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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 (34)
Formula:
Na
 
0.3
Fe
 
2
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Green, olive-green, ...
Hardness:1½ - 2


Smectite Group.

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
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Type Occurrence of Nontronite

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

Physical Properties of Nontronite

Lustre:Resinous, Waxy, Dull
Colour:Green, olive-green, yellow-green, yellow, orange, brown
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.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[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
](OH)
 
2
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.20UM2004-49-SiO:AlCsFHKLi
(Cs,K)(Al,Li)
 
2.6
[(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
](F,OH)
 
2
9.EC.20Suhailite
(NH
 
4
)Fe
 
3
(Si
 
3
Al)O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
9.EC.20IMA2009-017
KMg
 
2.5
[Si
 
4
O
 
10
]F
 
2
9.EC.20IMA2009-006
KLi
 
2
TiSi
 
4
O
 
11
F
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[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
](OH)
 
2

Other Names for Nontronite

Synonyms:
Chloropal (Berhardi and Brandes)HydroferripyrophylliteUnnamed (MSH UK-29)
Other Languages:
German:Nontronit
Russian:Нонтронит
Spanish: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

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    Localities for Nontronite

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