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Ussingite

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

Show Ussingite Photos (14)
Formula:
Na
 
2
AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
OH
System:TriclinicColour:Pale to medium violet, ...
Hardness:6 - 7
Name:
Named after Niels Viggo Ussing (July 14, 1864-July 23, 1911), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
This page provides mineralogical data about Ussingite.

Classification of Ussingite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.14-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EH.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
H : Transitional structures between phyllosilicate and other silicate units
Dana 8th edition ID:76.3.3.1

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
3 : Al-Si Framework with other Be/Al/Si frameworks
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.2.3

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
2 : Aluminosilicates of Na
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Type Occurrence of Ussingite

Type Locality:Kangerdluarssuq (Kangerdluarssuk; Kangerdluarsuk) Firth, Ilimaussaq complex, Narsaq, Kitaa (West Greenland) Province, Greenland
Year of Discovery:1914
Geological Setting of type material:Syenite pegmatite, also sodalite-bearing xenoliths

Physical Properties of Ussingite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Pale to medium violet, reddish violet; sometimes barely tinted purple
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 7
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.48 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.51 g/cm3

Crystallography of Ussingite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 7.256Å, b = 7.686Å, c = 8.683Å
α = 90.75°, β = 99.75°, γ = 122.48°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.944 : 1 : 1.13
Unit Cell Volume:V 399.44 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals uncommon; blocky to tabular with dominant pinacoidal forms {100}, {010}, and {001}
Twinning:{010}
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
6.88 (70)
6.35 (90)
4.92 (70)
4.18 (70)
3.84 (70)
3.47 (70)
2.95 (100)
Comments:14-426

Optical Data of Ussingite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.504 nβ = 1.509 nγ = 1.545
2V:Measured: 32° to 39°, Calculated: 42°
Birefringence:0.041
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.041

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none
Optical Extinction:Z angle b = 3˚

Chemical Properties of Ussingite

Formula:
Na
 
2
AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
OH
Essential elements:Al, H, Na, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Na, O, Si
Common Impurities:Ca,K,Cl,H2O,S

Relationship of Ussingite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EH.05Manganoneptunite
Na
 
2
KLi(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
9.EH.05Neptunite
Na
 
2
KLi(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
Ti
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
9.EH.05Watatsumiite
Na
 
2
KLi(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
V
4+
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
24
]
9.EH.05IMA2009-009
KNa
 
2
Li(Mg,Fe)
 
2
Ti
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
24
9.EH.10Grumantite
Na[Si
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)]·H
 
2
O
9.EH.15Sarcolite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
12
(Ca,K,Fe,Sr,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
8
Si
 
12
(P,Si)O
 
52
F
 
2
9.EH.25Leifite
(Na,H
 
2
O)Na
 
6
[F
 
2
|Be
 
2
Al
 
2
(Al,Si)Si
 
15
O
 
39
]
9.EH.25Telyushenkoite
(Cs,Na,K)Na
 
6
[F
 
2
|Be
 
2
Al
 
3
Si
 
15
O
 
39
]
9.EH.25Eirikite
KNa
 
6
Be
 
2
(Si
 
15
Al
 
3
)O
 
39
F
 
2
9.EH.30Nafertisite
Na
 
3
(Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
(Ti
 
2
Si
 
12
O
 
34
)(O,OH)
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.2.1Albite
Na[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
16.2.2Analcime
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.2.4Paragonite
NaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.2.5Natrolite
Na
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.2.6Tetranatrolite
16.2.7Paranatrolite
Na
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·3H
 
2
O
16.2.8Ephesite
NaLiAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.2.9Rectorite
(Na,Ca)Al
 
4
(Si,Al)
 
8
O
 
20
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
16.2.10Jadeite
Na(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
16.2.11Brammallite
Na
 
0.65
Al
 
2.0
ٱAl
 
0.65
Si
 
3.35
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Ussingite

Other Languages:
German:Ussingit
Russian:Уссингит
Spanish:Ussingita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent
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 Ussingite

Reference List:Meddelelser om Grønland (1914): 51: 105.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1915): 54: 120.

American Mineralogist (1974): 59: 335-340.

Mineralogical Record (1990): 21: 284.

Johnson, E.A. and Rossman, G.R. (2004) An infrared and 1H MAS NMR investigation of strong hydrogen bonding in ussingite, Na2Ali3O8(OH). Physics and Chemistr of Minerals: 31: 115-121.

Internet Links for Ussingite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Ussingite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Ussingite

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