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Makatite

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Aris Quarries (Ariskop Quarry; Railway Quarry), Aris, Windhoek, Windhoek District, Khomas Region, Namibia
© jo-esche 2008

Show Makatite Photos (19)
Formula:
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:white
Name:From "emakut", Masai word for "soda", in allusion to the high sodium content of the mineral
This page provides mineralogical data about Makatite.

Classification of Makatite

IMA status:Approved 1969
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/G.05-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EE.45

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
Dana 8th edition ID:74.3.5.2

74 : PHYLLOSILICATES Modulated Layers
3 : Modulated Layers with joined strips
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.1.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
1 : Silicates of the alkali metals
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Type Occurrence of Makatite

Type Locality:Lake Magadi, South Rift Valley, Rift Valley Province, Kenya

Physical Properties of Makatite

Colour:white
Cleavage:Perfect
Parellel to longitudinal axis
Density (measured):1.97 - 2.07 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.05 g/cm3

Crystallography of Makatite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 7.388Å, b = 18.094Å, c = 9.523Å
β = 90.64°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.408 : 1 : 0.526
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,272.94 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.09 (100)
2.997 (60)
9.04 (55)
2.883 (40)
3.410 (40)
3.125 (35)
Comments:Lake Magadi, Kenya

Optical Data of Makatite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.472 - 1.475 nβ = 1.480 nγ = 1.487 - 1.490
2V:Measured: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.015

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

Chemical Properties of Makatite

Formula:
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Al,Fe,Mg,Ca,K

Relationship of Makatite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EE.05Bementite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.10Brokenhillite
Mn
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Friedelite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Pyrosmalite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH,Cl)
 
10
9.EE.10Mcgillite
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
8
Cl
 
2
9.EE.15Nelenite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
(Si
 
12
O
 
30
)(OH)
 
14
[As
3+
3
O
 
6
(OH)
 
3
]
9.EE.15Schallerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
16
Si
 
12
As
 
3
O
 
36
(OH)
 
17
9.EE.20Palygorskite
(Mg,Al)
 
5
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Tuperssuatsiaite
Na
 
2
Fe
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.20Yofortierite
Mn
 
5
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·8-9H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Falcondoite
(Ni,Mg)
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Loughlinite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·8H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.25Kalifersite
(K,Na)
 
5
Fe
3+
7
Si
 
20
O
 
50
(OH)
 
6
·12H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Gyrolite
Ca
 
4
(Si
 
6
O
 
15
)(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Orlymanite
Ca
 
4
Mn
 
3
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.30Tungusite
Ca
 
4
Fe
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
6
9.EE.35Reyerite
(Na,K)
 
2
Ca
 
14
(Si,Al)
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.35Truscottite
(Ca,Mn)
 
14
Si
 
24
O
 
58
(OH)
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.40Natrosilite
Na
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
9.EE.50Varennesite
Na
 
8
Mn
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
25
(OH,Cl)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
9.EE.55Raite
Na
 
4
Mn
2+
3
Ti
 
0.25
Si
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
9.EE.60Intersilite
Na
 
6
Mn
2+
 
Ti[Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)](OH)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Shafranovskite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
Si
 
9
O
 
24
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.65Zakharovite
Na
 
4
Mn
 
5
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
9.EE.70Zeophyllite
Ca
 
4
Si
 
3
O
 
8
(OH,F)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.EE.75Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
9.EE.80Fedorite
(Na,K)
 
2-3
(Ca
 
4
Na
 
3
)Si
 
16
O
 
38
F
 
2
 · 3.5H
 
2
O
9.EE.80Martinite
(Na,Ca)
 
11
Ca
 
4
(Si,S,B)
 
14
B
 
2
O
 
40
F
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
9.EE.85Lalondeite
(Na,Ca)
 
6
(Ca,Na)
 
3
Si
 
16
O
 
38
(F,OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.1.1Natrosilite
Na
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
14.1.2Ertixiite
Na
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
9
14.1.3Revdite
Na
 
16
Si
 
16
O
 
27
(OH)
 
26
·28H
 
2
O
14.1.5Magadiite
NaSi
 
7
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
·3H
 
2
O
14.1.6Kenyaite
Na
 
2
Si
 
22
O
 
41
(OH)
 
8
·6H
 
2
O
14.1.7Grumantite
Na[Si
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)]·H
 
2
O
14.1.8Silinaite
NaLiSi
 
2
O
 
5
·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Makatite

Synonyms:
IMA1969-003Unnamed (MSH UK-66)
Other Languages:
German:Makatit
Russian:Макатит
Spanish:Makatita

Other Information

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 Makatite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1970): 55: 358-366.

Annehed, H., Faelth, L. & Lincoln, F. J. (1982): Crystal structure of synthetic makatite Na2Si4O8(OH)2.4H2O. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie 159, 203-210.

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 852.

Internet Links for Makatite

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    Localities for Makatite

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