Yuksporite

Yuksporite is a rare silicate mineral that only comes from one place on earth: near Yukspor Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Northern Region, Russia. The chemical formula of Yuksporite is K4(Ca,Na)14Sr2Mn(Ti,Nb)4(O,OH)4(Si6O17)2(Si2O7)3(H2O,OH)3 and its molecular weight is 2,546.97 gm. It is also one of the few silicate gem minerals that contains Titanium. Yuksporite has a specific gravity of 3.05 (g/cm3) and the refractive index of 1.644 – 1.660 Biaxial ( + ). The others are Astrophyllite, Benitoite, Neptunite and Sphene (Titanite). There are also a few oxide gem minerals that contain Titanium: Anatase, Brookite and Rutile. Yuksporite is typically found as fine-fibrous agregate material and never as distinct crystals and so is a cabochon type gem. Its brownish-pink to red colors and chatoyance make for an attractive and unusual gem.

Chemical Fromula K4(Ca,Na)14Sr2Mn(Ti,Nb)4(O,OH)4(Si6O17)2(Si2O7)3(H2O,OH)3
Molecular Weight: 2,546.97 gm
Crystallography: Monoclinic – Prismatic
Crystal Habit: Fibrous, scaly, or lamellar; in irregular aggregates, to 10 cm.
Twinning: None

 

Composition: Potassium 6.14 % K 7.40 % K2O
Barium 3.56 % Ba 3.97 % BaO
Sodium 4.36 % Na 5.88 % Na2O
Strontium 4.78 % Sr 5.65 % SrO
Calcium 13.25 % Ca 18.54 % CaO
Titanium 5.88 % Ti 9.82 % TiO2
Manganese 0.37 % Mn 0.47 % MnO
Niobium 2.41 % Nb 3.44 % Nb2O5
Iron 0.22 % Fe 0.28 % FeO
Silicon 19.85 % Si 42.46 % SiO2
Hydrogen 0.24 % H 2.12 % H2O
Oxygen 38.95 % O
100.00% 100.04% =TOTAL OXIDE

 

Cleavage: Perfect
Fracture: Irregular/Uneven, Fibrous, Granular
Tenacity: Brittle
Hardness (Mohs): 5.0
Density: 3.05 (g/cm3)
Luminescence: None
Radioactivity: Barely Detectable; GRapi = 86.57 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) 

 

Color: Brownish Pink to Red
Transparency: Semitransparent
Luster: Vitreous, Silky
Refractive Index: 1.644 – 1.660  Biaxial ( + )
Birefringence: 0.0160
Dispersion: Strong
Pleochroism: Relatively Strong; X = pale rose-yellow; Y = Z = rose-yellow