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Formula: SrZr4+(Ti4+12Cr3+6)Mg2O38
Oxide, crichtonite group,
strontium-, zirconium- and
titanium- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 4.3867 calculated
Colour: Jet-black
Environments
Plutonic igneous environments
Derived from the Upper Mantle
Mirnyite is a new mineral, approved in 2020 and to date (April 2024) reported only from the type
locality.
Localities
At the type locality, the Internatsionalny mine, Mirny, Mirninsky District, Sakha, Russia,
botuobinskite and mirnyite occur as inclusions in
mantle-derived chromium-pyrope
xenocrysts from the kimberlite pipe. Mirnyite occurs as
needle- and blade- like elongated inclusions (up to 1 mm). Both minerals are
jet-black, opaque and exhibit a metallic lustre, and both commonly occur in intimate association with
chromium - pyrope as well as
other peridotitic minerals and exert an important control on the
partitioning of incompatible elements during mantle metasomatism
(MM 87.433-442).
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