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Pirssonite

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Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
© Karl Volkman04/05

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Formula:
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white, pale ...
Hardness:3 - 3½
Name:After Louis Valentine Pirsson (1860-1919), petrographer and mineralogist, Professor of Physical Geology at Yale University.
This page provides mineralogical data about Pirssonite.

Classification of Pirssonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/D.02-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.CB.30

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
Dana 8th edition ID:15.2.1.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p > 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.1.13

11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Type Occurrence of Pirssonite

Type Locality:Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1896
Geological Setting of type material:Lacustrine clay beds.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TychiteNorthupiteGaylussite

Occurrences of Pirssonite

Geological Setting:In oil shales; in sediments of a salt pan.

Physical Properties of Pirssonite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, white, pale gray; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.352 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.37 g/cm3

Crystallography of Pirssonite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Fdd2
Cell Parameters:a = 11.32Å, b = 20.06Å, c = 6Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.564 : 1 : 0.299
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,362.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals short prismatic [001] with variable upper termination; also tabular {010}, or pyramidal with e and p¯.
Crystal Atlas:
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Pirssonite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Pirssonite no.6 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Optical Data of Pirssonite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.504 nβ = 1.510 nγ = 1.575
2V:Measured: 31° , Calculated: 34°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.071

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

Chemical Properties of Pirssonite

Formula:
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, Na, O

Relationship of Pirssonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
5.CB.05Thermonatrite
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
5.CB.10Natron
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·10H
 
2
O
5.CB.15Trona
Na
 
3
H(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
5.CB.20Monohydrocalcite
CaCO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
5.CB.25Ikaite
CaCO
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
5.CB.35Gaylussite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
5.CB.40Chalconatronite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
5.CB.45Baylissite
K
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
5.CB.50Tuliokite
Na
 
6
BaTh(CO
 
3
)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
11.1.1Zabuyelite
Li
 
2
CO
 
3
11.1.2Natrite
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
11.1.3Nahcolite
NaHCO
 
3
11.1.4Wegscheiderite
Na
 
5
H
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
11.1.5Thermonatrite
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
11.1.6Trona
Na
 
3
H(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
11.1.7Natron
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·10H
 
2
O
11.1.8Kalicinite
KHCO
 
3
11.1.9Shortite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
11.1.10Nyerereite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.11Natrofairchildite
11.1.12Zemkorite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.14Gaylussite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
11.1.15Baylissite
K
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
11.1.16Fairchildite
K
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.17Bütschliite
K
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.18Teschemacherite
(NH
 
4
)HCO
 
3

Other Names for Pirssonite

German names:
Pirssonit
Russian names:
Пирссонит
Spanish names:
Pirssonita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Pyroelectric with the end of the [001] axis terminated by {131} becoming negatively electrified on cooling.
Other Information:Soluble in cold dilute acids with effervescence.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:None.

References for Pirssonite

Reference List:Pratt, Joseph Hyde (1896), On northupite; pirssonite, a new mineral; Gaylussite and hanksite from Borax Lake, San Bernardino County, California: Am. Jour. Sci., 4th. series: 2: 123-135; …Zeitschr. Kristallographie, Band 27: 416-429 (1896); …(abstract): Neues Jahrb., Band 2: 451-455 (1897).

Foshag (1933) American Mineralogist: 18: 431.

Evans (1948) American Mineralogist: 33: 261.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 232-233.

Corazza, E. & C. Sobelli (1967), The crystal structure of pirssonite, CaNa2(CO3)2 • 2H2O: Acta Crystallographica: 23: 763-766.

Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal (1981): 3: 99-102.

Articles/Blogs about Pirssonite

Internet Links for Pirssonite

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    Localities for Pirssonite

    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
      • Rouville Co.
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		No reference listed
    Egypt
     
    • Western Desert
    		Collection Elmar Lackner
    Namibia
     
    Foshag, Wm. F. (1933) Sulfohalite and Other Minerals from the Otjiwalundo Salt Pan, South West Africa. American Mineralogist: 18: 431-434; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 233, 549.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Khibiny Massif
            • Kukisvumchorr Mt
    		[World of Stones 95:5-6, p64]
          • Lovozero Massif
    		A.P. Khomyakov et al.: ZVMO 119(5):46-49 (1990)
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
    		No reference listed
      • Lake Co.
        • Clear Lake Oaks
          • Clear Lake
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 233, 235.
      • San Bernardino Co.
    		American Journal of Science(1896) : 4/2 : 126; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 279.
    • Colorado
      • Jefferson Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Tennessee
      • Polk Co.
    		www.gamineral.org
    • Wyoming
      • Sweetwater Co.
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 139, 233, 279.
    Am Min 26:646-650
    Mineral and/or Locality
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