Alsakharovite-Zn
An extremely rare zinc-bearing ring silicate of the cyclosilicate class, found in alkaline pegmatites.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Alsakharovite-Zn is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula NaSrKZn(Ti,Nb)₄(Si₄O₁₂)₂(O,OH)₄·7H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group Cm). It is a member of the Labuntsovite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5; specific gravity 2.9; White streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Ask-Zn, IMA status: approved, named in 2002.
Found in cavities in eudialyte-aegirine-feldspar pegmatite in an alkaline massif.
It is found associated with Lamprophyllite, natrolite, halloysite, ranciéite, kuzmenkoite-Zn, tsepinite-Na.
The mineral was named to honor Russian geologist Aleksey S. Sakharov (1910-1996) for his study of the Lovozero alkaline massif and a suffix indicates the predominance of Zn in the D structural site.