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Nambulite

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Kombat Mine, Kombat, Grootfontein District, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Nambulite Photos (6)
Formula:
(Li,Na)Mn
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
System:TriclinicColour:Reddish-brown
Lustre:VitreousHardness:6½
Isostructural with:Marsturite


Nambulite-Natronambulite Series.

The Li analogue of Natronambulite.

Classification of Nambulite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.27-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DK.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
K : Inosilicates with 5-periodic single chains
Dana 8th edition ID:65.4.1.4

65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
4 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=5
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.18.1

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
18 : Silicates of Mn and Na, K, Mg, Ca or Fe
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Type Occurrence of Nambulite

Type Locality:Funakozawa mine, Kitakami Mts, Iwate Prefecture, Tohoku Region, Honshu Island, Japan
Year of Discovery:1972

Physical Properties of Nambulite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Reddish-brown
Hardness (Mohs):6½

Crystallography of Nambulite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.62Å, b = 11.76Å, c = 6.73Å
α = 92.77°, β = 95.08°, γ = 106.87°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.648 : 1 : 0.572
Unit Cell Volume:V 573.13 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Nambulite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.707 nβ = 1.710 nγ = 1.730
2V:Measured: 30° , Calculated: 44°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.023

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

Chemical Properties of Nambulite

Formula:
(Li,Na)Mn
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
Essential elements:H, Li, Mn, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:H, Li, Mn, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mg,Ca,K,H2O,C,P

Relationship of Nambulite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Natronambulite (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DK.05Babingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Fe,Mn)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Lithiomarsturite
LiCa
 
2
Mn
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Manganbabingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Fe)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Marsturite
NaCaMn
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Natronambulite
(Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH
9.DK.05Rhodonite
MnSiO
 
3
9.DK.05Scandiobabingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn)ScSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
9.DK.05Fowlerite
9.DK.10Bostwickite
CaMn
 
6
Si
 
3
O
 
16
·7H
 
2
O
9.DK.10Santaclaraite
CaMn
 
4
[Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH](OH)·H
 
2
O
9.DK.15Saneroite
Na
 
2
(Mn,Mn)
 
10
Si
 
11
VO
 
34
(OH)
 
4
9.DK.20Hellandite-(Y)
(Ca,Y)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
9.DK.20Tadzhikite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
(Ca,Y)
 
2
(Ti
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al)[B
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
22
(O,OH)
 
6
](OH)
 
2
9.DK.20Mottanaite-(Ce)
Ca
 
4
(CeCa)AlBe
 
2
(Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
22
)O
 
2
9.DK.20Ciprianiite
Ca
 
4
[(Th,U)(REE)]Al
 
2
(Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
22
)(OH, F)
 
2
]
9.DK.20Hellandite-(Ce)
(Ca,Ce)
 
6
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)Si
 
4
B
 
4
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.18.2Natronambulite
(Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH
14.18.3Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
14.18.4Norrishite
KLiMn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
14.18.5Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
·6H
 
2
O
14.18.6Abswurmbachite
CuMn
3+
6
O
 
8
(SiO
 
4
)
14.18.7Donpeacorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)Mg[SiO
 
3
]
 
2
14.18.8Kanoite
Mn
2+
 
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.18.9Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
14.18.10Gonyerite
(Mn,Mg)
 
5
Fe(Si
 
3
Fe)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
14.18.11 Tirodite
14.18.12Manganhumite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
7
[(OH)
 
2
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
3
]
14.18.13Bustamite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)[SiO
 
3
]
14.18.14Glaucochroite
CaMn
2+
 
[SiO
 
4
]
14.18.15Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
14.18.16Santaclaraite
CaMn
 
4
[Si
 
5
O
 
14
OH](OH)·H
 
2
O
14.18.17Ferrobustamite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.18.18Johannsenite
CaMn
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.18.19Neltnerite
CaMn
3+
6
[O
 
8
|SiO
 
4
]
14.18.20Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
14.18.21Inesite
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Fe)
 
7
Si
 
10
O
 
28
(OH)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
14.18.22Orientite
Ca
 
2
MnMn
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
(OH)
 
4
14.18.23Ruizite
Ca
 
2
Mn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|H
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
13
] · 2H
 
2
O
14.18.24Bostwickite
CaMn
 
6
Si
 
3
O
 
16
·7H
 
2
O
14.18.25Kittatinnyite
Ca
 
2
Mn
 
2
Mn(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
14.18.26Lithiomarsturite
LiCa
 
2
Mn
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.27Sérandite
Na(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.18.28Kvanefjeldite
Na
 
4
(Ca,Mn)(Si
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
14.18.29Marsturite
NaCaMn
 
3
Si
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.30Raite
(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Mn,Ti,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
16
(OH)
 
12
·5H
 
2
O
14.18.31Richterite
Na[CaNa][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.18.32Byelorussite-(Ce)
Ba
 
2
NaCe
 
2
MnTi
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(F,OH) · H
 
2
O
14.18.33Deerite
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Fe,Al)
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
20
(OH)
 
5
14.18.34Calderite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
14.18.35Pyroxmangite
MnSiO
 
3
14.18.36Dannemorite
14.18.37Neotocite
(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
14.18.38Babingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Fe,Mn)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.39Manganbabingtonite
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Fe)FeSi
 
5
O
 
14
(OH)
14.18.40Örebroite
Mn
2+
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Sb
5+
 
)[(O,OH)
 
3
|SiO
 
4
]

Other Names for Nambulite

Synonyms:
IMA1971-032
German names:
Nambulit
Japanese names:
南部石
Russian names:
Намбулит
Spanish names:
Nambulita

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 Nambulite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1973): 58: 162.

Acta Crystallographica: 31: 2422-2426.

Internet Links for Nambulite

Search Engines:
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  • Look for Nambulite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Nambulite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Nambulite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Nambulite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Nambulite

    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.
    India
    Ito, J. (1972): Synthesis and crystal chemistry of lithium hydropyroxenoids. Mineralogical Journal 7, 45-65; Murakami, T., Takeuchi, Y., Tagai, T. & Koto, K. (1977): Lithium-hydrorhodonite. Acta Crystallographica, B33, 919-921.
    Ito, J. (1972): Synthesis and crystal chemistry of lithium hydropyroxenoids. Mineralogical Journal 7, 45-65; Murakami, T., Takeuchi, Y., Tagai, T. & Koto, K. (1977): Lithium-hydrorhodonite. Acta Crystallographica, B33, 919-921.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Tohoku Region
        • Fukushima Prefecture
          • Iwaki
    		Peacor, D. R., Dunn, P. J., White, J. S., Jr., Grice, J. D. & Chi, P. (1990): Lithiomarsturite, a new member of the pyroxenoid group, from North Carolina. American Mineralogist 75, 409-414. (occurrence as Gozaisho mine with ref. "(Ohashi, pers. comm.)"); Ryuji Marumoto collection; Alfredo Petrov collection
        • Iwate Prefecture
          • Kitakami Mts
    		Mineral.Journ.Japan (1972) 7, 29-44
    Namibia
     
    • Otjozondjupa Region
      • Grootfontein District
        • Kombat
    		Mineralogical Record: 22: 421.
    Slovakia
     
    • Košice Region
      • Eastern Slovenské Rudohorie Mts
        • Rožňava (Rozsnyo; Rosenau) Mining District
          • Čučma (Csucsom; Tschutschma)
            • Stredná Hora hill
    		Koděra et all.,1990: Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, I-III, 1590p
    Sweden
     
    • Södermanland
      • Haninge
    Mineral and/or Locality
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