Outstanding colorless crystals of the extremely rare sulphate borate mineral tatarinovite from the TL in Russia and only one of the two known localities worldwide (Bazhenovsk, Asbest, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russian Federation), on grossular matrix. Analyzed author's material. Ex. Erich Laskowski collection (USA). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Tatarinovite
Tatarinovite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfate class, with the chemical formula Ca₃Al(SO₄)[B(OH)₄](OH)₆·12H₂O.
It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (space group P6_3). It is a member of the Ettringite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3; specific gravity 1.79; White streak; Vitreous luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Tat, IMA status: approved, named in 2015.
Found in cavities in a rodingite body at the contact between a dike of partly rodingitized gabbroic rock and hosting serpentinite.
It is found associated with Diopside, xonotlite, clinochlore, pectolite, calcite.
The mineral was named to honor Russian geologist and petrologist Pavel Mikhailovich Tatarinov (1895-1976), a specialist in deposits of chrysotile asbestos.