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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)

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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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

Other Languages:
German:Pirssonit
Russian:Пирссонит
Spanish: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.

Internet Links for Pirssonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Pirssonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Pirssonite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
      • Montérégie
        • Rouville RCM
          • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		No reference listed
    China
     
    Jiping Wang, Jianming Zhou, Xiulian Ma, and Qingtang Yang (1999): Acta Mineralogica Sinica 19(3), 315-319
    Egypt
     
    • Western Desert
    		Marchesini, M. & Barresi, A. (2009): I minerali di Wadi natrun, Deserto Occidentale, Egitto, Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/2009, 228-258.
    Namibia
     
    • Kunene Region
    		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]; Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
          • Lovozero Massif
    		A.P. Khomyakov et al.: ZVMO 119(5):46-49 (1990)
    Ukraine
     
    • Crimea Oblast'
      • Crimea peninsula
        • Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula)
          • Bondarenkovo Village area
    		Deyak M.A. Modern water-chemogenic formations of mud volcanoes of Kerch Peninsula. Dissertation to Scientific Candidate Degree in Geological Sciences in speciality 04.00.21 – lithology. –Department of marine geology and sedimentary ore formation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. – Kyiv, 2010.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Deep Springs Valley
    		Jones, Blair Francis (1961), Zoning of saline minerals at Deep Spring Lake, California: USGS PP 424-B, Article 83: B200; Hardie, L.A. and Eugster, H.P. (1970) The evolution of closed-basin brines. Mineralogical Society of America Special Paper 3: 232; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 207.
      • Lake Co.
        • Sulphur Creek District (Sulfur Creek District; Wilbur Springs District)
          • Clear Lake Oaks
    		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; Vonsen, Magnus (1935), The discovery of borates in California: Mineralogist: 3(12): 22; Vonsen, Magnus & G.D. Hanna (1936), Borax Lake, California: California Division Mines Report 32: 104; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 280, 289, 359, 374; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 207, 208.
      • San Bernardino Co.
    		Pratt, Joseph Hyde (1896), On northupite; pirssonite, a new mineral; Gaylussite and hanksite from Borax Lake, San Bernardino County, California: American Journal of Science, 4th. series: 2: 126; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 208; 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.; Gale, Hoyt Stoddard (1915), Mineralogy of the Searles Lake deposits in Salines in the Owens, Searles, and Panamint basins, southeastern California: USGS Bulletin 580: 296-308
    Pratt, Joseph Hyde (1896), On northupite; pirssonite, a new mineral; Gaylussite and hanksite from Borax Lake, San Bernardino County, California: American Journal of Science, 4th. series: 2: 126; Smith, George Irving & D.V. Haines (1964), Character and distribution of nonclastic minerals in the Searles Lake evaporite deposit, California: USGS Bulletin1181-P: P31-P32; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 289.
    • 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
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