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Sodalite

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Wannenköpfe, Ochtendung, Polch, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Fred Kruijen

Show Sodalite Photos (54)
Formula:
Na
 
8
[Cl
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, white, light ...
Hardness:5½ - 6
Name:The name reflects its sodium content.


Sodalite Group

Classification of Sodalite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.11-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FB.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
B : Tektosilicates with additional anions
Dana 8th edition ID:76.2.3.1

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
2 : Al-Si Framework Feldspathoids and related species
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.3.3

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
3 : Silicates with chloride (including aluminosilicates)
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Type Occurrence of Sodalite

Type Locality:Ilimaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Year of Discovery:1811

Occurrences of Sodalite

Geological Setting:Found in nepheline syenites, phonolites, volcanic ejecta, metasomatized calcareous rocks.

Physical Properties of Sodalite

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, light yellow, green, light to very dark blue, gray, pink to violet
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Poor on {110}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.73 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.31 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sodalite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):4 3m - Hextetrahedral
Space Group:P4 3n
Cell Parameters:a = 8.876(6) Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 699.28 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Crystals rare, dodecahedron.
Twinning:Common on {111} forming pseudohexagonal prisms.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

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 Sodalite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 1.483 - 1.487
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Sodalite

Formula:
Na
 
8
[Cl
 
2
|Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
]
Essential elements:Al, Cl, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Cl, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,K,Ca,H2O,S

Relationship of Sodalite to other Species

Related to:
  • Sodalite Group
    • Common Associates:
    NephelineCancriniteAndraditeAegirineMicrocline
    SanidineAlbiteCalciteFluoriteBaryte
    Ankerite
    Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
    9.FB.05Afghanite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    8
    		[(Cl
     
    2
    		,SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    3
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 0.5H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Bystrite
    (Na,K)
     
    7
    		Ca[(S
     
    3
    		)
     
    1.5
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Cancrinite
    Na
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Cancrisilite
    Na
     
    7
    		[CO
     
    3
    		|Al
     
    5
    		Si
     
    7
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Davyne
    (Na,K)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[(Cl
     
    2
    		,SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		SO
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Franzinite
    (Na,K)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 0.5H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Giuseppettite
    (Na,K,Ca)
     
    7-8
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		,Cl)
     
    1-2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Hydroxycancrinite
    Na
     
    8
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Liottite
    (Na,K)
     
    16
    		Ca
     
    8
    		[Cl
     
    4
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    5
    		|(Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.05Microsommite
    Na
     
    4
    		K
     
    2
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[Cl
     
    2
    		|SO
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Pitiglianoite
    Na
     
    6
    		K
     
    2
    		[SO
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Quadridavyne
    (Na,K)
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    2
    		[Cl
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.05Sacrofanite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    9
    		[{(OH)
     
    2
    		,SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		,Cl
     
    2
    		}
     
    3
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 0.5H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Tounkite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    8
    		[Cl|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Vishnevite
    (Na,K)
     
    8
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		)|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Marinellite
    (Na,K)
     
    42
    		Ca
     
    6
    		[Cl
     
    2
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    8
    		|(Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		)
     
    6
    		] · 3 H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Farneseite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    56
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    12
    		|Al
     
    42
    		Si
     
    42
    		O
     
    168
    		] · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.05Alloriite
    (Na,Ca,K)
     
    26
    		Ca
     
    4
    		[Cl
     
    6
    		|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    6
    		|(Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		)
     
    4
    		]
    9.FB.05IMA2008-006
    [Na
     
    82.5
    		Ca
     
    33
    		K
     
    16.5
    		]
     
    132
    		(Si
     
    99
    		Al
     
    99
    		O
     
    396
    		)(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    33
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    9.FB.10Bicchulite
    Ca
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		SiO
     
    6
    		]
    9.FB.10Danalite
    Fe
    2+
    4
    		Be
     
    3
    		[S|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.10Genthelvite
    Zn
     
    4
    		Be
     
    3
    		[S|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.10Haüyne
    (Na,Ca)
     
    4-8
    		[Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		(O,S)
     
    24
    		](SO
     
    4
    		,Cl)
     
    1-2
    9.FB.10Helvite
    Mn
    2+
    4
    		Be
     
    3
    		[S|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.10Kamaishilite
    Ca
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    2
    		SiO
     
    6
    		]
    9.FB.10Lazurite
    (Na,Ca)
     
    8
    		[(S,SO
     
    4
    		,Cl
     
    2
    		)|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.10Nosean
    Na
     
    8
    		[SO
     
    4
    		|Al
     
    6
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    24
    		]
    9.FB.10Tsaregorodtsevite
    N(CH
     
    3
    		)
     
    4
    		[AlSi
     
    5
    		O
     
    12
    		]
    9.FB.10Tugtupite
    Na
     
    4
    		[Cl|BeAlSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		]
    9.FB.10Helvine
    9.FB.15Marialite
    Na
     
    4
    		[Cl|(AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.15Meionite
    Ca
     
    4
    		[CO
     
    3
    		|(Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    9.FB.15Silvialite
    (Ca,Na)
     
    4
    		[(SO
     
    4
    		,CO
     
    3
    		)|(Al
     
    2
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
    17.3.1Rustumite
    Ca
     
    10
    		(Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		)
     
    2
    		(SiO
     
    4
    		)Cl
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    2
    17.3.2Zunyite
    Al
     
    13
    		Si
     
    5
    		O
     
    20
    		(OH,F)
     
    18
    		Cl
    17.3.4Marialite
    Na
     
    4
    		[Cl|(AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    8
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    17.3.5Tugtupite
    Na
     
    4
    		[Cl|BeAlSi
     
    4
    		O
     
    12
    		]
    17.3.6Eudialyte
    Na
     
    15
    		Ca
     
    6
    		(Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mn
    2+
     
    		)
     
    3
    		Zr
     
    3
    		[Si
     
    25
    		O
     
    73
    		](O,OH,H
     
    2
    		O)
     
    3
    		(OH,Cl)
     
    2
    17.3.7Alluaivite
    Na
     
    19
    		(Ca,Mn)
     
    6
    		(Ti,Nb)
     
    3
    		Si
     
    26
    		O
     
    74
    		Cl·2H
     
    2
    		O
    17.3.8Nasonite
    Pb
     
    6
    		Ca
     
    4
    		[Cl
     
    2
    		|(Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    17.3.9Asisite
    Pb
     
    7
    		[O
     
    4
    		|SiO
     
    4
    		|Cl
     
    2
    		]
    17.3.10Jagoite
    (Pb,Ca)
     
    3
    		FeSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		(Cl,OH)
    17.3.11Friedelite
    (Mn,Fe)
     
    8
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH,Cl)
     
    10
    17.3.12Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
    (Fe,Mn)
     
    8
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH,Cl)
     
    10
    17.3.13Pyrosmalite
    (Fe,Mn)
     
    8
    		Si
     
    16
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH,Cl)
     
    10
    17.3.14Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
    (Mn,Fe)
     
    8
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH,Cl)
     
    10
    17.3.16Mcgillite
    (Mn,Fe)
     
    8
    		Si
     
    6
    		O
     
    15
    		(OH)
     
    8
    		Cl
     
    2
    17.3.17Traskite
    Ba
     
    9
    		Fe
     
    2
    		Ti
     
    2
    		Si
     
    12
    		O
     
    36
    		(OH,Cl,F)
     
    6
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
    17.3.18Muirite
    Ba
     
    10
    		Ca
     
    2
    		Mn
    2+
     
    		Ti[(OH,Cl,F)|HSi
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		]
     
    5
    17.3.19Verplanckite
    Ba
     
    2
    		(Mn,Fe,Ti)Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    		(O,OH,Cl,F)
     
    2
    		·3H
     
    2
    		O or near

    Other Names for Sodalite

    Synonyms:
    AlomiteCanadian Blue StoneCanadian Lapis
    German names:
    AlomitSodalitSodalith
    Japanese names:
    蘇打石
    Russian names:
    Содалит
    Spanish names:
    AlomitaSodalita
    Varieties:
    Germanate-sodaliteHackmaniteMolybdosodalite

    Other Information

    Fluorescence in UV light:Bright red-orange under SW and LW UV. cathodeluminescent. Yellowish phosphorescence, may be photochromic in magentas.
    Other Information:May give off odor of H2S on fracture.
    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 Sodalite

    Reference List:Van Peteghem, J.K. and Burley, B.J. (1963) Studies on solid solution between sodalite, nosean, and hauyne. Canadian Mineralogist: 7: 808-813.

    Acta Crystallographica (1984): B40: 6-13.

    Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1992): 199: 75.

    Internet Links for Sodalite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Sodalite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Sodalite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Sodalite

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