Tugtupite

tugtupite

chkalovite

niobophyllite

rhabdophane

Formula: Na4BeAlSi4O12Cl
Tectosilicate (framework silicate), helvine group
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 2.33 measured, 2.34 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: Commonly red, also white to pink, bluish white, greenish white
Common impurities: Fe,Ga,Mg,Ca,K,H2O,S
Environments

Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments

Tugtupite occurs in alkali-rich, silica-poor intrusive igneous rocks (Webmin) associated with albite, analcime, aegirine, natrolite, chkalovite, lithian mica, epistolite, niobophyllite, monazite, rhabdophane, gerasimovskite, nenadkevichite and beryllite (HOM).

Localities

At the type locality, Tugtup Agtakôrfia, Tunulliarfik Fjord, Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland, tugtupite occurs as replacements of chkalovite in hydrothermal veins cutting sodalite syenite and syenite (Mindat, HOM). Associated minerals include albite, analcime, aegirine, neptunite and pyrochlore (Dana).

At the Bolshoi Punkaruaiv Mountain and Sengischorr Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, tugtupite occurs as an alteration product in pegmatites in a differentiated alkaline massif (HOM).

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