Tinnunculite

Tinnunculite is a naturally-occurring form of dihydrate of uric acid. It should not be confused with a proposed mineral species with the identical name 'Tinnunculite', that forms when droppings from a European kestrel react with the burning dumps of coal mines and quarries. The name tinnunculite is derived from the kestrel's binomial name, "Falco tinnunculus", which is itself derived from the Latin word tinnunculus, meaning "kestrel", from tinnulus, meaning "shrill".^[3] Tinnunculite is a naturally occurring form of the same type of origin.

Tinnunculite
General
Category	Organic mineral
Formula (repeating unit)	C5H4N4O3 · 2H2O
IMA symbol	Tnn[1]
Crystal system	Monoclinic
Crystal class	2/m - prismatic
Space group	'
Identification
Color	White
Tenacity	Earthy (dull)
References	[2]

The mineral is a dihydrate of uricite to which it is visually very similar. Tinnunculite is chemically similar to other organic minerals: guanine, uricite; also acetamide, kladnoite.^[2] A new mineral proposal with the same name but slightly different formula (C₁₀H₁₂N₈O₈) was submitted by Chesnokov & Shcherbakova and ultimately rejected by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) on the basis of being of anthropogenic origin.^[4]

Localities

Russia: Mount Rasvumchorr, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast, Northern Region.

Tinnunculite is found at map location 15, Mt. Rasvumchorr, Khibiny Mountains, Kola Peninsula, Russia

References

1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
2. "Tinnunculite: Mineral information, data and localities". Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
3. Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 266, 386. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
4. "Tinnunculite (of Chesnokov & Shcherbakova)". Mindat.org. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.

See also

• Organic compounds (minerals)
• Hyraceum