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Sørensenite

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Kuannersuit (Kvanefjeld) plateau, Ilimaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
© B. Otter

Show Sørensenite Photos (5)
Formula:
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless to pink, ...
Hardness:5½
Name:Named after Henning Sorensen (b. 1926), mineralogist and petrographer, Professor of Geology, University of Copenhagen (Denmark).
This page provides mineralogical data about Sørensenite.

Classification of Sørensenite

IMA status:Approved 1965
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.20-05
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DG.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
G : Inosilicates with 3-periodic single and multiple chains
Dana 8th edition ID:65.2.4.1

65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
2 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=3
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.3.16

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
3 : Silicates of Be
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Type Occurrence of Sørensenite

Co-type Localities:Kuannersuit (Kvanefjeld) plateau, Ilimaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Nakalak (Nakalaq; Nakkaalaaq) Mt., Tasseq area, Ilimaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Geological Setting of type material:Miarolitic cavities in hydrothermal vents cutting coarse-grained nepheline syenites.

Physical Properties of Sørensenite

Lustre:Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless to pink, milky white (altered); colourless in transmitted light
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {101¯} and {100}.
Density (measured):2.9 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.92 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sørensenite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/b (B1 1 2/b) [C2/c] {C1 2/c 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 20.698Å, b = 7.442Å, c = 12.037Å
β = 117.28°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.781 : 1 : 1.617
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,647.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals lath-shaped to acicular parallel to [010]. Forms fan-like and bowtie aggregates by branching from the base of the crystals.
Twinning:Complex and uncommon. Twin axis is perpendicular to [011] in {100}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
2.918 (100)
3.41 (85)
2.960 (85)
3.06 (75)
6.31 (60)
2.837 (50)
Comments:On material from Nákâlâq, Greenland.

Optical Data of Sørensenite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.576 - 1.579 nβ = 1.581 - 1.585 nγ = 1.584 - 1.586
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

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

Chemical Properties of Sørensenite

Formula:
Na
 
4
SnBe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Be, H, Na, O, Si, Sn
All elements listed in formula:Be, H, Na, O, Si, Sn

Relationship of Sørensenite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DG.05Bustamite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)[SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.05Ferrobustamite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DG.05Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Sérandite
Na(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.05Wollastonite
Ca[SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.05Wollastonite-1A
CaSiO
 
3
9.DG.07Cascandite
Ca(Sc,Fe
3+
 
)[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.08Plombièrite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·7H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Clinotobermorite
Ca
 
5
[Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
]2.4H
 
2
O - Ca
 
5
[Si
 
6
O17]·5H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Riversideite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
O
 
16
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
9.DG.10Tobermorite
Ca
 
5
Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
18
·5H
 
2
O
9.DG.15Foshagite
Ca
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
3
O
 
9
]
9.DG.20Jennite
Ca
 
9
H
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
18
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
9.DG.25Paraumbite
K
 
3
Zr
 
2
H(Si
 
3
O
 
9
)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O
9.DG.25Umbite
K
 
2
(Zr,Ti)Si
 
3
O
 
9
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.35Xonotlite
Ca
 
6
Si
 
6
O
 
17
(OH)
 
2
9.DG.40Hillebrandite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
3
]
9.DG.45Zorite
Na
 
2
Ti(Si,Al)
 
3
O
 
9
·nH
 
2
O
9.DG.45Chivruaiite
Ca
 
3
Ti
 
5
[(Si
 
6
O
 
17
)
 
2
|O(OH)
 
4
]·14H
 
2
O
9.DG.50Haineaultite
(Na,Ca)
 
5
Ca(Ti,Nb)
 
5
[(OH,F)
 
4
|Si
 
6
O
 
17
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.DG.55Epididymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.60Eudidymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.65Elpidite
Na
 
2
ZrSi
 
6
O
 
15
·3H
 
2
O
9.DG.70Fenaksite
(K,Na)
 
4
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Si
 
4
O
 
10
)
 
2
(OH,F)
9.DG.70Litidionite
CuNaKSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.70Manaksite
KNaMnSi
 
4
O
 
10
9.DG.75Tinaksite
K
 
2
Na(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.75Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.75Senkevichite
CsKNaCa
 
2
Ti[O|Si
 
7
O
 
18
(OH)]
9.DG.80Canasite
K
 
2
Na
 
4
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
(OH,F)
 
4
9.DG.80Fluorcanasite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
Si
 
12
O
 
30
F
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.85Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
9.DG.90Frankamenite
K
 
3
Na
 
3
Ca
 
5
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)[F,(OH)]
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.DG.92Charoite
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba,Sr)
 
8
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)
 
2
(Si
 
6
O
 
16
)(OH,F)·H
 
2
O
9.DG.95Yuksporite
(K,Ba)NaCa
 
2
(Si,Ti)
 
4
O
 
11
(F,OH)·H
 
2
O
9.DG.97Eveslogite
(Na,K,Ca,Sr,Ba)
 
48
 [(Ti,Nb,Mn,Fe
2+
 
)
 
12
Si
 
48
O
 
144
(OH)
 
12
](F,OH,Cl)
 
14
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.3.1Phenakite
Be
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.3.2Bertrandite
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.3Beryllite
Be
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.3.4Liberite
Li
 
2
Be[SiO
 
4
]
14.3.5Chkalovite
Na
 
2
BeSi
 
2
O
 
6
14.3.6Eudidymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
14.3.7Epididymite
Na
 
2
Be
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·H
 
2
O
14.3.8Gugiaite
Ca
 
2
Be[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.9Jeffreyite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
(Be,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)]
14.3.10Semenovite-(Ce)
(Na,Ca)
 
9
Fe
2+
 
(Ce,La)
 
2
[(Si,Be)
 
5
(O,OH,F)
 
12
]
 
4
14.3.11Barylite
BaBe
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.3.12Hingganite-(Ce)
Ce
 
2
□Be
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
14.3.13Hingganite-(Yb)
(Yb,Y)Be[OH|SiO
 
4
]
14.3.14Hingganite-(Y)
(Y,Yb,Er)Be[OH|SiO
 
4
]
14.3.15Minasgeraisite-(Y)
Y
 
2
CaBe
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.17Trimerite
CaMn
2+
2
Be
 
3
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
14.3.18Chiavennite
CaMnBe
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
14.3.19Tvedalite
(Ca,Mn)
 
4
Be
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
17
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
14.3.20Harstigite
Ca
 
6
(Mn,Mg)Be
 
4
Si
 
6
(O,OH)
 
24
14.3.21Sverigeite
NaMnMgSnBe
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
14.3.22Joesmithite
[(Ca,Pb)][(Ca,Pb)
 
2
][(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|BeSi
 
7
O
 
22
]
14.3.23Gadolinite-(Y)
Y
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.24Gadolinite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Y)
 
2
Fe
2+
 
Be
 
2
[O|SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.3.25Calciogadolinite
(Y,Ca)
 
2
(Fe,Fe)Be
 
2
Si
 
2
(O,OH)
 
10

Other Names for Sørensenite

Synonyms:
IMA1965-006
Other Languages:
German:Sørensenit
Russian:Соренсенит
Spanish:Sørensenita

Other Information

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 Sørensenite

Reference List:Semenov, E.I., Gerasimovskii, V.I., Maksimova, N.V., Andersen, S., and Petersen, O.V. (1965) Sorensenite, a new sodium-beryllium-tin-silicate fronm the Ilímausssaq intrusion, South Greenland. Meddelelser om Grønland: 181(1): 1-19.

American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 1547-1548.

American Mineralogist (1967): 52: 928.

Metcalf-Johansen, J. and Hazell, R.G. (1976) The crystal structure of sorensenite, Na4SnBe2(Si3O9)2·2H2O. Acta Crystallographica: B32: 2553-2556.

Internet Links for Sørensenite

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    Localities for Sørensenite

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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.
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Narsaq
        • Ilimaussaq complex
    		Meddr Gronland,(1965) 181, 1, 1-19
    Cole, M. (2003): Fluorescent Minerals of the Ilimaussaq Complex, Greenland, MinerShop 2003
          • Tasseq area
    		Meddr Gronland,(1965) 181, 1, 1-19
    No reference listed
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