THE MINERAL YUKSPORITE

Chemistry: (K, Ba)NaCa2(Si, Ti)4O11(F, OH) - H2O , Hydrated Potassium Barium Sodium Calcium Titanium Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide.
Class: Silicates
Subclass: Inosilicates
Uses: Only as a mineral specimen.
Specimens

Yuksporite is a rare and unusually named mineral. It is one of only a few silicate minerals where titanium frequently substitutes for the silicon in the SiO4 tetrahedrons. In many silicates, aluminum freely substitutes for silicon, but in yuksporite it is the significantly larger titanium ion that does the substitution. Yuksporite is named for the Yukspor Mountains of the Kola Peninsula from where it was first discovered in the early part of the twentieth century. It is one of many exotic mineral species that are emerging from the vast mineral resources of the former Soviet Union. It can have a nice yellow-rose coloration and is certainly a unique mineral.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is typically yellow-rose or reddish beige to pink.
Transparency: Specimens are opaque.
Crystal System is orthorhombic.
Crystal Habits include micaceous masses.
Hardness is 5.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.8 - 3.0 (average).
Streak is white.
Notable Occurrences are limited to the Yukspor Mountains and other areas of the Kola Peninsula, Russia.
Best Field Indicators are locality, color, crystal habit and hardness.

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