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Gaultite

A valid IMA mineral species

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Formula:

Na₄Zn₂Si₇O₁₈ · 5H₂O

Colour:

Colourless to pale mauve

Lustre:

Vitreous

Hardness:

Specific Gravity:

2.52

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Member of:

Zeolite Group

Name:

Named by T. Scott Ercit and Jerry Van Velthuizen in 1994 in honor of Robert A. Gault (1943-), mineralogist at the Canadian Museum of Nature.

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

Currently the only natural zeolite with essential zinc.

Hide all sections | Show all sections

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

1661

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:1661:8

GUID
(UUID V4):

cd3f1a6d-5019-4d95-b8a2-ade09c917645

IMA Classification of GaultiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

First published:

1994

Classification of GaultiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

9.GF.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H₂O; zeolite family
F : Other Rare Zeolites

Dana 8th ed.:

77.2.6.1

77 : TECTOSILICATES Zeolites
2 : Zeolite group - related species

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
Gau	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 GaultiteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colourless to pale mauve

Streak:

White

Hardness:

6 on Mohs scale

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Perfect
Perfect {101} and {010} cleavages and a poor {021} cleavage.

Density:

2.52(4) g/cm³ (Measured) 2.52 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of GaultiteHide

Type:

Biaxial (+)

RI values:

n_α = 1.520 n_β = 1.521 n_γ = 1.524

2V:

Measured: 61.3° (4), Calculated: 62°

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.004

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

Surface Relief:

Low

Dispersion:

weak to moderate

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of GaultiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Na₄Zn₂Si₇O₁₈ · 5H₂O

Elements listed:

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

Crystallography of GaultiteHide

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

mm2 - Pyramidal

Space Group:

Fdd2

Cell Parameters:

a = 10.211(3) Å, b = 39.88(2) Å, c = 10.304(4) Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.256 : 1 : 0.258

Unit Cell V:

4,195.94 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Equant, multifaceted crystals. Forms include {010}, {110}, {110}, {021}, {151}, {l5l}. Subordinate {111}, {111}, {131}, {131}, {171}, {171} and {011}.

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0005410	Gaultite	Ercit T S, Van Velthuizen J (1994) Gaultite, a new zeolite-like mineral species from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, and its crystal structure The Canadian Mineralogist 32 855-863		1994	Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Gaultite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Ercit T S'
'Van Velthuizen J'
_journal_name_full 'The Canadian Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 32 
_journal_year 1994
_journal_page_first 855
_journal_page_last 863
_publ_section_title
;
 Gaultite, a new zeolite-like mineral species from Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec,
 and its crystal structure
;
_database_code_amcsd 0005410
_chemical_compound_source 'Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Zn2 Si7 Na4 O24 H8'
_cell_length_a 10.231
_cell_length_b 39.91
_cell_length_c 10.339
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 4221.612
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.553
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'F 2 d d'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  '1/4+x,1/4+y,1/4-z'
  '1/4+x,3/4+y,3/4-z'
  '3/4+x,1/4+y,3/4-z'
  '3/4+x,3/4+y,1/4-z'
  '1/4+x,1/4-y,1/4+z'
  '1/4+x,3/4-y,3/4+z'
  '3/4+x,1/4-y,3/4+z'
  '3/4+x,3/4-y,1/4+z'
  '1/2+x,-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,-z'
  '+x,-y,-z'
  '+x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Zn   0.25000   0.05464   0.33774   1.00000 ?
Si1   0.28100   0.16421   0.09090   1.00000 ?
Si2   0.24610   0.09015   0.05540   1.00000 ?
Si3   0.53550   0.07200   0.04390   1.00000 ?
Si4   0.60580   0.00000   0.00000   1.00000 ?
Na1   0.04450   0.12519   0.30030   1.00000 ?
Na2*   0.32750   0.23960   0.05610   0.50000 ?
Na2*   0.36220   0.25340   0.08710   0.50000 ?
O1   0.50820   0.03154   0.03550   1.00000 ?
O2   0.39930   0.09110   0.01160   1.00000 ?
O3   0.21050   0.12776   0.11130   1.00000 ?
O4   0.57720   0.08149   0.19140   1.00000 ?
O5   0.41740   0.16520   0.17080   1.00000 ?
O6   0.14660   0.08424   0.44800   1.00000 ?
O7   0.21410   0.06228   0.15680   1.00000 ?
O8   0.19140   0.00868   0.37400   1.00000 ?
O9   0.18610   0.19363   0.13280   1.00000 ?
OW1   0.13470   0.16020   0.46210   1.00000 ?
OW2   0.16930   0.27680   0.12960   1.00000 ?
OW3   0.48310   0.25170   0.22100   1.00000   0.03320
H1   0.14600   0.18000   0.44500   1.00000   0.01000
H2   0.07000   0.16000   0.51100   1.00000   0.01000
H3   0.08500   0.26900   0.14400   1.00000   0.01000
H4   0.18000   0.28700   0.20400   1.00000   0.01000
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Zn 0.01160 0.01050 0.01060 -0.00060 0.00220 0.00130
Si1 0.00910 0.01060 0.00840 0.00150 -0.00190 -0.00030
Si2 0.00990 0.00970 0.00960 0.00100 -0.00220 0.00030
Si3 0.00790 0.00980 0.00820 0.00160 -0.00060 -0.00040
Si4 0.00950 0.00820 0.00930 0.00000 0.00000 0.00130
Na1 0.02840 0.02200 0.02730 0.00060 -0.01180 0.00470
O1 0.01390 0.00890 0.02060 0.00140 0.00370 0.00030
O2 0.00690 0.01880 0.01500 0.00290 -0.00190 -0.00090
O3 0.01470 0.01290 0.01820 -0.00290 0.00390 -0.00270
O4 0.01560 0.02930 0.00800 -0.00130 -0.00050 -0.00170
O5 0.01150 0.01980 0.01060 -0.00010 -0.00400 -0.00040
O6 0.01470 0.01070 0.01110 0.00270 0.00470 -0.00010
O7 0.02900 0.01540 0.01340 -0.00440 -0.00430 0.00340
O8 0.01600 0.01170 0.01390 0.00010 0.00260 0.00240
O9 0.01520 0.01470 0.02380 0.00320 -0.00100 -0.00410
OW1 0.02870 0.01620 0.02730 0.00280 0.00140 0.00230
OW2 0.01900 0.02040 0.02480 -0.00400 0.00360 -0.00140

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
6.35 Å	(100)
5.36 Å	(20)
4.96 Å	(30)
3.240 Å	(60)
3.167 Å	(40)
3.140 Å	(40)
2.996 Å	(20)
2.821 Å	(30)
2.491 Å	(20)
2.233 Å	(20)
1.807 Å	(20)
1.689 Å	(20)
1.406 Å	(20)
1.345 Å	(20)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks

Type Occurrence of GaultiteHide

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:

Euhedral, multifaceted crystals to 0.5 mm in a sodalite inclusion.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, number CMN 81513.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Contact of hornfels and nepheline-sodalite syenite.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Cancrinite

Analcime

Aegirine

Synonyms of GaultiteHide

IMA1992-040

Other Language Names for GaultiteHide

German:Gaultit

Russian:Голтит

Spanish:Gaultita

Relationship of Gaultite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Zeolite Group

Other Members of this group:

Alflarsenite	NaCa₂Be₃Si₄O₁₃(OH) · 2H₂O	Mon. 2 : P2₁
Amicite	K₂Na₂Al₄Si₄O₁₆ · 5H₂O	Mon. 2
Ammonioleucite	(NH₄)(AlSi₂O₆)	Tet. 4/m : I4₁/a
Analcime	Na(AlSi₂O₆) · H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
Bellbergite	(K,Ba,Sr)₂Sr₂Ca₂(Ca,Na)₄[Al₃Si₃O₁₂]₆ · 30H₂O	Hex.
Bikitaite	LiAlSi₂O₆ · H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
Boggsite	Ca₈Na₃(Si,Al)₉₆O₁₉₂ · 70H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Imma
Brewsterite Subgroup	Zeolite Group.
Chabazite-Levyne Subgroup	M[Al₂Si₄O₁₂] · 6H₂O
Chiavennite	CaMnBe₂Si₅O₁₃(OH)₂ · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Clinoptilolite Subgroup	M_3-6(Si₃₀Al₆)O₇₂ · 20H₂O
Cowlesite	CaAl₂Si₃O₁₀ · 6H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Dachiardite Subgroup	Zeolite Group.
Direnzoite	NaK₆MgCa₂(Al₁₃Si₄₇O₁₂₀) · 36H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
Edingtonite	Ba[Al₂Si₃O₁₀] · 4H₂O	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
Epistilbite	CaAl₂Si₆O₁₆ · 5H₂O	Mon.
Erionite Subgroup	M₂[Al₄Si₁₄O₃₆] · 15H₂O
Faujasite Subgroup	M_3.5[Al₇Si₁₇O₄₈] · 32H₂O
Ferrierite Subgroup	Zeolite Group.
Ferrochiavennite	Ca_1-2Fe[(Si,Al,Be)₅Be₂O₁₃(OH)₂] · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
Flörkeite	(K₃Ca₂Na)[Al₈Si₈O₃₂] · 12H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
Garronite Subgroup
Gismondine Subgroup	Zeolite Group.
Gmelinite Subgroup	In 1997, gmelinite was split into Gmelinite-Ca, Gmelinite-Na and Gmelinite-K.
Gobbinsite	Na₅(Si₁₁Al₅)O₃₂ · 11H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
Goosecreekite	Ca[Al₂Si₆O₁₆] · 5H₂O	Mon. 2 : P2₁
Gottardiite	Na₃Mg₃Ca₅Al₁₉Si₁₁₇O₂₇₂ · 93H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmca
Heulandite Subgroup	(Na/Ca/K)_5-6[Al_8-9 Si_27-28 O₇₂] · nH₂O
Hsianghualite	Ca₃Li₂(Be₃Si₃O₁₂)F₂	Iso. 4 3 2 : I4₁ 3 2
Kirchhoffite	Cs(BSi₂O₆)	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4₁/acd
Laumontite	CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Loomisite	Ba[Be₂P₂O₈] · H₂O	Mon. m
Lovdarite	K₂Na₆Be₄Si₁₄O₃₆ · 9H₂O	Orth. mm2
Maricopaite	Pb₇Ca₂(Si,Al)₄₈O₁₀₀ · 32H₂O	Orth.
Martinandresite	Ba₂(Al₄Si₁₂O₃₂) · 10H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
Mazzite Subgroup	Zeolite Group.
Merlinoite	(K,Na)₅(Ca,Ba)₂Al₉Si₂₃O₆₄ · 23H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Immm
Montesommaite	(K,Na)₉Al₉Si₂₃O₆₄ · 10H₂O	Orth. mm2 : Fdd2
Mordenite	(Na₂,Ca,K₂)₄(Al₈Si₄₀)O₉₆ · 28H₂O	Orth.
Mutinaite	Na₃Ca₄Si₈₅Al₁₁O₁₉₂ · 60H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
Nabesite	Na₂BeSi₄O₁₀ · 4H₂O	Orth. 2 2 2 : P2₁ 2₁ 2₁
Natrolite Subgroup	A subgroup of the Zeolite Group.
Offretite	KCaMg(Si₁₃Al₅)O₃₆ · 15H₂O	Hex. 6 m2 : P6m2
Pahasapaite	Li₈(Ca,Li,K)_10.5Be₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ · 38H₂O	Iso. 2 3 : I2 3
Parthéite	Ca₂(Si₄Al₄) O₁₅ (OH)₂ · 4H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
Paulingite Subgroup	Paulingite was originally described in 1960.
Perlialite	K₉Na(Ca,Sr)[Al₂Si₄O₁₂]₆ · 15H₂O	Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P6/mmm
Phillipsite Subgroup	Zeolite Group.
Pollucite	(Cs,Na)₂(Al₂Si₄O₁₂) · 2H₂O	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d
Roggianite	Ca₂Be(OH)₂Al₂Si₄O₁₃ · 2.5H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I4/mcm
Stilbite Subgroup	M_6-7[Al_8-9Si_27-28O₇₂] · nH₂O
Terranovaite	(Na,Ca)₈(Si₆₈Al₁₂)O₁₆₀ · 29H₂O	Orth.
Thomsonite Subgroup	The large majority of "thomsonite" is thomsonite-Ca.
Tschernichite	(Ca,Na₂)[Al₂Si₄O₁₂] · 4-8H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm
Tschörtnerite	Ca₄(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)₃Cu₃[Al₃Si₃O₁₂]₄(OH)₈ · nH₂O	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
UM1996-38-SiO:AlCaHNa	Na-Ca-Al-Si-O-H
UM1999-33-SiO:AlHKNa	K₇Na₅Al₁₂Si₂₀O₆₄ · 24H₂O
UM2002-40-SiO:AlCaHKMgNa	(Mg,Ca,Na,K)_7.5(Al_12.8Si_51.2)O₁₂₈ · 65H₂O	Tet. 4 2 2 : P4₁ 2 2
Unnamed (Ca analogue of Merlinoite)	(Ca,K,Na)₅(Ca,Ba)₂Al₉Si₂₃O₆₄ · 23H₂O ?
Wairakite	Ca(Al₂Si₄O₁₂) · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
Weinebeneite	CaBe₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₂ · 4H₂O	Mon. m : Bb
Wenkite	(Ba,K)₄(Ca,Na)₆[(Si,Al)₂₀O₃₉(OH)₂](SO₄)₃ · 0.5H₂O	Hex. 6 m2 : P6₂m
Willhendersonite	KCa[Al₃Si₃O₁₂] · 5H₂O	Tric. 1 : P1
Yugawaralite	CaAl₂Si₆O₁₆ · 4H₂O	Mon. m : Pb

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.GF.05	Terranovaite	(Na,Ca)₈(Si₆₈Al₁₂)O₁₆₀ · 29H₂O	Orth.
9.GF.10	Gottardiite	Na₃Mg₃Ca₅Al₁₉Si₁₁₇O₂₇₂ · 93H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmca
9.GF.15	Lovdarite	K₂Na₆Be₄Si₁₄O₃₆ · 9H₂O	Orth. mm2
9.GF.25	Chiavennite	CaMnBe₂Si₅O₁₃(OH)₂ · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.GF.25	Ferrochiavennite	Ca_1-2Fe[(Si,Al,Be)₅Be₂O₁₃(OH)₂] · 2H₂O	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.GF.30	Tschernichite	(Ca,Na₂)[Al₂Si₄O₁₂] · 4-8H₂O	Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/mmm
9.GF.35	Mutinaite	Na₃Ca₄Si₈₅Al₁₁O₁₉₂ · 60H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
9.GF.40	Tschörtnerite	Ca₄(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)₃Cu₃[Al₃Si₃O₁₂]₄(OH)₈ · nH₂O	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
9.GF.50	Thornasite	(Na,K)₁₂Th₃[Si₈O₁₉]₄ · 18H₂O	Trig. 3m : R3m
9.GF.55	Direnzoite	NaK₆MgCa₂(Al₁₃Si₄₇O₁₂₀) · 36H₂O	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn
9.GF.60	Meierite	Ba₄₄Si₆₆Al₃₀O₁₉₂Cl₂₅(OH)₃₃	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Im3m
9.GF.65	Rongibbsite	Pb₂(Si₄Al)O₁₁(OH)	Mon. 2/m : B2/m

Fluorescence of GaultiteHide

In UV light:

Bright apple-green fluorescence under short-wave UV.

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Gaultite does not readily dissolve in 1:1 HCl but does show very slight etching after prolonged exposure.

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 GaultiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-1661.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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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 GaultiteHide

Reference List:

Ercit, T. S., Van Velthuizen, Jerry (1994) Gaultite, a new zeolite like mineral species from Mont Sait Hilaire, Quebec, and its crystal structure. The Canadian Mineralogist, 32 (4) 855-863

Localities for GaultiteHide

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)

Ercit et al. (1994)