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Natrolite

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Cape Grim, Cape Grim district, Tasmania, Australia
© T. Kennedy 2002

Show Natrolite Photos (434)
Formula:
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:White, Colorless, Red, ...
Hardness:5 - 5½
Name:Named in 1803 from the Greek natron, "soda," in allusion to its sodium content and lithos, "stone."
Dimorph of:Gonnardite


Zeolite Group, Natrolite subgroup

Classification of Natrolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.21-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.GA.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
A : Zeolites with T5O10 Units – The Fibrous Zeolites
Dana 7th edition ID:77.1.5.1
Dana 8th edition ID:77.1.5.1

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
1 : Zeolite group - True zeolites
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.2.5

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
2 : Aluminosilicates of Na
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Type Occurrence of Natrolite

Type Locality:Hohentwiel Mt., Singen, Hegau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Year of Discovery:1803

Occurrences of Natrolite

Geological Setting:Cavities in amygdaloidal basalts

Physical Properties of Natrolite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:White, Colorless, Red, Yellow, Brown, Green, bluish
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
on {110}
Parting:on {010}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.2 - 2.26 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.25 g/cm3

Crystallography of Natrolite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Fdd2
Cell Parameters:a = 18.72(6) Å, b = 18.613(6) Å, c = 6.593(2) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.006 : 1 : 0.354
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,297.23 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Crystals short to long prismatic to 1 meter.
Twinning:On {110}, {011}, {031}
Crystal Atlas:
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Natrolite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Epitaxial Relationships of Natrolite

Epitaxial Minerals:
ScoleciteParanatroliteMesoliteGonnardite
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Natrolite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.473 - 1.483 nβ = 1.476 - 1.486 nγ = 1.485 - 1.496
2V:Measured: 58° to 64°, Calculated: 48° to 62°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012 - 0.013

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

Chemical Properties of Natrolite

Formula:
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ca,K

Relationship of Natrolite to other Species

Related to:
  • Natrolite Subgroup
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    9.GA.05Gonnardite
    Na
     
    2
    		Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 7H
     
    2
    		O
    9.GA.05Mesolite
    Na
     
    2
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
     
    3
    		 · 8H
     
    2
    		O
    9.GA.05Paranatrolite
    Na
     
    2
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
    9.GA.05Scolecite
    Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    9.GA.10Thomsonite-Ca
    NaCa
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    5
    		Si
     
    5
    		O
     
    20
    		] · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    9.GA.10Thomsonite-Sr
    (Sr,Ca)
     
    2
    		Na[Al
     
    5
    		Si
     
    5
    		O
     
    20
    		]·7H
     
    2
    		O
    9.GA.15Edingtonite
    Ba[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		] · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    9.GA.15Kalborsite
    K
     
    6
    		[Cl|B(OH)
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    20
    		]
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    16.2.1Albite
    Na[AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		]
    16.2.2Analcime
    Na
     
    2
    		[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    16.2.3Ussingite
    Na
     
    2
    		AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		OH
    16.2.4Paragonite
    NaAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    16.2.6Tetranatrolite
    16.2.7Paranatrolite
    Na
     
    2
    		Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O
    16.2.8Ephesite
    NaLiAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    16.2.9Rectorite
    (Na,Ca)Al
     
    4
    		(Si,Al)
     
    8
    		O
     
    20
    		(OH)
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    16.2.10Jadeite
    Na(Al,Fe
    3+
     
    		)[Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		]
    16.2.11Brammallite
    Na
     
    0.65
    		Al
     
    2.0
    		ٱAl
     
    0.65
    		Si
     
    3.35
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):
    77.1.5.5Scolecite
    Ca[Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O

    Other Names for Natrolite

    Synonyms:
    Ædelite (of Kirwan)ApoanalciteCockaliteCrocaliteEpinatrolite
    LehuntiteNatrolithNatronite (of ?)NeedlestonePortite
    German names:
    ApoanalcitBrevicitCockalitCrocalitEpinatrolith
    Lehuntit
    Russian names:
    Натролит
    Spanish names:
    ApoanalcitaCockalitaCrocalitaEpinatrolitaLehuntita
    Natrolita
    Varieties:
    BergmanniteGalactiteGermanate-natroliteKondrikoviteMooraboolite
    Spreustein

    Other Information

    Fluorescence in UV light:Commonly orange to yellow
    Electrical:Pyroelectric, piezeoelectric
    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 Natrolite

    Reference List:Murdoch, Joseph (1942), Crystallographic notes, cristobalite, stephanite, natrolite: American Mineralogist: 27: 500-506.

    Foster, M.D. (1965), Composition of the zeolites of the natrolite group: USGS PP 504D: 1-7.

    Pabst, Adolf (1971) Natrolite from the Green River formation, Colorado, showing an intergrowth akin to twinning. American Mineralogist: 56: 560-569.

    Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen (1982): 143: 231-248.

    Baur, W.H., Kassner, D., Kim, C.-H., and Sieber, N.H. (1990), Flexibility and distortion of the framework of natrolite: crystal structures of ion-exchanged natrolites. European Journal of Mineralogy: 2: 761-769.

    American Mineralogist (1992): 77: 685.

    European Journal of Mineralogy: 7: 501-508.

    Meier, W.M. (1960) The crystal structure of natrolite. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 113: 430-444.

    Lee, Y., T. Vogt, J.A. Hriljac, J.B. Parise, & G. Artioli (2002a), Pressure-induced volume expansion of zeolites in the natrolite family: Journal of the American Chemical Society: 124: 5466-5475.

    Internet Links for Natrolite

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  • Look for Natrolite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Natrolite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Natrolite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Natrolite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
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  • Find Natrolite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
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    Localities for Natrolite

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