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Cryolithionite

Big Photo

Ivigtut Cryolite deposit, Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Arsuk Firth, Arsuk, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
© Pavel M. Kartashov

Show Cryolithionite Photos (6)
Formula:
Na
 
3
Li
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
 
2
System:IsometricColour:Colourless, white
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2½ - 3
Name:In allusion to its resemblance to CRYOLite and the LITHIum content.
This page provides mineralogical data about Cryolithionite.

Classification of Cryolithionite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:3/B.03-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:3.CB.05

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides
Dana 8th edition ID:11.6.4.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra
Hey's CIM Ref.:8.6.4

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides of Al
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Type Occurrence of Cryolithionite

Type Locality:Ivigtut Cryolite deposit, Ivittuut (Ivigtut), Arsuk Firth, Arsuk, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Year of Discovery:1904
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Cryolite

Physical Properties of Cryolithionite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, white
Hardness (Mohs):2½ - 3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {011}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.77 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.772 g/cm3

Crystallography of Cryolithionite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Ia3d {I41/a 3 2/d}
Cell Parameters:a = 12.12Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,780.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals dodecahedral, modified by {112} (Urals). Artificial crystals cubic. Crystals to 17cm. (Ivigtut).
Crystal Atlas:
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Cryolithionite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cryolithionite no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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Optical Data of Cryolithionite

Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Cryolithionite

Formula:
Na
 
3
Li
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
 
2
Essential elements:Al, F, Li, Na
All elements listed in formula:Al, F, Li, Na

Relationship of Cryolithionite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
3.CB.15Cryolite
Na
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.15Elpasolite
NaK
 
2
[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.15Simmonsite
Na
 
2
Li[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.20Colquiriite
CaLi[AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.25Weberite
Na
 
2
Mg[F|AlF
 
6
]
3.CB.30Karasugite
SrCa[Al(F,OH)
 
7
]
3.CB.35Usovite
Ba
 
2
CaMgAl
 
2
F
 
14
3.CB.40Pachnolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
3.CB.40Thomsenolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
3.CB.45Carlhintzeite
Ca
 
2
[F|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
3.CB.50Yaroslavite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
F
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
8.6.1Zharchikhite
AlF(OH)
 
2
8.6.2Chloraluminite
AlCl
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
8.6.3Cadwaladerite
Al(OH)
 
2
Cl·4H
 
2
O
8.6.5Cryolite
Na
 
3
[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.6Chiolite
Na
 
5
Al
 
3
F
 
14
8.6.7Elpasolite
NaK
 
2
[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.8Weberite
Na
 
2
Mg[F|AlF
 
6
]
8.6.9Ralstonite
NaMgAl(F,OH)
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.10Koenenite
Na
 
4
Mg
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
12
(OH)
 
22
8.6.11 Chlor-manasseite
Mg
 
x
Al(OH)
 
2x+2
Cl·(x-0.8)H
 
2
O x about 1.75
8.6.12Gearksutite
Ca[Al(F,OH)
 
5
(H
 
2
O)]
8.6.13Prosopite
CaAl
 
2
(F,OH)
 
8
8.6.14Yaroslavite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
F
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
8.6.15Carlhintzeite
Ca
 
2
[F|AlF
 
6
] · H
 
2
O
8.6.16Colquiriite
CaLi[AlF
 
6
]
8.6.17Thomsenolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.18Pachnolite
NaCaAlF
 
6
·H
 
2
O
8.6.19Zirklerite
(Fe,Mg,Ca)
 
9
Al
 
4
Cl
 
18
(OH)
 
12
·14H
 
2
O (?)

Other Names for Cryolithionite

Synonyms:
Kryolithionite
Other Languages:
German:Kryolthionit
Russian:Криолитионит

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Melting Point = 710°.
Other Information:Slightly soluble in water. Soluble in sulfuric acid, with generation of HF.
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 Cryolithionite

Reference List:Ussing (1904) Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, Copenhagen, Overs.: 1.

Bøggild (1913) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 51: 600.

Menzer (1930) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 75: 265.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 99-100.

American Mineralogist (1971): 56: 18-23.

Internet Links for Cryolithionite

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    Localities for Cryolithionite

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