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Natrite

Big Photo

Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
© 2008, JGW

Formula:
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, grey-white, ...
Hardness:1 - 1½


Surficially alters rapidly in air to thermonatrite.

Classification of Natrite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/B.01-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.AA.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
A : Alkali carbonates
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.1.2

11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Type Occurrence of Natrite

Co-type Localities:Olenii Creek (Olenii Ruchei; Oleny Ruchei), Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Rasvumchorr Mt, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Karnasurt Mt, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Year of Discovery:1982

Physical Properties of Natrite

Colour:Colourless, grey-white, yellowish
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 1½

Crystallography of Natrite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.9Å, b = 5.23Å, c = 6.04Å
β = 101.35°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.702 : 1 : 1.155
Unit Cell Volume:V 275.65 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Natrite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.410 nβ = 1.535 nγ = 1.543
2V:Measured: 28° , Calculated: 26°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.133

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v

Chemical Properties of Natrite

Formula:
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
Essential elements:C, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:C, Na, O

Relationship of Natrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.AA.05Zabuyelite
Li
 
2
CO
 
3
5.AA.10Gregoryite
(Na
 
2
,K
 
2
,Ca)CO
 
3
5.AA.15Nahcolite
NaHCO
 
3
5.AA.20Kalicinite
KHCO
 
3
5.AA.25Teschemacherite
(NH
 
4
)HCO
 
3
5.AA.30Wegscheiderite
Na
 
5
H
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.1.1Zabuyelite
Li
 
2
CO
 
3
11.1.3Nahcolite
NaHCO
 
3
11.1.4Wegscheiderite
Na
 
5
H
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
11.1.5Thermonatrite
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
11.1.6Trona
Na
 
3
H(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
11.1.7Natron
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·10H
 
2
O
11.1.8Kalicinite
KHCO
 
3
11.1.9Shortite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
11.1.10Nyerereite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.11Natrofairchildite
11.1.12Zemkorite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.13Pirssonite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
11.1.14Gaylussite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
11.1.15Baylissite
K
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
11.1.16Fairchildite
K
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.17Bütschliite
K
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
11.1.18Teschemacherite
(NH
 
4
)HCO
 
3

Other Names for Natrite

Synonyms:
IMA1981-005Natrite (of Khomyakov)
Other Languages:
German:Natrit
Russian:Натрит
Spanish:Natrita

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 Natrite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 281-282.

Zubkova, N.V., Pushcharovskii, D.Yu., Ivaldi, G., Ferraris, G., Pekov, .V., and Chukanov, N.V. (2002) Crystal structure of natrite, γ-Na2CO3. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte 2002: 85-96.

Internet Links for Natrite

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    Localities for Natrite

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