Zhiqinite

TiSi2
IMA status
  • Approved
IMA symbol
Zhi
Also known as
  • Zhiqiniet

Where it forms, where it's found

Geological setting

Chromitite orebody in an ophiolite. As inclusions in corundum; thought to be a Ti–Si–P intermetallic melt.

Type locality
Orebody CR-11
  1. Kangjinla Cr deposit
  2. Luobusha ophiolite ("Luobusa ophiolite")
  3. Qusum Co. (Qusong Co.)
  4. Shannan Prefecture (Lhokha Prefecture
  5. Lhoka Prefecture)
  6. Tibet
  7. China

29.1833°, 92.3000°

2recorded occurrences
Source · OpenStreetMap

Crystallography

Crystal system
Orthorhombic
Space group
Fddd
Cell parameters
a = 8.10(16) Å · b = 4.77(9) Å · c = 8.52(17) Å
Ratio a:b:c
1 : 0.589 : 1.052
Type-locality form

One of multiple phases in a 20 µm spheroid. Grains are mostly 1 to 2 µm long and are mostly tabular.

Crystal structure

Chemical composition

Constituent elements
Mass composition breakdown
ElementAtoms At. mass g/mol Mass g/molMass share
14SiSiliconSilicon228.08556.170
53.99%
22TiTitaniumTitanium147.86747.867
46.01%
Total104.037100.00%

Mass share = atoms × atomic mass ÷ molar mass × 100

From IMA formula

Synonyms

  • Zhiqiniet

In other languages

German
IMA 2019-077 · Zhiqinit

Classification

Strunz
10th ed.

1.BB.65

  • 1ElementsClass
  • 1.BMetallic Carbides, Silicides, Nitrides, Phosphides and HydridesDivision
  • 1.BBSilicidesGroup
  • 1.BB.65ZhiqiniteSpecies

Literature, links & citation

Citations
  1. 2020Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2020) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) - Newsletter 52. European Journal of Mineralogy, 32 (1) 1-11 doi:10.5194/ejm-32-1-2020 DOI: 10.5194/ejm-32-1-2020
  2. 2020Xiong, Fahui, Xu, Xiangzhen, Mugnaioli, Enrico, Gemmi, Mauro, Wirth, Richard, Grew, Edward S., Robinson, Paul T., Yang, Jingsui (2020) Two new minerals, badengzhuite, TiP, and zhiqinite, TiSi2, from the Cr-11 chromitite orebody, Luobusa ophiolite, Tibet, China: is this evidence for super-reduced mantle-derived fluids?. European Journal of Mineralogy, 32 (6) 557-574 doi:10.5194/ejm-32-557-2020 DOI: 10.5194/ejm-32-557-2020
  3. 2022(2022) Zhiqinite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America
Cite this entry
@misc{mineral2026,
  author    = {Mineral Index editorial board},
  title     = {Zhiqinite — Mineral Index},
  year      = {2026},
  url       = {https://mineralindex.org/minerals/zhiqinite-54039},
  note      = {Accessed 2026-05-11}
}