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⇱ Tilasite: Mineral information, data and localities.

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Tilasite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About TilasiteHide

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Formula:
CaMg(AsO4)F
Colour:
Light gray, violet-gray, pinkish red (Långban); olive-green, apple-green (India); colourless or pale green in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
3.77
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1895 by Stens Anders Hjalmar Sjögren in honour of Daniel Tilas (2 March 1712, Gammelbo, Ramsbergs parish, Västmanland, Sweden - 27 October 1772, Stockholm, Sweden), polymath, geologist, mining engineer, vicar of Hammar, director of mines, and regional governor. He was the vice-commissioner of the Sweden-Norway Boundary Commission. In 1742, Tilas anticipated aspects of later glacial theories by suggesting that drifting sea ice could be responsible for the distribution of erratic boulders on land. Tilas' grandfather was Urban Hjärne who was a physician and noted chemist and who was also director of the Swedish Chemical Laboratory, president of the Collegium Medicum (medical college), and president of the Board of Mines.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Mindat ID:
3962
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3962:4

Similar NamesHide

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DallasiteA rock subtype
TalciteA synonym
TelositeA synonym of Telaginite

IMA Classification of TilasiteHide

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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1895

Classification of TilasiteHide

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8.BB.

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 about 1:1
41.5.6.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
22.1.29

22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
1 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with fluoride

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

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

Physical Properties of TilasiteHide

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Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
vitreous on cleavages
Colour:
Light gray, violet-gray, pinkish red (Långban); olive-green, apple-green (India); colourless or pale green in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {101}, good.
Parting:
On {133}, {102}, and on {011}
Density:
3.77(2) g/cm3 (Measured)    3.80 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of TilasiteHide

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Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.640 nβ = 1.660 nγ = 1.675
2V:
Measured: 82°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.035
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Optical Extinction:
Z = b; X ∧ c ≃ 30°.

Chemistry of TilasiteHide

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Mindat Formula:
CaMg(AsO4)F
Element Weights:
Element% weight
As33.703 %
O28.789 %
Ca18.029 %
Mg10.933 %
F8.546 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of TilasiteHide

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Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.691(10) Å, b = 8.947(3) Å, c = 7.563(10) Å
β = 121°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.748 : 1 : 0.845
Unit Cell V:
388.09 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals equant, may be elongated along [100], flattened on {010}, with complex domatic form development, to 3.5 cm; in subparallel groups, granular, in veinlets, massive.
Twinning:
On {001}, common as symmetrical contact twins.
Comment:
Point Group: 2/m or m; Space Group: C2/c or Cc.

Crystal StructureHide

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0000298TilasiteBladh K W, Corbett R K, McLean W J, Laughon R B (1972) The crystal structure of tilasite American Mineralogist 57 1880-1884👁 Image
19720293
0014869TilasiteBermanec V (1994) Centro-symmetric tilasite from Nezilovo, Macedonia: a crystal structure refinement Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1994 289-2941994Nezilovo, Macedonia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
5.09 Å(40)
4.83 Å(60)
4.49 Å(60)
3.70 Å(60)
3.49 Å(60)
3.26 Å(100)
3.07 Å(100)
2.86 Å(70)
2.69 Å(100)
2.63 Å(70)
2.34 Å(70)
2.27 Å(80)
1.74 Å(90)

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4a: Earth’s earliest continental crust>4.4-3.0
20 : Acidic volcanic rocks
High-? alteration and/or metamorphism
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates]
45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals]

Type Occurrence of TilasiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:
Grains or veinlets in dolomitic limestone bearing hausmannite.

Synonyms of TilasiteHide

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Other Language Names for TilasiteHide

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Dutch:Tilasiet
German:Tilasit
Simplified Chinese:氟砷钙镁石
Spanish:Tilasita
Traditional Chinese:氟砷鈣鎂石

Relationship of Tilasite to other SpeciesHide

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Member of:
Other Members of Tilasite Group:
ArsenatrotitaniteNaTi(AsO4)OMon. 2/m : B2/b
DurangiteNaAl(AsO4)FMon. 2/m : B2/b
IsokiteCaMg(PO4)FMon. 2/m : B2/b
KononoviteNaMg(SO4)FMon. 2/m : B2/b
LacroixiteNaAl(PO4)FMon. 2/m : B2/b
MaxwelliteNaFe3+(AsO4)FMon. 2/m : P2/m
PanasqueiraiteCaMg(PO4)(OH)Mon.
ReznitskyiteCaMg(VO4)FMon. 2/m : B2/b
Forms a series with:

Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
31 photos of Tilasite associated with SvabiteCa5(AsO4)3F
13 photos of Tilasite associated with HematiteFe2O3
10 photos of Tilasite associated with BaryliteBe2Ba(Si2O7)
10 photos of Tilasite associated with CalciteCaCO3
6 photos of Tilasite associated with FriedeliteMn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10
5 photos of Tilasite associated with Roméite GroupA2(Sb5+)2O6Z
5 photos of Tilasite associated with KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
5 photos of Tilasite associated with BergslagiteCaBeAsO4(OH)
5 photos of Tilasite associated with BaryteBaSO4
4 photos of Tilasite associated with Montmorillonite(Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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8.BB.MoabiteNiFe3+(PO4)OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.BB.PaulgrothiteCu9Fe3+O4(PO4)4Cl3Orth. mm2 : Cmc21
8.BB.KarlditmariteCu9O4(PO4)2(SO4)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.MilkovoiteCu4O(PO4)(AsO4)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.BB.XArsenowagneriteMg2(AsO4)FMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.05TavoriteLiFe3+(PO4)(OH)Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.05AmblygoniteLiAl(PO4)FTric. 1 : P1
8.BB.05MontebrasiteLiAl(PO4)(OH)Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.10ZwieseliteFe2+2(PO4)FMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.10TripliteMn2+2(PO4)FMon. 2/m
8.BB.15Unnamed (Sb-analogue of Auriacusite)Fe3+Cu2+[(Sb,As)O4]O
8.BB.15JoosteiteMn2+(Mn3+,Fe3+)(PO4)OMon. 2/m
8.BB.15HydroxylwagneriteMg2(PO4)(OH)Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.15WagneriteMg2(PO4)FMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.15Stanĕkite(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Fe3+(PO4)OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.15TriploiditeMn2+2(PO4)(OH)Mon. 2/m : P2/b
8.BB.15SarkiniteMn2+2(AsO4)(OH)Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.15WolfeiteFe2+2(PO4)(OH)Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.20HoltedahliteMg2(PO4)(OH)Trig. 3m : P31m
8.BB.20Satterlyite(Fe2+,Mg,Fe)12(PO4)5(PO3OH)(OH,O)6Trig. 3m(32/m) : P31m
8.BB.25AlthausiteMg4(PO4)2(OH,O)(F,◻)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.BB.30ZincoliveniteCuZn(AsO4)(OH)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
8.BB.30AdamiteZn2(AsO4)(OH)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
8.BB.30LibetheniteCu2(PO4)(OH)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
8.BB.30ZincolibetheniteCuZn(PO4)(OH)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
8.BB.30EveiteMn2+2(AsO4)(OH)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
8.BB.30OliveniteCu2(AsO4)(OH)Mon. 2/m : P21/m
8.BB.30AuriacusiteFe3+Cu2+(AsO4)OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
8.BB.35ParadamiteZn2(AsO4)(OH)Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.35TarbuttiteZn2(PO4)(OH)Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.40BarbosaliteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.40ScorzaliteFe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.40LazuliteMgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.40MeizhouiteFe2+V3+2(PO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.40HentscheliteCuFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
8.BB.40WilhelmkleiniteZnFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
8.BB.45DokuchaeviteCu8O2(VO4)3Cl3Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.45TrolleiteAl4(PO4)3(OH)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.BB.45YaroshevskiteCu9O2(VO4)4Cl2 Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.50NamibiteCu(BiO)2(VO4)(OH)Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.50Aleutite[Cu5O2](AsO4)(VO4) · (Cu,K,Pb,Rb,Cs,)ClMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.BB.52aEriclaxmaniteCu4O(AsO4)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.52bKozyrevskiteCu4O(AsO4)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.BB.55Phosphoellenbergerite(Mg,◻)2Mg12(PO4,PO3OH)6(PO3OH,CO3)2(OH)6Hex. 6mm : P63mc
8.BB.55PopoviteCu5O2(AsO4)2Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.60UrusoviteCuAl(AsO4)OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.BB.65TheoparacelsiteCu3(As2O7)(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmma
8.BB.70TuraniteCu5(VO4)2(OH)4Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.75StoiberiteCu5(VO4)2O2Mon. 2/m
8.BB.80FingeriteCu11(VO4)6O2Tric. 1 : P1
8.BB.85AverieviteCu6(VO4)2O2Cl2Trig. 3 : P3
8.BB.90RichelliteCaFe3+2(PO4)2(OH,F)2Amor.
8.BB.90LipscombiteFe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2Tet. 422 : P41212
8.BB.90ZinclipscombiteZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2Tet. 422 : P43212

Fluorescence of TilasiteHide

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May fluoresce pale yellow (ex. Sterling Hill), pale pinkish orange (ex. Sterling Hill), orange (ex. Långban), or dark red (ex. Långban) under SW UV. Also yellow-orange under LW UV (ex. Sterling Mine).

Other InformationHide

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Electrical:
Piezoelectric
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 TilasiteHide

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mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3962.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

References for TilasiteHide

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Reference List:

Localities for TilasiteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 👁 Image
symbol to view information about a locality. The 👁 Image
symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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👁 Image
- This locality has map coordinates listed. 👁 Image
- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 👁 Image
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 👁 Image
- 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.
Algeria
  • Skikda Province
    • Azzaba District
      • Es Sebt
Heflik (1989) +1 other reference
Australia
  • South Australia
    • Pastoral Unincorporated Area
      • Puttapa
Elliott (1991)
Austria
  • Salzburg
    • Tamsweg District
      • Tweng
Kolitsch et al. (2021)
  • Tyrol
    • Innsbruck-Land District
      • Navis
Kolitsch et al. (2019)
Brandstätter et al. (2015)
      • Obernberg am Brenner
Kolitsch et al. (2018)
    • Lienz District
      • Kals am Großglockner
Schachinger et al. (2016)
Germany
  • Bavaria
    • Lower Franconia
      • Aschaffenburg District
        • Sailauf
          • Hartkoppe
Lorenz (2004) +1 other reference
Greece
  • Attica
    • East Attica
      • Lavreotiki
Found Lois Lechner
India
  • Madhya Pradesh
    • Jhabua District
Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference
Italy
  • Aosta Valley
    • Nus
      • Saint-Barthélemy
Piccoli et al. (2007)
  • Liguria
    • Genoa
      • Ne
Castellaro et al. (2021)
        • Reppia
Castellaro-Kampf
    • La Spezia Province
      • Rocchetta di Vara
Balestra et al. (2009)
    • Savona Province
      • Magliolo
Castellaro-Kampf
  • Piedmont
    • Cuneo Province
      • Canosio
        • Vallone della Valletta
Cámara et al. (2014) +2 other references
      • Montaldo di Mondovì
        • Borgata Oberti
Kolitsch et al. (2011)
    • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
      • Baceno
        • Devero Alp
Graeser S et al. (Valle devero-Ossola)
Albertini (1991) +2 other references
Kazakhstan
  • Ulytau Region
    • Karazhal
      • Zhayrem (Zhairem)
Vereshchagin et al. (2019) +1 other reference
Namibia
  • Oshikoto Region
    • Tsumeb
NHM (London)
North Macedonia
  • Čaška Municipality
Bermanec (1994) +1 other reference
      • Jakupica Mountains
        • Babuna Valley
Ermolaeva et al. (2017) +1 other reference
Chukanov et al. (2015)
Ermolaeva et al. (2019)
Russia
  • Altai Republic
    • Ust-Koksinsky District
Vera N. Smol'yaninova data
  • Kamchatka Krai
    • Milkovsky District
      • Tolbachik Volcanic field
        • Great Fissure eruption (Main Fracture)
          • Northern Breakthrough (North Breach)
            • Second scoria cone
Pekov et al. (2014) +5 other references
  • Sverdlovsk Oblast
    • Serovsky District
      • Turya river
        • Tur'insk
Kasatkin et al. (2018) +2 other references
Spain
  • Andalusia
    • Córdoba
      • Belalcázar
        • La Ventosilla farmhouse
Rewitzer et al. (2018)
Sweden
  • Örebro County
    • Hällefors
      • Grythyttan
Holtstam (2001)
  • Värmland County
    • Filipstad
      • Långban Ore District
Sjögren (1895) +1 other reference
Langhof (2003) +1 other reference
      • Nordmark mining district
        • Jakobsberg ore field
Blatter (2003)
      • Nordmark Odal Field
Holtstam et al. (1998)
      • Persberg ore district
        • Pajsberg
Nysten (2004)
  • Västmanland County
    • Norberg
Nysten (2020)
Switzerland
  • Grisons
    • Albula Region
      • Surses
        • Tinizong (Tinzen)
          • Err valley
Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference
    • Viamala Region
      • Ferrera
        • Starlera Valley
Brugger et al. (1999) +2 other references
  • Valais
    • Goms
      • Binn
Stalder et al. (1998)
USA
  • Arizona
    • Cochise County
Anthony et al. (1995)
Anthony et al. (1995)
Williams (1970) +2 other references
  • New Jersey
    • Sussex County
      • Franklin
Anthony Kamps
      • Ogdensburg
        • Sterling Hill
Parker (1978) +1 other reference
  • New Mexico
    • Sierra County
Northrop et al. (1996)
Northrop et al. (1996)
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