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Gwihabaite

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Big Photo

Koashva Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
© AVK

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Formula:
(NH
 
4
,K)NO
 
3
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2
Name:Named after its type locality at the Gcwihaba Cave (Drotsky's Caverns), Maun, North-West District, Botswana (NOTE: The name was altered slightly to aid pronounciation - c in name stands for click sound ! of San people).
This page provides mineralogical data about Gwihabaite.

Classification of Gwihabaite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/A.01-25
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.NA.15

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
A : Without OH or H2O
Dana 7th edition ID:18.1.3.1
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Type Occurrence of Gwihabaite

Type Locality:Gcwihaba Cave (Drotsky's Caverns), Ngamiland West District, North-West District, Botswana

Occurrences of Gwihabaite

Geological Setting:Caves

Physical Properties of Gwihabaite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2
Density (measured):1.77 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.80 g/cm3

Crystallography of Gwihabaite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 7.075Å, b = 7.647Å, c = 5.779Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.925 : 1 : 0.756
Unit Cell Volume:V 312.66 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Slender prismatic crystals, divergent aggregates or "cave flowers"

Optical Data of Gwihabaite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.458 nβ = 1.527 nγ = 1.599
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 86°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.141

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Gwihabaite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
,K)NO
 
3
Essential elements:H, N, O
All elements listed in formula:H, K, N, O

Relationship of Gwihabaite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.NA.05Nitratine
NaNO
 
3
5.NA.10Niter
KNO
 
3
5.NA.20Nitrobarite
Ba(NO
 
3
)
 
2

Other Names for Gwihabaite

Synonyms:
IMA1994-011Nitrammite
Other Languages:
German:Gwihabait
Russian:Гвихабаит
Spanish:Gwihabaita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in water, deliquescent
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 Gwihabaite

Reference List:

- +
Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association: 36: 19-21.

Internet Links for Gwihabaite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Gwihabaite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Gwihabaite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Botswana
     
    • North-West District
      • Ngamiland West District
    		[Bull. South African Speleological Assoc., 36, 19–21.; AmMin 84:194]
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Khibiny Massif
    		Anatoly Kasatkin collection and photo
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd; Viloyati Khodzhent; Viloyati Leninabad)
      • Zeravshan Range
        • Yagnob River
    		D.I.Belakovskiy data
    Belakovski D.I.., Moskalev I.V. Natural ammonium nitrate from the products of selffiring coal layers in Kukhi-Malik valley (Central Tajikistan). Novye dannye o mineralakh, 1988, v.35, p. 191-194. (Russian)
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