U, Merlino S (2011) Essential features of the polytypic charoite-96 structure compared to charoite-90 Mineralogical Magazine 75 2833-2846		2011	Murun massif in Yakutia, Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia	0	293
0017698	Charoite	Rozhdestvenskaya I, Mugnaioli E, Czank M, Depmeier W, Kolb U, Reinholdt A, Weirich T (2010) The structure of charoite, (K,Sr,Ba,Mn)15-16(Ca,Na)32[(Si70(O,OH)180)](OH,F)4.0nH2O, solved by conventional and automated electron diffraction* Mineralogical Magazine 74 159-177		2010	Murun massif, Yakutiya, Russia	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Charoite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Rozhdestvenskaya I V'
'Mugnaioli E'
'Czank M'
'Depmeier W'
'Kolb U'
'Merlino S'
_journal_name_full 'Mineralogical Magazine'
_journal_volume 75 
_journal_year 2011
_journal_page_first 2833
_journal_page_last 2846
_publ_section_title
;
 Essential features of the polytypic charoite-96 structure compared to charoite-90
 Note: This structure is polytype charoite-96
;
_database_code_amcsd 0018568
_chemical_compound_source 'Murun massif in Yakutia, Sakha Republic, Siberia, Russia'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Na3.66 Ca12 K6.58 Sr.69 Si35 O91.41 F H1.82'
_cell_length_a 32.11
_cell_length_b 19.77
_cell_length_c 7.23
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 95.85
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 4565.808
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.436
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 1 21/m 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2-y,z'
  '-x,1/2+y,-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Na(1)   0.96010   0.06860   0.36400   0.94000   0.03100
Na(2)   0.96490   0.07080   0.84500   0.89000   0.02500
Ca(1)   0.87730   0.14569   0.56900   1.00000   0.05200
Ca(2)   0.87310   0.14640   0.06500   1.00000   0.03200
Ca(3)   0.54110   0.04420   0.89600   1.00000   0.04800
Ca(4)   0.54130   0.04340   0.39500   1.00000   0.02500
Ca(5)   0.35140   0.06630   0.05000   1.00000   0.04300
Ca(6)   0.34810   0.06970   0.54200   1.00000   0.02000
K(1)   0.48340   0.25000   0.60500   1.00000   0.04500
K(2)   0.59630   0.25000   0.18500   1.00000   0.09200
K(3)   0.73640   0.12010   0.24800   0.85000   0.03800
K(4)   0.35840   0.25000   0.30600   1.00000   0.08300
K(5)   0.69710   0.25000   0.76100   0.92000   0.05100
K(6)   0.20020   0.05100   0.18900   0.48000   0.05200
Sr   0.36080   0.25000   0.84900   0.69000   0.05600
Si(1)   0.49530   0.17170   0.13400   1.00000   0.02600
Si(2)   0.43920   0.09650   0.38300   1.00000   0.06800
Si(3)   0.44130   0.10300   0.81500   1.00000   0.04500
Si(4)   0.58660   0.17410   0.66200   1.00000   0.03000
Si(5)   0.64090   0.10290   0.41300   1.00000   0.04500
Si(6)   0.64080   0.10390   0.98700   1.00000   0.04000
Si(7)   0.69660   0.05780   0.71200   1.00000   0.03500
Si(8)   0.78490   0.14400   0.76500   1.00000   0.04700
Si(9)   0.79100   0.25000   0.05000   1.00000   0.01800
Si(10)   0.79410   0.25000   0.48200   1.00000   0.03000
Si(11)   0.26670   0.17750   0.48100   1.00000   0.05200
Si(12)   0.26380   0.17940   0.04100   1.00000   0.02600
Si(13)   0.25580   0.06710   0.73600   1.00000   0.04900
Si(14)   0.82710   0.01440   0.29900   1.00000   0.07500
Si(15)   0.10480   0.02450   0.94500   1.00000   0.02600
Si(16)   0.10460   0.02450   0.39200   1.00000   0.07000
Si(17)   0.05610   0.10510   0.66000   1.00000   0.05900
Si(18)   0.02090   0.25000   0.65200   1.00000   0.01600
Si(19)   0.94290   0.25000   0.88500   1.00000   0.03500
Si(20)   0.94480   0.25000   0.31800   1.00000   0.07300
O(1)   0.51100   0.25000   0.15900   1.00000   0.08000
O(2)   0.46600   0.15700   0.94600   1.00000   0.03500
O(3)   0.46400   0.16600   0.30200   1.00000   0.04100
O(4)   0.53200   0.12000   0.13700   1.00000   0.06000
O(5)   0.43800   0.12500   0.59200   1.00000   0.07800
O(6)   0.39080   0.10000   0.30800   1.00000   0.08400
O(7)   0.47200   0.03500   0.39500   1.00000   0.05900
O(8)   0.39300   0.11200   0.80300   1.00000   0.04900
O(9)   0.46600   0.03200   0.87000   1.00000   0.03900
O(10)   0.57100   0.25000   0.72400   1.00000   0.12000
O(11)   0.61510   0.16300   0.48700   1.00000   0.03800
O(12)   0.60900   0.16300   0.88500   1.00000   0.03400
O(13)   0.55000   0.11900   0.63200   1.00000   0.04200
O(14)   0.68450   0.10300   0.53800   1.00000   0.01900
O(15)   0.64900   0.13200   0.20500   1.00000   0.04100
O(16)   0.61600   0.03300   0.38600   1.00000   0.06400
O(17)   0.68500   0.09100   0.89400   1.00000   0.06200
O(18)   0.61300   0.04000   0.94800   1.00000   0.06400
O(19)   0.74730   0.08100   0.73600   1.00000   0.01700
O(20)   0.30600   0.02500   0.27200   1.00000   0.06600
O(21)   0.77600   0.18300   0.56500   1.00000   0.03700
O(22)   0.77130   0.18400   0.93900   1.00000   0.03600
O(23)   0.83400   0.11600   0.77700   1.00000   0.08800
O(24)   0.77700   0.25000   0.26400   1.00000   0.08000
O(25)   0.84100   0.25000   0.07300   1.00000   0.06300
O(26)   0.84400   0.25000   0.53700   1.00000   0.02000
O(27)   0.24900   0.25000   0.51600   1.00000   0.02400
O(28)   0.24200   0.11300   0.55300   1.00000   0.05600
O(29)   0.24900   0.17100   0.24800   1.00000   0.07500
O(30)   0.31300   0.17600   0.51800   1.00000   0.04500
O(31)   0.24600   0.25000   0.94100   1.00000   0.08100
O(32)   0.25100   0.12500   0.89000   1.00000   0.09300
O(33)   0.31300   0.18700   0.03000   1.00000   0.03500
O(34)   0.22100   0.00900   0.74500   1.00000   0.04600
O(35)   0.30000   0.03100   0.76500   1.00000   0.09500
O(36)   0.15000   0.03200   0.85100   1.00000   0.05800
O(37)   0.14700   0.01200   0.51600   1.00000   0.03400
O(38)   0.83600   0.09800   0.29800   1.00000   0.06200
O(39)   0.08200   0.08600   0.84300   1.00000   0.07700
O(40)   0.11100   0.04300   0.17200   1.00000   0.08200
O(41)   0.92000   0.04400   0.07900   1.00000   0.06000
O(42)   0.91500   0.04500   0.60700   1.00000   0.04900
O(43)   0.08100   0.08900   0.47600   1.00000   0.03900
O(44)   0.05190   0.18600   0.62800   1.00000   0.03300
O(45)   0.01400   0.05800   0.63400   1.00000   0.06400
O(46)   0.98700   0.25000   0.79500   1.00000   0.03600
O(47)   0.98000   0.25000   0.49200   1.00000   0.08000
O(48)   0.95800   0.25000   0.10700   1.00000   0.13000
O(49)   0.92500   0.17600   0.84100   1.00000   0.06100
O(50)   0.92000   0.17600   0.33400   1.00000   0.08800
O-H   0.00700   0.04700   0.14300   0.50000   0.09200
F   0.00700   0.04700   0.14300   0.50000   0.09200
Wat   0.69700   0.25000   0.26100   0.41000   0.18000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.348 Å	(100)
3.134 Å	(85)
12.5 Å	(70)
2.79 Å	(50)
2.71 Å	(35)
3.90 Å	(30)
2.97 Å	(30)

Comments:

Murun massif, Russia. Data from the type description.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks

Geological Setting:

Potassic feldspar metasomatites

Type Occurrence of CharoiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Murunskii Massif, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Aldan Shield, Russia

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

University of Rome, Rome, Italy, number 24352.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow, Russia.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

K-feldspar metasomatites at the contact of nepheline- and aegirine-syenites with limestones.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Canasite

Tinaksite

Synonyms of CharoiteHide

Charoite Jade

IMA1977-019

Other Language Names for CharoiteHide

Dutch:Charoiet

German:Charoit

Italian:Charoite

Japanese:チャロアイト

Lithuanian:Čaroitas

Polish:Czaroit

Russian:Чароит

Spanish:Charoita

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

195 photos of Charoite associated with Aegirine	NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
115 photos of Charoite associated with Tinaksite	K₂Na(Ca,Mn²⁺)₂TiO[Si₇O₁₈(OH)]
51 photos of Charoite associated with Steacyite	K_0.3(Na,Ca)₂ThSi₈O₂₀
42 photos of Charoite associated with Quartz	SiO₂
21 photos of Charoite associated with Frankamenite	K₃Na₃Ca₅(Si₁₂O₃₀)(F,OH)₄ · H₂O
17 photos of Charoite associated with