Wegscheiderite
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About Wegscheiderite
Formula:
Na5H3(CO3)4
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.341
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named by Joseph J. Fahey, K.P Yorks, and Daniel E. Appleman in 1961 in honor of Rudolf Wegscheider (8 October 1859, Großbetschkerek, Austrian Empire - 8 January 1935, Vienna, Austria), chemist. In 1913, he first produced the synthetic compound.
Classification of Wegscheiderite
Approved
Approval Year:
1967
First Published:
1961
5/B.01-60
5.AA.30
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
A : Alkali carbonates
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
A : Alkali carbonates
13.1.6.1
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
13 : ACID CARBONATES
1 : Miscellaneous
11.1.4
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
Physical Properties of Wegscheiderite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Colourless
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct prismatic cleavage
Distinct prismatic cleavage
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
2.341 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.334 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Wegscheiderite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.433 nβ = 1.519 nγ = 1.528
2V:
Measured: 32° , Calculated: 34°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.095

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
weak r < v
Chemical Properties of Wegscheiderite
Formula:
Na5H3(CO3)4
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Wegscheiderite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.04(3) Å, b = 15.56(4) Å, c = 3.466(10) Å
α = 91.92°, β = 95.82°, γ = 108.67°
α = 91.92°, β = 95.82°, γ = 108.67°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.645 : 1 : 0.223
Unit Cell V:
509.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Acicular to bladed crystals to 5cm, fibrous, aggregates.
Type Occurrence of Wegscheiderite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Randomly oriented bladed crystals
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 117710.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Lacustrine deposits
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Wegscheiderite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.AA.05 | Zabuyelite | Li2CO3 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
5.AA.10 | Natrite | Na2CO3 | Mon. |
5.AA.10 | Gregoryite | (Na2,K2,Ca)CO3 | Hex. |
5.AA.15 | Nahcolite | NaHCO3 | Mon. 2/m |
5.AA.20 | Kalicinite | KHCO3 | Mon. 2/m |
5.AA.25 | Teschemacherite | (NH4)HCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pccn |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
11.1.1 | Zabuyelite | Li2CO3 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
11.1.2 | Natrite | Na2CO3 | Mon. |
11.1.3 | Nahcolite | NaHCO3 | Mon. 2/m |
11.1.5 | Thermonatrite | Na2CO3 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmm |
11.1.6 | Trona | Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m |
11.1.7 | Natron | Na2CO3 · 10H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
11.1.8 | Kalicinite | KHCO3 | Mon. 2/m |
11.1.9 | Shortite | Na2Ca2(CO3)3 | Orth. mm2 : Amm2 |
11.1.10 | Nyerereite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
11.1.11 | Natrofairchildite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 | Orth. |
11.1.12 | Zemkorite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 | Hex. |
11.1.13 | Pirssonite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O | Orth. mm2 : Fdd2 |
11.1.14 | Gaylussite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
11.1.15 | Baylissite | K2Mg(CO3)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
11.1.16 | Fairchildite | K2Ca(CO3)2 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
11.1.17 | Bütschliite | K2Ca(CO3)2 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
11.1.18 | Teschemacherite | (NH4)HCO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pccn |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Wegscheiderite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Wegscheider, R. (1913) Über Trona. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte, 85 Versammlung Wien, Teil 2, Hälfte 1: 366.
Wegscheider, R., Mehl, J. (1928) Über system Na2CO3-NaHCO3·H2O und das Existenzgebiet der Trona, Monatshefte für Chemie: 283-315.
Milton, C., Fahey, J.J. (1960) Green River mineralogy--a historical account. Wyoming Geological Association Guidebook 15th Annual Field Conference: 159-162. (unnamed)
Fahey, J.J., Yorks, K.P., Appleman, D.E. (1961) Wegscheiderite, a new saline mineral from the Green River Formation, Wyoming. Geological Society of America, Abstracts Annual Meetings 1961: 48A-49A.
Fleischer, M. (1962) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 47: 414-420.
Fahey, J.J., Yorks, K.P. (1963) Wegscheiderite (Na2CO3·3NaHCO3), a new saline mineral from the Green River formation, Wyoming. American Mineralogist: 48: 400-403.
Fleischer, M. (1964) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 49: 439-448.
International Mineralogical Association (1967) Commission on new minerals and mineral names. Mineralogical Magazine: 36: 131-136.
Fernandes, N.G., Tellgren, R., Olovsson, I. (1990) Structure and electron density of pentasodium trihydrogentetracarbonate. Acta Crystallographica: B46: 466-474.
Internet Links for Wegscheiderite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4256.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Wegscheiderite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
China | |
| Qingtang Yang (1987): Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica 6(1), 87-92; Jiping Wang, Youxun Zhang, Qingtang Yang, Jianmin Zhou, and Xiulian Ma (1991): Geological Review 56(1), 42-50 |
Russia | |
| www.koeln.netsurf.de/~w.steffens/lovo.htm |
USA | |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckel |
| http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2002AM/finalprogram/abstract_45510.htm. |
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 96-0729 | |
| Am Min 48:400-403; Am Min 48:400-403 |
| Amer.Min.(1963) 48, 400-403 |
Am Min 48:400-403; Am Min 48:400-403 |
Alluaiv Mt, Lovozero Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia