Tuperssuatsiaite
A variety of Minerals
What is Tuperssuatsiaite?
Tuperssuatsiaite is a rare clay mineral found in Greenland, Namibia and Brazil. It is a hydrated phyllosilicate (sheet silicate) of sodium and iron.
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Tuperssuatsiaite before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Tuperssuatsiaite Localities Map
See where Tuperssuatsiaite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Key Characteristics
Characteristics of Tuperssuatsiaite
Cleavage is good on a plane containing the b and c crystal axes, parallel to the layers within the structure, and twinning is common. Fracture is uneven to conchoidal (shell-like) and the mineral is brittle; it is quite light, with specific gravity 2.465, which is similar to that of quartz.
Appearance of Tuperssuatsiaite
Tuperssuatsiaite occurs as fan-shaped aggregates up to several centimeters across, as rosettes and as fibers elongated parallel to the c axis. It is red-brown in reflected light, and colorless to light yellowish brown in transmitted light, with a brownish yellow streak. Crystals are transparent with a bright vitreous luster, but aggregates may be dull and translucent.
Composition of Tuperssuatsiaite
The mineral belongs to the monoclinic crystal class 2/m, meaning that it has a twofold axis of rotational symmetry perpendicular to a mirror plane. At one time it was thought that the material from Namibia might belong to the monoclinic class 2, without the mirror plane, but a more recent study gives it as 2/m, the same as the material from Greenland. The space group is B2/m, meaning that in the unit cell there is one structural unit at each vertex, and one in the centre of each B face. The palygorskite-sepiolite minerals are clay minerals with a layered structure. In tuperssuatsiaite ribbons of SiO4 tetrahedra, similar to those in the amphibole structure, are aligned parallel to the c crystal axis, and they link to form layers parallel to the plane containing the a and b axes. The spacing between the layers, in the c direction, is about 5 Å, which is typical for minerals with an amphibole-type structure, due to the repeat distance along the chains of tetrahedra. Channels occur that could be occupied by H2O as in palygorskite.
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Golden-yellow, reddish brown, orange-yellow
- Density
- 2.12 g/cm³
- Streak
- Brownish Yellow
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- Na2(Fe3+,Mn2+)3Si8O20(OH)2 · 4H2O
- Elements
- Fe, H, Mn, Na, O, Si
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Tuperssuatsiaite FAQs
How do I identify Tuperssuatsiaite?
Tuperssuatsiaite can be identified by its Golden-yellow color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Tuperssuatsiaite?
Tuperssuatsiaite typically appears in Golden-yellow, reddish brown, orange-yellow. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
What is the characteristics of tuperssuatsiaite of Tuperssuatsiaite?
Cleavage is good on a plane containing the b and c crystal axes, parallel to the layers within the structure, and twinning is common. Fracture is uneven to conchoidal (shell-like) and the mineral is brittle; it is quite light, with specific gravity 2.465, which is similar to that of quartz.
What is the appearance of tuperssuatsiaite of Tuperssuatsiaite?
Tuperssuatsiaite occurs as fan-shaped aggregates up to several centimeters across, as rosettes and as fibers elongated parallel to the c axis. It is red-brown in reflected light, and colorless to light yellowish brown in transmitted light, with a brownish yellow streak. Crystals are transparent with a bright vitreous luster, but aggregates may be dull and translucent.
What is the composition of tuperssuatsiaite of Tuperssuatsiaite?
The mineral belongs to the monoclinic crystal class 2/m, meaning that it has a twofold axis of rotational symmetry perpendicular to a mirror plane. At one time it was thought that the material from Namibia might belong to the monoclinic class 2, without the mirror plane, but a more recent study gives it as 2/m, the same as the material from Greenland. The space group is B2/m, meaning that in the unit cell there is one structural unit at each vertex, and one in the centre of each B face. The palygorskite-sepiolite minerals are clay minerals with a layered structure. In tuperssuatsiaite ribbons of SiO4 tetrahedra, similar to those in the amphibole structure, are aligned parallel to the c crystal axis, and they link to form layers parallel to the plane containing the a and b axes. The spacing between the layers, in the c direction, is about 5 Å, which is typical for minerals with an amphibole-type structure, due to the repeat distance along the chains of tetrahedra. Channels occur that could be occupied by H2O as in palygorskite.
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