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Gwihabaite

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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), Maun, 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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    Localities for Gwihabaite

    (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
      • Maun
    		[Bull. South African Speleological Assoc., 36, 19–21.; AmMin 84:194]
    Tajikistan
     
    • Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd)
      • joint of Zeravshan and Gissar Range
        • Yagnob River
    		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)
    D.I.Belakovskiy data
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 9th Oct 2009 07:20:14