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Niocalite

Big Photo

Oka, Oka complex, Deux-Montagnes Co., Québec, Canada
© O. Dziallas

Show Niocalite Photos (5)
Formula:
(Ca,Nb)
 
4
[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Lemon-yellow; colourless ...
Hardness:6
Name:In allusion to the composition, containing NIObium and CALcium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Niocalite.

Classification of Niocalite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/C.11-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.BE.17

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
B : Sorosilicates
E : Si2O7 groups, with additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] and greater coordination
Dana 8th edition ID:56.2.4.6

56 : SOROSILICATES Si2O7 Groups, With Additional O, OH, F and H2O
2 : Si2O7 Groups and O, OH, F, and H2O with cations in [4] and/or >[4] coordination
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.8.4

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
8 : Silicates with niobate or tantalate
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2913.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Niocalite

Type Locality:Oka, Oka complex, Deux-Montagnes Co., Québec, Canada
General Appearance of Type Material:Coarse-grained strontian carbonatite.
Year of Discovery:1956
Associated Minerals at type locality:
CalciteMagnetiteApatiteDiopsideBiotite
PyrochloreNiobian Perovskite

Physical Properties of Niocalite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Lemon-yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):6
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.32 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.29 g/cm3

Crystallography of Niocalite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 10.863Å, b = 10.431Å, c = 7.37Å
β = 110.11°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.041 : 1 : 0.707
Unit Cell Volume:V 784.20 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals prismatic with square cross sections and curved faces. Larger crystals are tapered at both ends.
Twinning:Twinning fine, with {001} as the composition plane.

Optical Data of Niocalite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.700 - 1.701 nβ = 1.714 - 1.721 nγ = 1.720 - 1.730
2V:Measured: 34° to 56°, Calculated: 64° to 66°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.020 - 0.029

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

Chemical Properties of Niocalite

Formula:
(Ca,Nb)
 
4
[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
Essential elements:Ca, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, F, H, Nb, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Zr,Al,Y,Fe,Ta,Mn,MgNa,K,P,H2O

Relationship of Niocalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.BE.02Wadsleyite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
9.BE.05Hennomartinite
SrMn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BE.05Lawsonite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BE.05Noelbensonite
BaMn
3+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BE.05Itoigawaite
SrAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BE.07Ilvaite
CaFe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.07Manganilvaite
Ca(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.10Suolunite
Ca
 
2
[H
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
9.BE.12Jaffeite
Ca
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.15Fresnoite
Ba
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.17Baghdadite
Ca
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.17Burpalite
Na
 
2
CaZr[F
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.17Cuspidine
Ca
 
4
[(F,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.17Hiortdahlite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
2
O
 
7
(O,OH,F)
 
2
9.BE.17Janhaugite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
(Ti,Zr,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
15
(OH,F,O)
 
3
9.BE.17Låvenite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(Zr,Ti)[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.17Normandite
NaCa(Mn,Fe)(Ti,Nb,Zr)[(O,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.17Wöhlerite
NaCa
 
2
(Zr,Nb)[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.17Hiortdahlite I
(Na
 
3
Ca)Ca
 
8
Zr
 
2
(M
3+
 
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
O
 
3
F
 
5
9.BE.17IMA2005-005a
Na
 
2
Ca
 
4
(Nb,Zr)
 
2
[(O,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.20Mosandrite
(Ca,Na,Ce)
 
12
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
[F
 
4
|(OH)
 
6
|SiO
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
3
]
9.BE.20Nacareniobsite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ca
 
3
(Ce,La,Nd)Nb[F
 
3
|O|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
9.BE.20Rinkite
Na(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Ti[F
 
2
|(O,F)
 
2
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
9.BE.22Götzenite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
5
Ti[F
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
9.BE.22Hainite
Na
 
4
Ca
 
8
(Ti,Zr,Mn)
 
3
[F
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
 
2
9.BE.22Rosenbuschite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Zr,Ti)[O|F|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.22Kochite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
Ca
 
2
(Mn,Ca)ZrTi[(F,O)
 
4
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
9.BE.23Dovyrenite
Ca
 
6
Zr(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.BE.25Barytolamprophyllite
(Ba,Na)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Ti
 
2
[O|(OH,F)|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.25Ericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.25Lamprophyllite
(Sr,K,Ba)
 
2
(Na,Ti,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
Ti
 
2
[O|(O,OH,F)|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.25Orthoericssonite
BaMn
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[O|OH|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.25Seidozerite
Na
 
8
Zr
 
3
Ti
 
3
Mn
2+
2
[O|F|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
4
9.BE.25Nabalamprophyllite
Na
 
3
(Ba,Na)
 
2
Ti
 
3
[O|(OH,F)|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.25Grenmarite
(Zr,Mn)
 
2
(Zr,Ti)(Mn,Na)(Na,Ca)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(O,F)
 
4
9.BE.27Murmanite
Na
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
9
·nH
 
2
O
9.BE.30Epistolite
Na
 
2
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · nH
 
2
O
9.BE.32Lomonosovite
Na
 
5
Ti
 
2
[O
 
2
|PO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.35Vuonnemite
Na
 
11
Ti
4+
 
Nb
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
3
(F,OH)
9.BE.37Sobolevite
Na
 
12
Ca(NaCaMn)Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
3
F
 
3
9.BE.40Innelite
Na
 
2
(Ba,K)
 
4
(Mg,Ca,Fe)Ti
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
18
(OH,F)
 
1.5
SO
 
4
9.BE.40Phosphoinnelite
Ba
 
4
Na
 
3
Ti
 
3
[(O,F)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
14
]
9.BE.42Yoshimuraite
Ba
 
2
Mn
 
2
TiOSi
 
2
O
 
7
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
9.BE.45Quadruphite
Na
 
14
Ca
 
2
Ti
 
4
[O
 
2
|F|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.47Polyphite
Na
 
5
(Na
 
4
Ca
 
2
)Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
O
 
2
F
 
2
9.BE.50Bornemanite
BaNa
 
4
Ti
 
2
NbSi
 
4
O
 
17
(F,OH)·Na
 
3
PO
 
4
9.BE.50Shkatulkaite
Na
 
10
Mn
2+
 
Ti
 
3
Nb
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|F|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
6
] · 12H
 
2
O
9.BE.50Shkatulkalite
9.BE.50Bykovaite
BaNa(Na,Ti)
 
4
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
14
(O,OH)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.BE.55Bafertisite
Ba(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|(O,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.55Hejtmanite
Ba(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|(OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.55Nechelyustovite
(Ba,Na)
 
2
{(Na,Ti,Mn)
 
4
[(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(OH)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
14
](OH,O,F)
 
2
} · 3H
 
2
O
9.BE.60Delindeite
(Na,K)
 
2.7
(Ba,Ca)
 
4
(Ti,Fe,Al)
 
6
Si
 
8
O
 
26
(OH)
 
14
9.BE.65Bussenite
Na
 
2
Ba
 
2
FeTiSi
 
2
O
 
7
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
3
F
9.BE.67Jinshajiangite
(Na,Ca)(Ba,K)(Fe,Mn)
 
4
Ti
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(F,O,OH)
 
2-3
9.BE.67Perraultite
(Na,Ca)(Ba,K)(Mn,Fe)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(OH,F,O)
 
3
9.BE.67Surkhobite
(Ba,K)
 
2
CaNaMn
 
8
Ti
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
4
O
 
4
(F,OH,O)
 
6
9.BE.70Karnasurtite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Th)(Ti,Nb)(Al,Fe)(Si,P)
 
2
O
 
7
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
9.BE.70Perrierite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Th)
 
4
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Strontiochevkinite
(Sr,La,Ce,Ca)
 
4
Fe
3+
 
(Ti,Zr)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Chevkinite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Ca,Na,Th)
 
4
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Nb)
 
2
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Polyakovite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca)
 
4
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Cr
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Rengeite
Sr
 
4
ZrTi
 
4
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Matsubaraite
Sr
 
4
Ti
 
5
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Dingdaohengite-(Ce)
Ce
 
4
Fe
2+
 
Ti
 
2
Ti
 
2
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Maoniupingite-(Ce)
(REE,Ca)
 
4
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti,Fe
2+
 
,[])(Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Nb)
 
4
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.70Perrierite-(La)
(La,Ce, Ca)
 
4
(Fe,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)(Ti,Fe)
 
4
[O
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.72Fersmanite
(Ca,Na)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
11
(F,OH)
 
2
9.BE.75Belkovite
Ba
 
3
(Nb,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
6
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
9.BE.77Nasonite
Pb
 
6
Ca
 
4
[Cl
 
2
|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
3
]
9.BE.80Kentrolite
Pb
 
2
Mn
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.80Melanotekite
Pb
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.82Tilleyite
Ca
 
5
[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
9.BE.85Killalaite
Ca
 
3
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.BE.87Stavelotite-(La)
(La,Nd,Ca)
 
3
Mn
2+
3
Cu(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Mn
4+
 
)
 
26
[O
 
5
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
6
9.BE.90Biraite-(Ce)
Ce
 
2
Fe
2+
 
[CO
 
3
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
17.8.1Epistolite
Na
 
2
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
[O
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · nH
 
2
O
17.8.2Murmanite
Na
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
9
·nH
 
2
O
17.8.3Perraultite
(Na,Ca)(Ba,K)(Mn,Fe)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
16
(OH,F,O)
 
3
17.8.5Mongolite
Ca
 
4
Nb
 
6
Si
 
5
O
 
24
(OH)
 
10
·nH
 
2
O
17.8.6Fersmanite
(Ca,Na)
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
11
(F,OH)
 
2
17.8.7Nacareniobsite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
Ca
 
3
(Ce,La,Nd)Nb[F
 
3
|O|(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
]
17.8.8Nenadkevichite
(Na,Ca)(Nb,Ti)Si
 
2
O
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
17.8.9Natrokomarovite
(Na,Ca,H)
 
2
Nb
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
(OH,F)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
17.8.10Wöhlerite
NaCa
 
2
(Zr,Nb)[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
17.8.11Belkovite
Ba
 
3
(Nb,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
6
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
 
2
17.8.12Baotite
Ba
 
4
(Ti,Nb)
 
8
Si
 
4
O
 
28
Cl
17.8.13Shcherbakovite
Na(K,Ba)
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
[O|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
17.8.14Ilímaussite-(Ce)
(Na,K)
 
7-8
(Ba,K)
 
10
Ce
 
5
(Nb,Ti)
 
6
[O
 
6
|Si
 
9
O
 
18
(O,OH)
 
24
|(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
 
2
]
17.8.15Komarovite
(Ca,Mn)Nb
 
2
[O
 
3
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · 3.5H
 
2
O
17.8.16Manganbelyankinite
(Mn,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
5
O
 
12
·9H
 
2
O
17.8.17Niobophyllite
(K,Na)
 
3
(Fe,Mn)
 
6
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
Si
 
8
(O,OH,F)
 
31
17.8.18Caesium-Kupletskite

Other Names for Niocalite

German names:
Niocalit
Spanish names:
Niocalita

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 Niocalite

Reference List:Nickel, E.H. (1956) American Mineralogist 41, 785-786.

Nickel, E.H., J.F. Rowland, and J.A. Maxwell (1958) The composition and crystallography of niocalite. Canadian Mineralogist, 6, 264-272.

Mellini, M. (1982): Niocalite revised: Twinning and crystal structure. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 30, 249-266.

Mitchell, R.H. and Belton, F. (2004) Niocalite-cuspidine solid solution and manganoan monticellite from natrocarbonatite, Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania. Mineralogical Magazine: 68: 787-799.

Internet Links for Niocalite

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    Localities for Niocalite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Deux-Montagnes Co.
        • Oka complex
    		Amer.Min.(1956) 41, 785-786 and 969
    Nickel (Am. Min. 41, 785-786, 1956)
    Tanzania
     
    • Arusha Region
    		Mitchell, R.H. and Belton, F. (2004) Niocalite-cuspidine solid solution and manganoan monticellite from natrocarbonatite, Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania. Mineralogical Magazine: 68: 787-799.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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