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Thomsenolite

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Cryolite deposit, Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Arsuk Firth, Arsuk, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
© Saul Krotki 2004

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Formula:
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white, pale ...
Hardness:2
Name:Named after Hans Peter Jorgen Julius Thomsen (1826-1909), Professor of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen (Denmark), and founder of the Greenland cryolite industry.
Dimorph of:Pachnolite
This page provides mineralogical data about Thomsenolite.

Classification of Thomsenolite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/C.02-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CB.40

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides
Dana 8th edition ID:11.6.6.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.6.17

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
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Type Occurrence of Thomsenolite

Type Locality:Cryolite deposit, Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Arsuk Firth, Arsuk, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Year of Discovery:1868
Associated Minerals at type locality:
RalstonitePachnoliteFluorite

Physical Properties of Thomsenolite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white, pale lilac; brownish or reddish tinted due to staining; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001}; {110} distinct.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.981 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.99 g/cm3

Crystallography of Thomsenolite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b (P1 1 21/b) [P21/c] {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 5.58Å, b = 5.51Å, c = 16.13Å
β = 96.45°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.013 : 1 : 2.927
Unit Cell Volume:V 492.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals commonly prismatic [001]; cubic in aspect with equal development of {001} and {110}. Grouped in parallel aggregates. Also tabular {001}. {110} and terminal prisms strongly striated parallel to the intersection with {001}. {h0l} often curved. Opaline or chalcedonic crusts and stalactitic masses.
Twinning:None observed.
Crystal Atlas:
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Thomsenolite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Thomsenolite no.7 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Epitaxial Relationships of Thomsenolite

Epitaxial Minerals:
Pachnolite
Epitaxi Comments:Oriented growths of thomsenolite on pachnolite, with thomsenolite (001) and (110) quasi-parallel to pachnolite (110) and (001). Also with thomsenolite (110) and (110) quasi-parallel to pachnolite (110) and (001).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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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 Thomsenolite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.407 nβ = 1.414 nγ = 1.415
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:r > v

Chemical Properties of Thomsenolite

Formula:
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, F, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, F, H, Na, O

Relationship of Thomsenolite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.CB.05Cryolithionite
Na
 
3
Li
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
 
2
3.CB.15Cryolite
Na
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.15Elpasolite
NaK
 
2
[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.15Simmonsite
Na
 
2
Li[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.20Colquiriite
CaLi[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.25Weberite
Na
 
2
Mg[F|AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.30Karasugite
SrCa[Al(F,OH)
 
7
]
3.CB.35Usovite
Ba
 
2
CaMgAl
 
2
F
 
14
3.CB.40Pachnolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
3.CB.45Carlhintzeite
Ca
 
2
[F|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.CB.50Yaroslavite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
F
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.6.1Zharchikhite
AlF(OH)
 
2
8.6.2Chloraluminite
AlCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.6.3Cadwaladerite
Al(OH)
 
2
Cl·4H
 
2
O
8.6.4Cryolithionite
Na
 
3
Li
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
 
2
8.6.5Cryolite
Na
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.6Chiolite
Na
 
3
Al
 
3
F
 
14
8.6.7Elpasolite
NaK
 
2
[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.8Weberite
Na
 
2
Mg[F|AlF
 
6
]
8.6.9Ralstonite
NaMgAl(F,OH)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.10Koenenite
Na
 
4
Mg
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
12
(OH)
 
22
8.6.11 Chlor-manasseite
Mg
 
x
Al(OH)
 
2x+2
Cl·(x-0.8)H
 
2
O x about 1.75
8.6.12Gearksutite
Ca[Al(F,OH)
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.6.13Prosopite
CaAl
 
2
(F,OH)
 
8
8.6.14Yaroslavite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
F
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
8.6.15Carlhintzeite
Ca
 
2
[F|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.6.16Colquiriite
CaLi[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.18Pachnolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.19Zirklerite
(Fe,Mg,Ca)
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
18
(OH)
 
12
·14H
 
2
O (?)

Other Names for Thomsenolite

Synonyms:
Dimetric Pachnolite
Other Languages:
German:Thomsenolit
Russian:Томсенолит
Spanish:Thomsenolita

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in H2SO4.
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 Thomsenolite

Reference List:Hagemann, G. (1866), American Journal of Science: 42: 93 (as Dimetric Pachnolite).

Shepard (1866) American Journal of Science: 42: 246 (as Hagemannite).

Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 129.

Nordensiöld (1874) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 2: 81.

Koenig (1876) Proceedings of the Academy of Science of Philadelphia: 42.

Des Cloizeaux (1882) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 5: 316.

Brandl in: Groth (1882) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 7: 470.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 180.

Groth (1906) Chem. Kryst.: 1: 461.

Bøggild (1913) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 51: 601.

Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 8: 130.

Ferguson (1946) Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, section 4: 40: 11.

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: 116-118.

Mineralogical Record (1993): 24: 34.

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    Localities for Thomsenolite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
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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.
    Canada
     
    • Québec
      • Verchères Co.
        • Varennes & St-Amable
          • Saint-Amable sill
    		Mineralogical Record: 29: 83.
    Greece
     
    • Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture
      • Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District
        • Lavrion District slag localities
          • Thorikos area
    		Gelaude, Piet, van Kalmthout, Piet and Rewitzer, Christian (1996) Laurion: The Minerals in the Ancient Slags, Janssen Print, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Greenland
     
    • Kitaa (West Greenland) Province
      • Arsuk
        • Arsuk Firth
          • Ivittuut (Ivigtut)
    		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: 112, 117; Acta Cryst. 23 (1967).
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Semipalatinsk Oblysy (Semipalatinsk [Semipalatinskaya] Oblast')
      • Tarbagatai Range
    		Pavel M. Kartashov data
    Nigeria
     
    • Plateau State
    		Am Min 51:299-323
    Norway
     
    • Oppland
      • Lunner
        • Nordmarka
    		Raade, G & Haug, J.(1980): " Rare Fluorides from a soda granite in the Oslo Region, Norway".Mineralogical Record, 11,83-91
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Chitinskaya Oblast'
    		P.M. Karashov data
      • Tuva Republic
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    • Urals Region
      • Southern Urals
        • Chelyabinsk Oblast'
          • Ilmen Mts
            • Ilmen Natural Reserve
    Ukraine
     
    • Zhytomyr Oblast' (Zhitomir Oblast')
    		Yurk Yu.Yu., Gurov E.P., Gurova E.P. (1973) Pecularities of fluorin mineralogy of Ukrainian crystalline shield, - Naukova Dumka, Kiev, pp.184 (in Russian).
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • El Paso Co.
        • Cheyenne District (St. Peters Dome District)
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
    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: 112, 120; "Minerals of Colorado, updated & revised", p. 14, by Eckel, Edwin B., 1997
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels; Am Min 51:299-323
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.; Am Min 51:299-323
    • Nevada
      • Mineral Co.
        • Fitting District
          • Gillis Range
    		Mineralogical Record: 31: 204.
    • Utah
      • Juab Co.
        • Honeycomb Hills
    		Mineralogical Record: 12(6): 381.
    • Virginia
      • Amelia Co.
        • Winterham
    		[L.E. Kearns, 1995 - Mineralogical Record Vol 26 No.6 - "Alumino-Fluorides from the Morefield Pegmatite"]
    Mineral and/or Locality
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