tukilaite

Tukilaite is a rare mineral discovered in 2012 on the island of Tukila, in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is named after the island where it was first found. Tukilaite is a member of the zeolite group of minerals, which are characterized by their open framework structures that can accommodate a variety of cations and water molecules. The mineral is typically colorless or white, with a vitreous luster and a Mohs hardness of 5. It occurs as small, prismatic crystals or as granular masses in basaltic rocks. Tukilaite is notable for its unique chemical composition, which includes sodium, calcium, aluminum, silicon, and oxygen. The mineral's structure is composed of interconnected tetrahedral units, forming a three-dimensional framework. Tukilaite is of interest to mineralogists and geologists due to its rarity and the unique geological conditions under which it forms. The mineral has not been widely studied, but its discovery has contributed to the understanding of mineral diversity in the Aleutian Islands and the broader Pacific region.