Tienshanite

tienshanite

bafertisite

stillwellite

danburite

Images

Formula: K(Na,K,☐)9Ca2Ba6Mn2+6Ti6B12Si36O114(O,OH,F)11
Cyclosilicate (ring silicate), borosilicate, barium-, manganese-, titanium- and boron- bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 3.29 measured
Hardness: 6 to 6½
Colour: Olive-green
Tienshanite fuses at 840°C
Common impurities: Fe,Ta,Nb,Mg,Ca,K
Environments

Pegmatites

Although tienshanite was approved in 1967, to date (November 2022) it has been reported only from the type locality.

Localities

At the type locality, the Dara-i-Pioz Glacier, Districts of Republican Subordination, Tajikistan, tienshanite occurs in a narrow vein of quartz-aegirine-microcline pegmatite cutting alkali syenite. It consists of finely crystalline aggregates up to 5 X 6 cm in size. Associated minerals include pyrochlore, astrophyllite, bafertisite, stillwellite, danburite, datolite, galena, titanite and calcite; datolite sometimes replaces tienshanite (AM 53.1426).

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