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Thermonatrite

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Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry), Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
© 2005 DM

Formula:
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless to grey or ...
Hardness:1 - 1½
Name:From Greek θερμός, "thermos", heat, plus natron, alluding to its origin by thermal drying of that mineral.


This water-soluble mineral is found primarily in evaporite deposits and in arid climates where it may form as a surface deposit, or in volcanic fumaroles.
May originate as an alteration product of natrite.

Classification of Thermonatrite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/D.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.CB.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
Dana 8th edition ID:15.1.1.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.1.5

11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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Occurrences of Thermonatrite

Geological Setting:As efflorescences on soil in arid regions and in saline lakes.

Physical Properties of Thermonatrite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless to grey or yellow, white
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 1½
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
On {100}, difficult.
Density (measured):2.255 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.259 g/cm3

Crystallography of Thermonatrite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pmmm {P2/m 2/m 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.72Å, b = 5.24Å, c = 6.46Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.046 : 1 : 1.233
Unit Cell Volume:V 362.88 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Forms crusts and efflorescence. Crystals thin-lamellar {001}, also tabular {010}; elongated [100] (artificial material).

Optical Data of Thermonatrite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.420 nβ = 1.506 nγ = 1.524
2V:Measured: 48° , Calculated: 46°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.104

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

Chemical Properties of Thermonatrite

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

Relationship of Thermonatrite to other Species

Common Associates:
TronaNatron
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.CB.10Natron
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
·10H
 
2
O
5.CB.15Trona
Na
 
3
H(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
5.CB.20Monohydrocalcite
CaCO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
5.CB.25Ikaite
CaCO
 
3
·6H
 
2
O
5.CB.30Pirssonite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
5.CB.35Gaylussite
Na
 
2
Ca(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
5.CB.40Chalconatronite
Na
 
2
Cu(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
5.CB.45Baylissite
K
 
2
Mg(CO
 
3
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
5.CB.50Tuliokite
Na
 
6
BaTh(CO
 
3
)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.1.1Zabuyelite
Li
 
2
CO
 
3
11.1.2Natrite
Na
 
2
CO
 
3
11.1.3Nahcolite
NaHCO
 
3
11.1.4Wegscheiderite
Na
 
5
H
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
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 Thermonatrite

Other Languages:
French:Soude carbonatée prismatique
German:Natürliches mineralisches Alkali
Prismatisches Natronsalz
Thermonatrit
Thermonitrit
Spanish:Thermonatrita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in water.
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 Thermonatrite

Reference List:Wallerius, J.G (1747) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm (as Natron, Alkali orientale impurum terrestre, Jordblandadt, Alkaliskt-salt).

Mohs-Haidinger (1825): 2: 29 (as Prismatisches Natronsalz).

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1847) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition, vol. 2: 1411 (as Thermonitrit).

Dufrénoy, A. (1856): 2: 220 (as Soude carbonatée prismatique).

Marignac (1857) Annales des mines: 12: 55.

Dufrénoy (1856): 2: 220 (as Soude carbonatée prismatique).

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 143.

Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 8: 129 (may not refer to thermonatrite).

Hintze, Carl (1930) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [3A]: 2776.

Pabst (1930) American Mineralogist: 15: 72.

Merwin in: Winchell, A. (1931) The Microscopic Characters of Artificial Inorganic Solid Substances or Artificial Minerals. Second edition, 403 pp., New York and London.

Colby and Harper (1934) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 89: 191.

Aprodova (1945) Comptes rendus de l’académie des sciences de l’U.R.S.S., n.s.: 48: 274.

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: 224-225.

Acta Crystallographica (1975): B31: 890.

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    Localities for Thermonatrite

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