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Cryolite

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Cryolite deposit, Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Arsuk Firth, Arsuk, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
© 2003 John H. Betts

Show Cryolite Photos (43)
Formula:
Na
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy, PearlyHardness:2½
Name:From the Greek κρύος, frost, and λίθος, stone, meaning "ice-stone" in allusion to its appearance.


A curiosity mineral. The colourless material seemingly disappears in water due to the proximity of their refractive indices.

Classification of Cryolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/B.03-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CB.15

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides
Dana 8th edition ID:11.6.1.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.6.5

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
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Type Occurrence of Cryolite

Type Locality:Cryolite deposit, Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Arsuk Firth, Arsuk, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
General Appearance of Type Material:Massive white transparent to translucent.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Year of Discovery:1799
Geological Setting of type material:As a pegmatitic body in a granite stock intruded into gneiss.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
MicroclineQuartzFluoriteChioliteSiderite
TopazGalenaMolybdeniteArsenopyritePyrite
CassiteriteWolframiteColumbiteZirconMica Group
PachnoliteThomsenoliteGearksutiteCryolithioniteWeberite
JarliteProsopite

Occurrences of Cryolite

Geological Setting:Late stage mineral in granitic pegmatites, vapor phase mineral in rhyolites.

Physical Properties of Cryolite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Pearly on {001}
Colour:Colourless, white, brown, grey, black; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Parting:On {001} and {110}, producing cuboidal forms.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.96 - 2.98 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.973(2) g/cm3

Crystallography of Cryolite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.7564(3) Å, b = 5.5959(2) Å, c = 5.4024(2) Å
β = 90.18°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.386 : 1 : 0.965
Unit Cell Volume:V 234.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals usually cuboidal with c, , or modified by r, v, k; also short prismatic [001]. {110} faces striated [111], [111], or [110]. Massive, coarsely granular.
Twinning:Very common. Often repeated or polysynthetic with simultaneous occurrence of several twin laws, and reflecting the pseudo-isometric symmetry of the cell cm.

1. By a 90° or 270° rotation on [110], penetration, common.

2. By a 180° rotation on [110], rhombic section (110), repeated, less common.

3. By a 120° rotation on [021], composition surface irregular; common, especially in granular material, as fine lamellae and probably always secondary.

4. By a 180° rotation on [111], rhombic section near (110), repeated; rare (not in granular material).

5. On (001) or by a 180° rotation on [100], composition plane (001).

6. On (100) or by a 180° rotation on [001], composition plane (100).

7. On (112), composition plane (112).

8. On (112), composition plane (112).

9. On (110), composition plane (110).

10. By a 180° rotation on [111], rhombic section near (110).

11. On (211).

(Palache et al (1951), Dana's System of Mineralogy, 7th. ed., vol. 2: 111).
Crystal Atlas:
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Cryolite no.15 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cryolite no.16 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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Epitaxial Relationships of Cryolite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Thenardite
Epitaxi Comments:Oriented growths (artificial material).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Cryolite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.339 - 1.339 nβ = 1.339 - 1.339 nγ = 1.340 - 1.340
2V:Measured: 43°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.001

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r < v

Chemical Properties of Cryolite

Formula:
Na
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
Essential elements:Al, F, Na
All elements listed in formula:Al, F, Na
Common Impurities:Fe,Ca

Relationship of Cryolite to other Species

Common Associates:
FluoriteTopazPachnoliteChioliteQuartz
Feldspar Group
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
3.CB.05Cryolithionite
Na
 
3
Li
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
 
2
3.CB.15Elpasolite
NaK
 
2
[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.15Simmonsite
Na
 
2
Li[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.20Colquiriite
CaLi[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.25Weberite
Na
 
2
Mg[F|AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.30Karasugite
SrCa[Al(F,OH)
 
7
]
3.CB.35Usovite
Ba
 
2
CaMgAl
 
2
F
 
14
3.CB.40Pachnolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
3.CB.40Thomsenolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
3.CB.45Carlhintzeite
Ca
 
2
[F|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.CB.50Yaroslavite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
F
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
8.6.1Zharchikhite
AlF(OH)
 
2
8.6.2Chloraluminite
AlCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.6.3Cadwaladerite
Al(OH)
 
2
Cl·4H
 
2
O
8.6.4Cryolithionite
Na
 
3
Li
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
 
2
8.6.6Chiolite
Na
 
3
Al
 
3
F
 
14
8.6.7Elpasolite
NaK
 
2
[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.8Weberite
Na
 
2
Mg[F|AlF
 
6
]
8.6.9Ralstonite
NaMgAl(F,OH)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.10Koenenite
Na
 
4
Mg
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
12
(OH)
 
22
8.6.11 Chlor-manasseite
Mg
 
x
Al(OH)
 
2x+2
Cl·(x-0.8)H
 
2
O x about 1.75
8.6.12Gearksutite
Ca[Al(F,OH)
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.6.13Prosopite
CaAl
 
2
(F,OH)
 
8
8.6.14Yaroslavite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
F
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
8.6.15Carlhintzeite
Ca
 
2
[F|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.6.16Colquiriite
CaLi[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.17Thomsenolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.18Pachnolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.19Zirklerite
(Fe,Mg,Ca)
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
18
(OH)
 
12
·14H
 
2
O (?)

Other Names for Cryolite

Synonyms:
ChryolithThonerde mit Flussäure
French names:
Alumine fluatée alkaline
German names:
EissteinKryolith
Russian names:
Криолит

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Melting Point: 1020°. Inverts to an isometric form at about 560°. Weakly thermoluminescent.
Other Information:Soluble in H2SO4 with evolution of HF. Slightly soluble in water. Readily soluble in AlCl3 solution.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:An important raw material for the production of Aluminium.

References for Cryolite

Reference List:Abildgaard (1799) Allgemeines Journal der Chemie, Berlin 1798-1803 (Scherer’s Journal): 2: 502 (as Chryolith, Thonerde mit Flussäure).

d'Andrada (1800) Allgemeines Journal der Chemie, Berlin 1798-1803 (Scherer’s Journal): 4: 37.

Karsten, D.L.G. (1800) Mineralogische Tabellen, Berlin. First edition (1800): 28: 73 (as Kryolith).

Klaproth (1800) Journal Phys.: 51: 473.

Haüy, R.J. (1801) Traité de minéralogie. First edition: in 4 volumes with atlas in fol.: 2: 157 (as alumine fluatée alkaline).

Vauqueline (1801) Annales de chimie, Paris: 37: 89.

Glocker, E.F. (1831) Handbuch der Mineralogie, Nürnberg: 958.

Hagemann (1866) American Journal of Science: 42: 268.

Brandl analysis in: Groth (1882) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 7: 386.

Cross and Hillebrand (1883) American Journal of Science: 26: 283.

Krenner (1883) Mathematische und Naturwissenschaftliche Berichte aus Ungarn, Berlin, Budapest, Leipzig: 1: 151.

Baumhauer (1885) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 11: 139.

Hillebrand (1885) USGS Bull. 20: 48.

Joly (1887) Proceedings of the Royal Society of london: 41: 250.

Mügge (1908) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 34.

Bøggild (1912) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 50: 349.

Wallerant (1912) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 35: 177.

Bernard (1916) Mineralogical Magazine: 14: 202.

Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text, vol. 5: 53.

Poduroff (1925) Mineralogicheskoe Obshchestvo, Leningrad, Zapiski: 54: 207.

Doelter, C. (1930) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4 [3]: 303.

Doelter, C. (1931) Handbuch der Mineral-chemie (in 4 volumes divided into parts): 4 [3]: 283, 289.

Cesàro and Mélon (1936) Bulletin Académie royale des sciences de Belgique, Brussels, Cl. Sc.: 362.

Menzer (1938) Naturwissenschaften: 26: 236.

Náray-Szabó and Sasvári (1938) Mat. Termés. Ért.: 57: 664.

Náray-Szabó and Sasvári (1938)Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 99: 27.

Zintl and Morawietz (1939) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 240: 145.

Birch, F. (1942)(editor) Handbook of Physical Constants, Chairman, J.F. Schairer, and H. Cecil Spicer. Geological Society of America, Special Paper 36, New York: 169, 231.

Tananaev and Lelchuk (1943) Comptes rendus de l’académie des sciences de l’U.R.S.S., n.s.: 41: 114.

Brosset (1946) Arkiv för Kemi, Mineralogi och Geologi, Stockholm: 21A, no. 9.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 110-113.

Canadian Mineralogist (1975): 13: 377-382.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1997) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume III. Halides, Hydroxides, Oxides. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 628pp.: 145.

Internet Links for Cryolite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Cryolite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Cryolite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Cryolite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Brazil
     
    • North Region
      • Amazonas
        • Presidente Figueiredo
          • Pitinga mine
    • South Region
      • Santa Catarina
    		G. Traversa et al., European Journal of Mineralogy, 1996, Vol. 8, N° 1, pp. 193-208.
    Canada
     
      • Jacques Cartier Co.
        • Montréal
          • St. Michel District
    		Mineralogical Record (2006): 37: 5-60.
      • Rouville Co.
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		Can Min 13:37 (1975)
      • Verchères Co.
        • Varennes & St-Amable
          • Saint-Amable sill
    		Mineralogical Record: 29: 83.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
    		Bull. Minéral. , 1988, 111, pp. 477-492.
      • Ústí Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Klášterec nad Ohří
    		Bull. Minéral. , 1988, 111, pp. 477-492.
    Bull. Minéral. , 1988, 111, pp. 477-492.
    Germany & Czech Republic
     
    • Saxony & Ústí Region (Bohemia; Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Erzgebirge; Krusné Hory Mts
    		Bull. Minéral. , 1988, 111, pp. 477-492.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Arsuk
        • Arsuk Firth
          • Ivittuut (Ivigtut)
    		Scherer's Allg. Journal D. Chemie,(1799) 2, p. 502; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 99, 112.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Semipalatinsk Oblysy (Semipalatinsk [Semipalatinskaya] Oblast')
      • Tarbagatai Range
    		Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
        • Windhoek
          • Aris
    		Garvie, L. A. J., Devouard, B., Groy, T. L., Cámara, F. and Buseck, P. R. (1999): Crystal structure of kanemite, NaHSi2O5•3H2O, from the Aris phonolite, Namibia. Am. Mineral., 84, 1170-1175; Uwe Kolitsch (single-crystal X-ray diffraction); [http://www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/aris.htm]
    • Kunene Region
      • Damaraland District
        • Omaruru
    		American Mineralogist, Vol. 84, pp. 1117-1125, 1999.
    Nigeria
     
    • Plateau State
    		Am Min 51:299-323
    Norway
     
    • Oppland
      • Lunner
        • Nordmarka
    		K. Eldjarn (1981); Raade.G.& Haug,J.(1982): "Gjerdingen. Fundstelle seltener Mineralien in Norwegen". LAPIS 7, 9-15
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Chitinskaya Oblast'
      • Tuva Republic
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/khib.htm
    www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/lovo.htm
    • Urals Region
      • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
        • Ilmen Mts
          • Ilmen Natural Reserve
    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 112, 120.
    Spain
     
    • Aragón
      • Huesca
    		Am Min 51:299-323
    Ukraine
     
    • Zhytomyr Oblast' (Zhitomir Oblast')
    		Yurk Yu.Yu., Gurov E.P., Gurova E.P. (1973) Pecularities of fluorin mineralogy of Ukrainian crystalline shield, - Naukova Dumka, Kiev, pp.184 (in Russian).
    No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Boulder Co.
        • Jamestown District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • El Paso Co.
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 112; "Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 14, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
    Am Min 51:299-323
    Am Min 51:299-323
    Am Min 51:299-323
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
      • Fremont Co.
    		"Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 16, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Garfield Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
      • Jefferson Co.
        • Clear Creek pegmatite Province
    		Meeves, H., et al (1966), Reconnaissance of beryllium-bearing pegmatite deposits in six western states, US Bur. Mines Info. Circ. 8298: 29 (Table A-1).
        • South Platte Pegmatite District
    		Meeves, H., et al (1966), Reconnaissance of beryllium-bearing pegmatite deposits in six western states, US Bur. Mines Info. Circ. 8298: 28 (Table A-1).
    Meeves, H., et al (1966), Reconnaissance of beryllium-bearing pegmatite deposits in six western states, US Bur. Mines Info. Circ. 8298: 29 (Table A-1).
      • Rio Blanco Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
    • Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
        • Fitting District
          • Gillis Range
    		Mineralogical Record: 31: 204.
    • New Hampshire
      • Grafton Co.
        • Grafton
    		www.rugglesmine.com/minerals.htm.
    • New Mexico
      • Colfax Co.
        • Springer
          • Point of Rocks Mesa (Pecks Mesa)
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
    • Texas
      • Hudspeth Co.
    		Am. Min. 74:865-869 (1989)
    Am Min 72:1122-1130
    • Utah
      • Emery Co.
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    • Virginia
      • Amelia Co.
        • Winterham
    		[L.E. Kearns, 1995 - Mineralogical Record Vol 26 No.6 - "Alumino-Fluorides from the Morefield Pegmatite"]
    Mineral and/or Locality
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