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Mountainite

Big Photo

Yubileinaya (Yubileinoye; Jubilejnaja) pegmatite, Karnasurt Mt, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
© D. Harries

Show Mountainite Photos (3)
Formula:
KNa
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
(OH)]·6H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:white
Hardness:3
Name:For Edgar Donald Mountain, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
This page provides mineralogical data about Mountainite.

Classification of Mountainite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.15-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GG.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
G : Unclassified zeolites
Dana 8th edition ID:77.2.3.1

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
2 : Zeolite group - related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.6.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
6 : Silicates of Ca with alkali or Mg or both
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Type Occurrence of Mountainite

Type Locality:Bultfontein, Free State Province, South Africa
General Appearance of Type Material:silky white fibers
Year of Discovery:1957
Geological Setting of type material:Kimberlite pipe
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Rhodesite

Physical Properties of Mountainite

Colour:white
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):3

Crystallography of Mountainite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P2/b {P1 1 2/b} {P2/c} {P1 2/c 1}{P2/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 13.704(2) Å, b = 6.5760(10) Å, c = 13.751(2) Å
β = 105.752(10)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.084 : 1 : 2.091
Unit Cell Volume:V 1192.7 ų
Z:2

Optical Data of Mountainite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.500 - 1.504 nβ = 1.505 - 1.510 nγ = 1.513 - 1.519
2V:Calculated: 78° to 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.013 - 0.015

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:relatively strong

Chemical Properties of Mountainite

Formula:
KNa
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
(OH)]·6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, K, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, K, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Mg,C

Relationship of Mountainite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.GG.05Cowlesite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.6.1Combeite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
9
14.6.2Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.3Pectolite-M2abc
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.4Denisovite
Ca
 
2
(K,Na)Si
 
3
O
 
8
(F,OH)
 
2
14.6.5Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
14.6.7Rhodesite
KHCa
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
19
·5H
 
2
O
14.6.8Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
14.6.9Åkermanite
Ca
 
2
Mg[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.6.10Monticellite
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
14.6.11Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.6.12Diopside
CaMg[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.6.13Tremolite
☐[Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]

Other Names for Mountainite

Other Languages:
German:Mountainit
Spanish:Mountainita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Mountainite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1958): 43: 624.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR (1973): 210: 676.

Zubkova, N.V., I.V. Pekov, D.Yu. Pushcharovsky, N.V. Chukanov (2009): The crystal structure and refined formula of mountainite. Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 224, 389-396.

Internet Links for Mountainite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Mountainite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Mountainite

    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.
    (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.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Hegau
        • Immendingen
    		Tschernich, R. (1992), Zeolites of the World, p.42
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Lovozero Massif
            • Karnasurt Mt
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    South Africa
     
    • Free State Province
    		Min.Mag.(1957) 31, 611-623; Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • California
      • Trinity Co.
        • Trinity Center
    		www.mineralsocal.org
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 15th Nov 2009 09:36:52