The Na (or rather Na3Si7Al-lower-hydrate)-analogue of melansonite. Unique combination of elements (at the upload time).

A double sheet of tetrahedra (T) and a sheet of octahedra (O) that alternate along the [010] direction forming a TOT structure typical for members of the rhodesite mero-plesiotype series.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

470928

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:470928:8

GUID
(UUID V4):

2db69739-ff86-483c-a267-3d8b52b60914

IMA Classification of NatromelansoniteHide

IMA status:

Approved, Pending publication

Approval year:

2023

Approval history:

IMA No. 2023-076

Classification of NatromelansoniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

9.EB.

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
B : Double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Nmso	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 NatromelansoniteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Colour:

grey

Streak:

white

Hardness:

3½ on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Perfect
parallel to {010}

Fracture:

Step-Like

Density:

2.31 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of NatromelansoniteHide

Type:

Biaxial (+)

RI values:

n_α = 1.510(2) n_β = 1.516(2) n_γ = 1.524(3)

2V:

Measured: 86° (3), Calculated: 82°

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.014

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Low

Chemistry of NatromelansoniteHide

Mindat Formula:

Na₃Zr[Si₇AlO₁₉] · 4H₂O

Elements listed:

Al, H, Na, O, Si, Zr - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Chemical AnalysisHide

Oxide wt%:

	1
Na₂O	10.08 %
K₂O	1.72 %
CaO	0.24 %
BaO	0.32 %
MnO	0.10 %
Al₂O₃	6.86 %
Y₂O₃	0.35 %
Yb₂O₃	0.55 %
SiO₂	56.23 %
ZrO₂	14.78 %
H₂O	9.52 %
Total:	100.75 %

Empirical formulas:

Sample ID	Empirical Formula
1	Na_0.38Ca_0.02Mn_0.01)₂(Na_0.70K_0.28Ba_0.02)_Σ1.00(Zr_0.91Y_0.02Yb_0.02)_Σ0.95(Si_7.08Al_1.02)_Σ8.10O₁₉ · 4H₂O

Sample references:

ID	Locality	Reference	Notes
1	Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada	Lykova, I., Rowe, R., Poirier, G., Friis, H., Barnes, S. (2023): Natromelansonite, Na3Zr[Si7AlO19]⋅4-5H2O, a new member of the rhodesite mero-plesiotype series from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. Mineralogical Magazine, 87, (in press).	empirical formula basis: 23 oxygen atoms; average of 8 analyses

Crystallography of NatromelansoniteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

P2₁/m

Setting:

P2₁/m

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.5130(1) Å, b = 24.0944(4) Å, c = 6.9755(1) Å
β = 90.747(1)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.27 : 1 : 0.29

Unit Cell V:

1,094.55 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
12.02 Å	(100)
6.97 Å	(89)
6.51 Å	(39)
4.417 Å	(33)
3.416 Å	(37)
3.062 Å	(42)
3.018 Å	(38)
2.864 Å	(40)

Type Occurrence of NatromelansoniteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada

General Appearance of Type Material:

It occurs as an outer zone of tabular crystals to 0.1 x 0.3 x 1 mm in size flattened on (001). The inner zone is made of melansonite. The boundary between the two species is sharp and marked by a thin zone of uranium-bearing melansonite.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

the collections of the Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, catalogue number CMNMC 90813. A part of the holotype used for structure determination was deposited at the Natural History Museum in Oslo under catalogue number KNR 44447.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

highly altered pegmatite

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Relationship of Natromelansonite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Rhodesite Group

Other Members of this group:

Delhayelite	(Na,K)₁₀Ca₅Al₆Si₃₂O₈₀(Cl₂,F₂,SO₄)₃ · 18H₂O	Orth.
Fivegite	K₄Ca₂[AlSi₇O₁₇(O_2-xOH_x)][(H₂O)_2-xOH_x]Cl	Orth. mm2 : Pmn2₁
Hydrodelhayelite	KCa₂AlSi₇O₁₇(OH)₂ · 6H₂O	Orth. mm2
Melansonite	Na◻KZrSi₈O₁₉ · 5H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmma
Monteregianite-(Y)	(Na,K)₆(Y,Ca)₂Si₁₆O₃₈ · 10H₂O	Mon. 2/m
Rhodesite	KHCa₂Si₈O₁₉ · 5H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.EB.05	Macdonaldite	BaCa₄Si₁₆O₃₆(OH)₂ · 10H₂O	Orth.
9.EB.05	Rhodesite	KHCa₂Si₈O₁₉ · 5H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
9.EB.05	Melansonite	Na◻KZrSi₈O₁₉ · 5H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmma
9.EB.10	Delhayelite	(Na,K)₁₀Ca₅Al₆Si₃₂O₈₀(Cl₂,F₂,SO₄)₃ · 18H₂O	Orth.
9.EB.10	Hydrodelhayelite	KCa₂AlSi₇O₁₇(OH)₂ · 6H₂O	Orth. mm2
9.EB.15	Monteregianite-(Y)	(Na,K)₆(Y,Ca)₂Si₁₆O₃₈ · 10H₂O	Mon. 2/m
9.EB.20	Carletonite	KNa₄Ca₄Si₈O₁₈(CO₃)₄(OH,F) · H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mbm
9.EB.20	Fluorcarletonite	KNa₄Ca₄Si₈O₁₈(CO₃)₄F · H₂O	Tet.
9.EB.25	Günterblassite	(K,Ca,Ba)₂(Fe,Ca,Mg,Na)[(Si,Al)₁₃O₂₅(OH)₄] · 7H₂O ·	Orth. mm2 : Pmn2₁
9.EB.25	Umbrianite	K₇Na₂Ca₂[Al₃Si₁₀O₂₉]F₂Cl₂	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
9.EB.25	Hillesheimite	(K,Ca,Ba,◻)₂(Mg,Fe,Ca,◻)₂[(Si,Al )₁₃O₂₃(OH)₆](OH) · 8H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
9.EB.30	Fivegite	K₄Ca₂[AlSi₇O₁₇(O_2-xOH_x)][(H₂O)_2-xOH_x]Cl	Orth. mm2 : Pmn2₁

Fluorescence of NatromelansoniteHide

In UV light:

green fluorescence under short-wave ultraviolet light. This is likely due to ytterbium admixture; ytterbium is known for its (yellow-)green UV luminescence (e.g., Sidike et al. 2003)

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for NatromelansoniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-470928.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

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References for NatromelansoniteHide

Reference List:

Ferraris, G., Gula, A. (2005) Polysomatic Aspects of Microporous Minerals - Heterophyllosilicates, Palysepioles and Rhodesite-Related Structures. Reviews in Mineralogy & Geochemistry, 57, 69-104; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237841349_Polysomatic_Aspects_of_Microporous_Minerals_-_Heterophyllosilicates_Palysepioles_and_Rhodesite-Related_Structures

Sidike, A., Kusachi, I., & Yamashita, N. (2003). Natural fluorite emitting yellow fluorescence under UV light. Physics and chemistry of minerals, 30(8), 478-485.

Cadoni, Marcella, Ferraris, Giovanni (2009) Two new members of the rhodesite mero-plesiotype series close to delhayelite and hydrodelhayelite: synthesis and crystal structure. European Journal of Mineralogy, 21 (2) 485-493 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2009/0021-1918

Bosi, Ferdinando, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2023) Newsletter 76. Mineralogical Magazine, 1-5 doi:10.1180/mgm.2023.89

Lykova, Inna, Rowe, Ralph, Poirier, Glenn, Friis, Henrik, Barnes, Stephanie (2024) Natromelansonite, Na3Zr[Si7AlO19]⋅4-5H2O, a new member of the rhodesite mero-plesiotype series from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. Mineralogical Magazine, 1-17 doi:10.1180/mgm.2024.1

Localities for NatromelansoniteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.

Canada (TL)

Québec

Montérégie

La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM

Mont Saint-Hilaire

ⓘ Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH) (TL)

Bosi et al. (2023)

Natromelansonite