Diegogattaite
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Formula:
Na2CaCu2Si8O20·H2O
Colour:
pale turquoise through teal blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5 - 6
Specific Gravity:
3.101 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
In honour of Giacomo Diego Gatta (b. 1974), Professor of Mineral Sciences in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Milan, Italy. Professor Gatta has published extensively on the structures and crystal chemistry of zeolites and related silicates with cage structures, which are of wide mineralogical and technological interest.
This page provides mineralogical data about Diegogattaite.
Classification of Diegogattaite
Approved
Physical Properties of Diegogattaite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
pale turquoise through teal blue
Streak:
pale-blue
Hardness:
5 - 6 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.101 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Diegogattaite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.598(2) nβ = 1.627(2) nγ = 1.632(2)
2V:
Measured: 44.0° (6), Calculated: 44.5°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.034

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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
Strong r < v
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = colourless, Y and Z= blue green;
Chemical Properties of Diegogattaite
Formula:
Na2CaCu2Si8O20·H2O
IMA Formula:
Na2CaCu2Si8O20 · H2O
Crystallography of Diegogattaite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.2439(6) Å, b = 15.7514(4) Å, c = 10.6008(3) Å
β = 125.623°
β = 125.623°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.777 : 1 : 0.673
Unit Cell V:
1,661.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
8.617 | (84) |
3.938 | (100) |
3.513 | (60) |
3.264 | (34) |
3.224 | (38) |
3.088 | (60) |
2.890 | (61) |
2.802 | (48) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Type Occurrence of Diegogattaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
sub-mm sized grains in a main crystalline patch 34 mm in size
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the type collection at the Natural History Museum, London, registration number BM 2013,2
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermally altered manganese deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Diegogattaite
Fluorescence of Diegogattaite
none
Other Information
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 Diegogattaite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Rumsey, M.S., Welch, M.D., Spratt, J. (2013) Diegogattaite, IMA 2012-096. CNMNC Newsletter No. 16, August 2013, page 2704; Mineralogical Magazine: 77: 2695-2709.
Rumsey, M.S., Welch, M.D., Kampf, A.R., Spratt, J. (2013) Diegogattaite, Na2CaCu2Si8O20· H2O: a new nanoporous copper sheet silicate from Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Republic of South Africa. Mineralogical Magazine: 77(8): 3155-3162.
Internet Links for Diegogattaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-43881.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Diegogattaite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
South Africa (TL) | |
| Rumsey, M. S., Welch, M. D., Kampf, A. R., & Spratt, J. (2013). Diegogattaite, Na2CaCu2Si8O20· H2O: a new nanoporous copper sheet silicate from Wessels Mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Republic of South Africa. Mineralogical Magazine, 77(8), 3155-3162. |