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Sodalite

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

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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.

Unlike haüyne and nosean, sodalite is virtually CO2-free (Bellatreccia et al., 2009).

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.
Comment:Ran*e: 8.870 - 8.882.
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

Member of Group:
Sodalite Group:
Common Associates:
SanidineNephelineMicroclineFluoriteCancrinite
CalciteBaryteAnkeriteAndraditeAlbite
Aegirine
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
O
 
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,K)
 
98
Ca
 
20
(Si
 
84
Al
 
84
O
 
336
)(SO
 
4
)
 
26
Cl
 
2
·8H
 
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.05Fantappièite
[Na
 
82.5
Ca
 
33
K
 
16.5
]
 
132
(Si
 
99
Al
 
99
O
 
396
)(SO
 
4
)
 
33
·4H
 
2
O
9.FB.05Balliranoite
(Na,K)
 
6
Ca
 
2
(Si
 
6
Al
 
6
O
 
24
)Cl
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
9.FB.05IMA2009-028
Na
 
8
(Al
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
24
)(CO
 
3
)·3.5H
 
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
 
21
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mn,Ti)
 
4
(Ti,Fe,Mg)
 
12
(Si
 
12
O
 
36
)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
6
(O,OH)
 
30
Cl
 
6
·14H
 
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
Other Languages:
Czech:Sodalit
Dutch:Sodaliet
French:Sodalite
Galician:Sodalita
German:Sodalith
Alomit
Sodalit
Hebrew:סודליט
Italian:Sodalite
Japanese:方ソーダ石
蘇打石
Polish:Sodalit
Portuguese:Sodalita
Russian:Содалит
Spanish:Sodalita
Alomita
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:Thomson, T. (1811): A chemical analysis of Sodalite, a new mineral from Greenland, Journal of natural Philosophy, Chemistry and the Arts, Vol 29, 285-292

Thomson, T. (1811): Einige mineralogische Merkwürdigkeiten, 1) Drei grönländische Mineralien (Sodalith, Allanit, Chryolit), Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Vol. 39, 127

Dunin Barkowski, St. (1819): Sodalith entdeckt am Vesuv (Fosso grande) , Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Vol. 63, 382

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.

Bellatreccia, F., Della Ventura, G., Piccinini, M. Cavallo, A. and Brilli, M. (2009): H2O and CO2 in minerals of the haüyne-sodalite group: an FTIR spectroscopy study. Mineralogical Magazine 73, 399-413.

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    Localities for Sodalite

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