Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Halite vs. Chrysocolla
It's blue skies ahead as multicoloured cubes of Halite are up against the bubbly cool-toned Chrysocolla.
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Paraershovite

A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Hide all sections | Show all sections

About ParaershoviteHide

Formula:
Na3K3Fe3+2Si8O20(OH)4 · 4H2O
Colour:
yellow with orange or pinkish shades
Lustre:
Vitreous
Specific Gravity:
2.60
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
The name paraershovite [from the Greek para (close by) and ershovite] recognizes the close structural and chemical relations between the new mineral and its closest analogue
Fe3+-analogue of ershovite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
39560
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39560:3

IMA Classification of ParaershoviteHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
Na3K3Fe3+2Si8O20(OH)4·4H2O
Approval year:
2009

Classification of ParaershoviteHide

9.DF.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
F : Inosilicates with 2-periodic multiple chains
66.6.3.2

66 : INOSILICATES Double-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=2)
6 : Double-Width Unbranched Chains, W=2 with P=2 non-amphibole configuration

Mineral SymbolsHide

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

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

Physical Properties of ParaershoviteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Yellow with orange or pinkish shades
Streak:
White
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{100}
Fracture:
Splintery, Step-Like
Density:
2.60(3) g/cm3 (Measured)    2.584 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of ParaershoviteHide

Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.569(2) nβ = 1.583(2) nγ = 1.602(2)
2V:
Measured: 80° (3), Calculated: 82°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.033
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. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.

Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).

This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure - the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are isogyres.

Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
dispersion r > v (weak)
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of ParaershoviteHide

Mindat Formula:
Na3K3Fe3+2Si8O20(OH)4 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O45.586 %
Si22.864 %
K11.936 %
Fe11.365 %
Na7.018 %
H1.231 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
Si
K
Fe
Na
H

Crystallography of ParaershoviteHide

Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.1978(5) Å, b = 12.0155(6) Å, c = 5.2263(3) Å
α = 103.439(1)°, β = 96.020(1)°, γ = 91.683(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.849 : 1 : 0.435
Unit Cell V:
618.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File    Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0006330ParaershoviteKhomyakov A P, Camara F, Sokolova E, Abdu Y, Hawthorne F C (2010) Paraershovite, Na3K3Fe3+2(Si4O10OH)2(OH)2(H2O)4, a new mineral species from the Khibina Alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia: Description and crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 48 279-2902010the Khibina Alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
11.778 Å(100)
4.390 Å(70)
4.109 Å(60)
3.390 Å(50)
3.012 Å(70)
2.730 Å(60)
2.606 Å(70)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks

Type Occurrence of ParaershoviteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
equant (100) platy and [001] elongate prismatic crystals up to 0.5–1 mm and aggregates up to 2–3 mm, sporadically scattered
in the pegmatite matrix.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (catalogue number 3793).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
hyperagpaitic pegmatite occurring in ijolite–urtite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of ParaershoviteHide

Other Language Names for ParaershoviteHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

9.DF.BohseiteCa4Be3+xAl1-xSi9O25-x(OH)3+xOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
9.DF.05Jimthompsonite(Mg,Fe)5Si6O16(OH)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
9.DF.05Clinojimthompsonite(Mg,Fe)5Si6O16(OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
9.DF.05Chesterite(Mg,Fe)17Si20O54(OH)6Orth. mm2
9.DF.15ErshoviteNa4K3(Fe,Mn,Ti)2Si8O22(OH)4 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
9.DF.20Tvedalite(Ca,Mn)4Be3Si6O17(OH)4 · 3H2OOrth.
9.DF.25BaveniteCa4Be2Al2Si9O26(OH)2Orth. mm2
9.DF.30BigcreekiteBaSi2O5 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma

RadioactivityHide

Radioactivity:
Element % Content Activity (Bq/kg) Radiation Type
Uranium (U) 0.0000% 0 α, β, γ
Thorium (Th) 0.0000% 0 α, β, γ
Potassium (K) 11.9358% 3,700 β, γ

For comparison:

  • Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
  • Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
  • EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg

Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.

Interactive Simulator:

Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!

Activity:

DistanceDose rateRisk
1 cm
10 cm
1 m

The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).

D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield

Fluorescence of ParaershoviteHide

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Paraershovite readily decomposes at room temperature in a ceramic container with 50% HCl and HNO3 solution
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 ParaershoviteHide

References for ParaershoviteHide

Localities for ParaershoviteHide

Showing 1 localities.

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

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - 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.
Russia (TL)
 
  • Murmansk Oblast
Khomyakov et al. (2010)
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 23, 2026 11:40:21 Page updated: August 25, 2026 19:26:33
Go to top of page