Trona
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Trona
Formula:
Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Colour:
Colourless, gray-white, light yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.11
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Trona is a Swedish term, deriving ultimately from the Arabic "natrum", native salt.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4031
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4031:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
1b86653c-d04d-4f7c-8722-bec5735f752c
IMA Classification of Trona
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na3(HCO3)(CO3) · 2H2O
Classification of Trona
5.CB.15
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
13.1.4.1
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
11.1.6
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Tn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Trona
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, gray-white, light yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {100} perfect; on {211} and {001} in traces.
On {100} perfect; on {211} and {001} in traces.
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.11 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.124 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Trona
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.412 - 1.417 nβ = 1.492 - 1.494 nγ = 1.540 - 1.543
2V:
Measured: 76° , Calculated: 74°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.128
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Z ∧ c = 83°.
Chemistry of Trona
Mindat Formula:
Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| Na2O | 34.10 % |
| CO2 | 23.00 % |
| SO3 | 2.26 % |
| H2O | 39.70 % |
| Total: | 99.06 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bois-l'Évêque colliery, Laveu, Liège, Liège, Wallonia, Belgium | Analysis by Pisani |
Crystallography of Trona
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 20.4218(9) Å, b = 3.4913(3) Å, c = 10.3326(6) Å
β = 106.452(4)°
β = 106.452(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 5.849 : 1 : 2.96
Unit Cell V:
706.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals elongated [010], also flattened {001}. {h0l} faces striated parallel to [010]. Fibrous or massive columnar common.
Comment:
Space Group: I2/a.
Crystallographic forms of Trona
Crystal Atlas:
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Trona no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Trona no.9 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009779 | Trona | Choi C S, Mighell A D (1982) Neutron diffraction study of sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate Acta Crystallographica B38 2874-2876 |  | 1982 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0009780 | Trona | Choi C S, Mighell A D (1982) Neutron diffraction study of sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate Acta Crystallographica B38 2874-2876 | | 1982 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.647 Å | (100) |
| 3.071 Å | (80) |
| 4.892 Å | (55) |
| 9.77 Å | (45) |
| 2.444 Å | (30) |
| 2.254 Å | (30) |
| 2.029 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Saline lakes and their evaporites; efflorecences on soils in arid regions.
Synonyms of Trona
Other Language Names for Trona
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 65 photos of Trona associated with Halite | NaCl |
| 5 photos of Trona associated with Sulphohalite | Na6(SO4)2FCl |
| 5 photos of Trona associated with Nahcolite | NaHCO3 |
| 3 photos of Trona associated with Paralabuntsovite-Mg | Na8K8Mg4Ti16(Si4O12)8(OH,O)16 · 20-24H2O |
| 2 photos of Trona associated with Burkeite | Na6(CO3)(SO4)2 |
| 2 photos of Trona associated with Natron | Na2CO3 · 10H2O |
| 1 photo of Trona associated with Sanrománite | Na2CaPb3[CO3]5 |
| 1 photo of Trona associated with Juangodoyite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 |
| 1 photo of Trona associated with Phosgenite | Pb2CO3Cl2 |
| 1 photo of Trona associated with Wulfenite | Pb(MoO4) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.CB. | Paulišite | Ca2Zn(CO3)3 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.05 | Thermonatrite | Na2CO3 · H2O |
| 5.CB.10 | Natron | Na2CO3 · 10H2O |
| 5.CB.20 | Monohydrocalcite | CaCO3 · H2O |
| 5.CB.25 | Ikaite | CaCO3 · 6H2O |
| 5.CB.30 | Pirssonite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.35 | Gaylussite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O |
| 5.CB.40 | Chalconatronite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 · 3H2O |
| 5.CB.45 | Baylissite | K2Mg(CO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 5.CB.50 | Tuliokite | Na6BaTh(CO3)6 · 6H2O |
Fluorescence of Trona
May fluoresce under SW UV.
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water. Effervesces in acids.
It can exhibit a fiber-optic image transmission effect (Baur et al. 1957).
It can exhibit a fiber-optic image transmission effect (Baur et al. 1957).
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Trona in petrology
An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.
Internet Links for Trona
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4031.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
References for Trona
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.146
Murdoch, Joseph (1951) Notes on California Minerals: nuevite=samarskite; trona and hanksite; gaylussite. American Mineralogist, 36 (3-4) 358-361
Localities for Trona
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| Liu et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
| Bisson et al. (2015) |
Argentina | |
| Zalba et al. (2011) |
| Raúl Jorge Tauber Larry |
Australia | |
| White et al. (1980) |
| Nickel et al. (1977) +1 other reference |
| Wilson et al. (2014) |
Austria | |
| A.Csaplovics (2014) |
| Götzinger (2009) | |
| Götzinger (2009) +1 other reference | |
| Götzinger (2009) +1 other reference | |
| Götzinger (2009) +1 other reference | |
| A.Csaplovics (2014) |
Belgium | |
| Malaise (1913) +3 other references |
| Buttgenbach (1918) +2 other references |
Bolivia | |
| Ahlfeld & Muñoz Reyes (1955) |
| USGS Bulletin # 1975 (1992) |
| USGS Bulletin # 1975 (1992) | |
| USGS Bulletin # 1975 (1992) | |
Botswana | |
| McCarthy et al. (1986) |
Canada | |
| Kohut et al. (1993) | |
| 166-175. +2 other references |
| Last (1990) |
Chad | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Maglione (1968) +1 other reference |
Chile | |
| Schlüter |
China | |
| Shangru Sun (2004) |
| Yang et al. (2015) | |
| Youxun Zhang (1983) +1 other reference | |
| Zhenmi Liu (2000) |
| Yu et al. (2001) |
| Kamitani et al. (2007) |
| Xiyu Zheng and Shengsong Yu (1981) +1 other reference |
| Yuan et al. (2005) +1 other reference |
| Shaoxiu Yang (1991) | |
| Shaoxiu Yang (1991) |
| Bingxiao Li (1992) |
| Bingxiao Li (1992) |
| ZHANG et al. (2018) +2 other references |
| Meixiang et al. (1987) |
| Meixiang et al. (1987) | |
Czech Republic | |
| Jan Hloušek |
| Cílek |
Egypt | |
| Marchesini et al. (2009) +1 other reference |
| Marco Marchesini & Antonello Barresi (2019) | |
| Sapsford (2009) +1 other reference | |
| Salem et al. (2018) | |
| Marco Marchesini & Antonello Barresi (2019) | |
| Marco Marchesini & Antonello Barresi (2019) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Ethiopia | |
| Žáček V et al. (2015) |
Germany | |
| Schnorrer (1993) |
Greece | |
| Dotsika et al. (2009) |
Greenland | |
| Sørensen et al. (1970) |
| Petersen et al. (2001) |
| Petersen et al. (2002) | |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll-Gatter-Szendrei: Mineral ... |
| Szakáll-Gatter-Szendrei: Mineral ... |
Italy | |
| Sinno R. – (1957) |
| Russo +1 other reference |
| www.cse.speleo.it |
Kenya | |
| Périnet et al. (1982) |
| Nielsen (1999) |
| Forti et al. (2004) |
| Bowell et al. (1996) |
Libya | |
| Piazza M. (1931) |
Mexico | |
| Mariano et al. (2014, June) |
Namibia | |
| Foshag (1933) +1 other reference |
Niger | |
| Saidou et al. (2015) |
| Saidou et al. (2015) |
| Saidou et al. (2015) | |
| Saidou et al. (2015) | |
Peru | |
| Mees et al. (1991) |
Poland | |
| Kruszewski et al. (2018) |
Russia | |
| Vladykin et al. (2018) |
| Ovdina +2 other references |
| Ovdina +2 other references | |
| Solotchin et al. (2015, June) |
| PEKOV et al. (2013) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Khomyakov A P et al. (1982) | |
| Pekov (1998) | |
| Pekov (1998) | |
| Mikhailova et al. (2023) | |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
| Pekov (1998) +1 other reference |
| Sharygin et al. (2008) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Vizcayno et al. (1995) |
| Vizcayno et al. (1995) |
| Vizcayno et al. (1995) |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
| Sanz-Montero et al. (2019) |
| - (n.d.) |
Sudan | |
| Nielsen (1999) |
Switzerland | |
| |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
Tanzania | |
| Nielsen (1999) |
| Mitchell (2006) +2 other references | |
| Palache et al. (1951) | |
Tunisia | |
| Smykatz-Kloss et al. (2010) |
Turkey | |
| Helvaci et al. (2004) |
| Helvaci (1998) +1 other reference | |
| |
| Vergouwen (1979) |
Uganda | |
| Mineralogical Recoed 8:396 +2 other references |
UK | |
| Brian Craik-Smith collection |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : ... |
Ukraine | |
| Nesterovskiy et al. (2015) | |
| Deyak M.A. Modern water-chemogenic ... |
| Geologiya SSSR (The geology of USSR) |
| : ... +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Ericksen et al. (1988) |
| Bailey (1902) | |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 207. +3 other references |
| USGS Bulletin 419: 256 +7 other references |
| - (2005) |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 208. +5 other references |
| trona +3 other references |
| trona +5 other references | |
| - (2005) |
| American Mineralogist 50:281 +10 other references | |
| Smith (1957) +2 other references | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| - (2005) | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| - (2005) |
| Murdoch (1966) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +2 other references | |
| Heinrich et al. (2004) |
| USBM Inf Circ 7093 (1939) |
| USBM Inf Circ 7093 (1939) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| NBMG Bull 58 Geology and Mineral ... +1 other reference | |
| American Mineralogist +4 other references | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| 10th Annual New Mexico Mineral Symposium |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| Wheeler et al. (1875) +1 other reference |
| 2008 New Mexico Mineral Symposium ... |
| Rooney et al. (1969) |
| Bullock (1981) |
| gsa.confex.com (n.d.) | |
| U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report ... +1 other reference | |
| Cannon (1975) |
| www.dnr.wa.gov/geology/okanogan.htm. | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Clark (1993) | |
| - (2005) |
| - (2005) | |
| - (2005) | |
| - (2005) | |
| RRUFF Project Specimen ID: R050228 | |
| USGS Professional Paper 474E +1 other reference | |
| Mrose et al. (1961) | |
| Fahey et al. (1963) | |
| Fahey et al. (1941) | |
| Fahey et al. (1963) | |
| Fahey et al. (1963) | |
| Am Min 49:778-781 | |
Venezuela | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Zambia | |
| Van Ranst et al. (2008) |
Quick NavTopAbout TronaUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Chemical AnalysisCrystallography Crystallographic forms Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentSynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatFluorescence Other InformationTrona in petrologyInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Wadi El-Natrun depression, Beheira Governorate, Egypt