Chibaite

Chibaite is a rare silicate mineral. It is a silica clathrate with formula SiO2·n(CH4,C2H6,C3H8,i-C4H10) (n = 3/17 (max)). The mineral is cubic (diploidal class, m3) and the silica hosts or traps various hydrocarbon molecules, such as methane, ethane, propane and isobutane.[1][2]

Chibaite was first described for specimens collected from Arakawa, Minamibōsō, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu Island, Japan. The mineral was approved by the IMA in 2009.[1][2]

References
  1. Chibaite on Mindat.org
  2. The Discovery of Chibaite, Elements, June 2012, section: Japan Association of Mineralogical Sciences p. 230
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