Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Nontronite

Big Photo

Hagendorf South Pegmatite (Cornelia Mine; Hagendorf South Open Cut), Hagendorf, Waidhaus, Vohenstrauß, Oberpfälzer Wald, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Nontronite Photos (17)
Formula:
Na
 
0.3
Fe
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicHardness:1½ - 2
This page provides mineralogical data about Nontronite.

Classification of Nontronite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.19-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EC.40

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
C : Phyllosilicates with mica sheets, composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.3.1a.3

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
3 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 2:1 clays
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.18.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
18 : Aluminosilicates of Fe and alkalis
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-2924.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Nontronite

Type Locality:Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière, Dordogne, Aquitaine, France
Year of Discovery:1827

Physical Properties of Nontronite

Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2

Crystallography of Nontronite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.23Å, b = 9.11Å, c = 15.5Å
β = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.574 : 1 : 1.701
Unit Cell Volume:V 738.50 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Nontronite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.530 - 1.580 nβ = 1.555 - 1.612 nγ = 1.560 - 1.615
2V:Measured: 5° to 66°, Calculated: 32° to 46°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.030 - 0.035

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

Chemical Properties of Nontronite

Formula:
Na
 
0.3
Fe
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Fe, H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Mg,Ca

Relationship of Nontronite to other Species

Member of:Smectite Group
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.EC.05Minnesotaite
(Fe,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Talc
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.05Willemseite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.10Ferripyrophyllite
Fe
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.10Pyrophyllite
Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.15Boromuscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Celadonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chernykhite
(Ba,Na)(V
3+
 
,Al,Mg)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Montdorite
(K,Na)
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
[(OH,F)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
9.EC.15Muscovite
KAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Nanpingite
CsAl
 
2
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Paragonite
NaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Roscoelite
K(V,Al)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Tobelite
(NH
 
4
,K)Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Aluminoceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chromphyllite
K(Cr,Al)
 
2
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ferro-aluminoceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ferroceladonite
K(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Chromceladonite
K(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Cr,Al)[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Tainiolite
KLiMg
 
2
[F
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.15Ganterite
(Ba,Na,K)(Al,Mg)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Annite
KFe
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Biotite
9.EC.20Ephesite
NaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Hendricksite
K(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Masutomilite
(K,Rb)(Li,Mn
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Norrishite
KLiMn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Phlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Polylithionite
KLi
 
2
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Preiswerkite
NaMg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Siderophyllite
KFe
2+
2
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Tetra-ferriphlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Wonesite
(Na,K)(Mg,fe,Al)
 
6
(Al,Si)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH,F)
 
4
9.EC.20Zinnwaldite
KLiFe
2+
 
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Eastonite
KMg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Tetraferriannite
KFe
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Si
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Trilithionite
K(Li,Al)
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Fluorannite
KFe
2+
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Shirokshinite
KNaMg
 
2
[F
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Shirozulite
K(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Sokolovaite
CsLi
 
2
AlSi
 
4
O
 
10
F
 
2
9.EC.20Aspidolite
NaMg
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.20Fluorophlogopite
KMg
 
3
[(F,OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.25Brammallite
Na
 
0.65
Al
 
2.0
ٱAl
 
0.65
Si
 
3.35
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.30Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Anandite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(O,OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al,Fe)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Bityite
CaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|BeAlSi
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Clintonite
Ca(Mg,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
3
SiO
 
10
]
9.EC.35Kinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Mn
2+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Ferrokinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
9.EC.35Oxykinoshitalite
(Ba,K)(Mg,Ti,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(O,OH,F)
 
2
|(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
]
9.EC.40Beidellite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)
 
0.3
Al
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Kurumsakite
(Zn,Ni,Cu)
 
8
Al
 
8
V
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
35
·27H
 
2
O (or near)
9.EC.40Montmorillonite
(Na,Ca)
 
0.33
(Al,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.40Volkonskoite
Ca
 
0.3
(Cr,Mg,Fe)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.40Yakhontovite
(Ca,Na)
 
0.5
(Cu,Fe,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.EC.40Smectite
9.EC.45Hectorite
Na
 
0.3
(Mg,Li)
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Saponite
Ca
 
0.25
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.45Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Spadaite
MgSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Stevensite
(Ca,Na)
 
x
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.45Swinefordite
Li(Al,Li,Mg)
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
,(OH,F)
 
4
·xH
 
2
O
9.EC.45Zincsilite
Zn
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.45Ferrosaponite
Ca
 
0.3
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.50Vermiculite
(Mg,Fe,Al)
 
3
(Al,Si)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.55Baileychlore
(Zn,Fe,Al,Mg)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Chamosite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Clinochlore
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Al[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Cookeite
LiAl
 
4
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Franklinfurnaceite
Ca
 
2
FeMn
 
3
MnZn
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Gonyerite
(Mn,Mg)
 
5
Fe(Si
 
3
Fe)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Nimite
(Ni,Mg,Al)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Orthochamosite
(Fe,Mg,Fe)
 
5
Al(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH,O)
 
8
9.EC.55Pennantite
(Mn
 
5
Al)(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Sudoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Donbassite
Al
 
2
[Al
 
2.33
][Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
](OH)
 
8
9.EC.55Glagolevite
Na(Mg,Al)
 
6
[(OH,O)
 
8
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
9.EC.55Borocookeite
Li
 
1+3x
Al
 
4-x
[(BSi
 
3
)O
 
10
](OH)
 
8
 [0.00 <= x <=0.33]
9.EC.60Aliettite
Ca
 
0.2
Mg
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Corrensite
(Mg,Fe)
 
9
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
10
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.60Dozyite
Mg
 
7
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
12
|Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
15
]
9.EC.60Hydrobiotite
9.EC.60Karpinskite
(Ni,Mg)
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.60Kulkeite
Mg
 
8
Al(AlSi
 
7
)O
 
20
(OH)
 
10
9.EC.60Lunijianlaite
Li
 
0.7
Al
 
6.2
(Si
 
7
AlO
 
20
)(OH,O)
 
10
9.EC.60Rectorite
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.EC.60Saliotite
Li
 
0.5
Na
 
0.5
Al
 
3
Si
 
3
AlO
 
10
(OH)
 
5
9.EC.60Tosudite
9.EC.60Brinrobertsite
Na
 
0.3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 3.5 H
 
2
O
9.EC.65Macaulayite
(Fe,Al)
 
24
Si
 
4
O
 
43
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.70Burckhardtite
Pb
 
2
(Fe,Mn)AlTeO
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
9.EC.75Ferrisurite
(Pb,Ca)
 
2-3
(CO
 
3
)
 
1.5-2
(OH,F)
 
0.5-1
[(Fe,Al)
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
]·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.75Surite
Pb(Pb,Ca)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(Al,Fe,Mg)
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.75Niksergievite
(Ba,Ca)
 
2
(Al,Si)
 
7
O
 
10
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
·nH
 
2
O
9.EC.80Kegelite
Pb
 
12
(Zn,Fe)
 
2
Al
 
4
(SO
 
4
)
 
4
Si
 
11
O
 
38
 or near
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.18.2Ferroglaucophane
[ ][Na
 
2
][Fe
2+
3
Al
 
2
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
16.18.3Tuhualite
(Na,K)
 
2
Fe
 
2
Fe
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
30
·H
 
2
O
16.18.4Annite
KFe
2+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.18.5Siderophyllite
KFe
2+
2
Al[(F,OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]

Other Names for Nontronite

Synonyms:
Chloropal (Berhardi and Brandes)HydroferripyrophylliteUnnamed (MSH UK-29)
German names:
Nontronit
Russian names:
Нонтронит
Spanish names:
Nontronita
Varieties:
Chrome-Nontronite

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 Nontronite

Reference List:Larsen, Esper Signius & George Steiger (1928), Dehydration and optical studies of alunogen, nontronite, and griffithite: American Journal of Science, 5th. series: 15: 1-19.

Russell, J.D. and D.R. Clarke (1978), The effect of Fe-for-Si substitution on the b-dimension of nontronite: Clay Minerals: 13: 133-137.

Tsipursky, S.I., V.A. Drits, and S.S. Chekin (1978), Study of structural ordering of nontronite by oblique texture electron diffraction. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geologicheskaya: 10: 105-113 (in Russian).

Besson, G., A.S. Bookin, L.G. Dainyak, M. Rautureau, S.I. Tsipursky, C. Tchoubar, and V.A. Drits (1983), Use of diffraction and Mössbauer methods for the structural and crystallochemical characterizations of nontronites: Journal of Applied Crystallography: 16: 374-383.

Aufschuss (1983): 34: 295.

Dainyak, L.G., and V.A. Drits (1987), Interpretation of Mössbauer spectra of nontronite, celadonite, and glauconite: Clays and Clay Minerals: 35: 363-372.

American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 1346.

Köster, H.M., U. Ehrlicher, H.A. Gilg, R. Jordan, E. Murad, and K. Onnich (1999), Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of five nontronites and Fe-rich smectites: Cay Minerals: 34: 579-599.

Manceau, A., B. Lanson, V.A. Drits, D. Chateigner, W.P. Gates, J. Wu, D. Huo, and J.W. Stucki (2001), Oxidation-reduction mechanism of iron in dioctahedral smectites. I. Crystal chemistry of oxidized reference nontronites: American Mineralogist: 85: 133-152.

Internet Links for Nontronite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Nontronite on Google
  • Look for Nontronite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Nontronite on Webmineral
  • Look for Nontronite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Nontronite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Nontronite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Nontronite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Nontronite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for Nontronite at Thames Valley Minerals
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Search for Nontronite on minvision.com
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Find Nontronite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Nontronite specimens
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Nontronite

    Show Locality List (267 Items)
    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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.