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Shortite

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Big Photo

Green River Formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming, USA
© Thomas Witzke

Show Shortite Photos (25)



Formula:
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, light ...
Hardness:3
Name:Named after Dr. Maxwell Naylor Short (1889-1952), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Arizona, Tucson (USA).


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Classification of Shortite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.05-70
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AC.25

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
C : Alkali and alkali-earth carbonates
Dana 8th edition ID:14.4.1.1

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
4 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.1.9

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

Type Locality:John Hay Jr. Well No. 1, Green River Formation, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming, USA
Year of Discovery:1939
Associated Minerals at type locality:
PyriteCalcite

Physical Properties of Shortite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, light yellow, light green
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {010}.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.6 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.605 g/cm3

Crystallography of Shortite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Amm2
Cell Parameters:a = 4.96Å, b = 11.03Å, c = 7.12Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.45 : 1 : 0.646
Unit Cell Volume:V 389.53 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals wedge-shaped, tabular {100} or equant to short prismatic [100]. {011} striated [100] and in oscillatory combination with {001}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Shortite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.531 nβ = 1.555 nγ = 1.570
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.039

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

Chemical Properties of Shortite

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

Relationship of Shortite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.AC.05Eitelite
Na
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AC.10Nyerereite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AC.10Zemkorite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AC.15Bütschliite
K
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AC.20Fairchildite
K
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
5.AC.30Burbankite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Sr,Ba,Ce)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
5.AC.30Calcioburbankite
Na
 
3
(Ca,REE,Sr)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
5.AC.30Khanneshite
(Na,Ca)
 
3
(Ba,Sr,Ce,Ca)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
5.AC.30Sanrománite
Na
 
2
CaPb
 
3
[CO
 
3
]
 
5
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
11.1.10Nyerereite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.11Natrofairchildite
11.1.12Zemkorite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.13Pirssonite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
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 Shortite

Other Languages:
German:Shortit
Russian:Шортит
Spanish:Shortita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Fluoresces pale amber (UV).
Thermal Behaviour:Strongly pyroelectric. Inverts at about 200° C. Melts incongruently at about 600° C.
Other Information:Decomposed by water with separation of CaCO3.
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 Shortite

Reference List:

- +
Fahey J.J. (1939), American Mineralogist: 24: 514-518.

Richmond (1941) American Mineralogist: 26: 288, 629.

Wickman (1949) Arkiv. Min. Geol.: 1: 95.

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: 222-223.

Arkiv för Mineralogi och Geologi:: 1: 95-101.

Mineralogicheskii Zhurnal (1980): 2(2): 85-90.

Internet Links for Shortite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Shortite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Specimens:The following Shortite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
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    • Localities for Shortite

    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
     
    • Ontario
      • Timiskaming District
        • Kirkland Lake area
          • Gauthier Township
    		R. H. Mitchell (1978) Composition of spinels in micaceous kimberlite from the Upper Canada Mine, Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Can Mineral 16:591-595
    • Québec
      • Montérégie
        • Rouville RCM
          • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		Horváth, L and Gault, R.A. (1990), The mineralogy of Mont Saint-Hilaire Quebec. Mineralogical Record: 21: 284-359.
    China
     
    • Henan Province
      • Nanyang Prefecture
        • Tongbai Co.
          • Biyang basin
    		Jianmin Zhaou and Jiping Wang (1989): Acta Sedimentologica Sinica 7(4), 149
    India
     
    • Andhra Pradesh
      • Anantapur District
    		AmMin 87:1384–1389 (2002)
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
        • Daldyn-Alakit kimberlite field
          • Daldyn
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Afrikanda
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/afri.htm
          • 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
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow; New Data on Minerals (2004): 39: 50-64
    [World of Stones 95:5-6, p64]
          • Lovozero Massif
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
              • Umbozero mine (Umba mine)
        • Northern Karelia
    		www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/vuori.htm
    Tajikistan
     
    • Region of Republican Subordination
      • Tien Shan Mts
        • Alai (Alayskiy) Range
    		http://www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/dara.htm
    Uganda
     
    • Tororo District
    		Mineralogical Magazine. 44:201-204
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Rio Blanco Co.
        • Piceance Basin
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
          • Green River Formation
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Utah
      • Duchesne Co.
    		Am Min 58:211-217
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/abstract_45510.htm.
    Am Min 45:188-199
    Am Min 58:211-217
    U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 96-0729
      • Uintah Co.
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Am Min 41:672; American Mineralogist (1952) 37:342-344
    • 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, 223, 279.
    Fahey J.J. (1939), American Mineralogist: 24: 514-518.
    Am Min 46:420-429
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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