Carletonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Carletonite
Formula:
KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F) · H2O
Colour:
Colourless, light blue, dark blue, or pink
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
4 - 4½
Specific Gravity:
2.45
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named after Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, where it was first studied and what was the main venue for the investigation of MSH minerals by Dr. G.Y. Chao from 1963 to 1995.
The OH analogue of fluorcarletonite.
The colour is caused by (CO3)•– hole defects.
The colour is caused by (CO3)•– hole defects.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Carletonite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
898
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:898:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
4c9b6cc1-b689-493e-b220-c7c093d826f7
IMA Classification of Carletonite
Approved
IMA Formula:
KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH) · H2O
First published:
1971
Classification of Carletonite
9.EB.20
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
B : Double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
B : Double nets with 4- and 6-membered rings
72.3.1.4
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
3 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 3-, 4-, or 5-membered rings and 8-membered rings
72 : PHYLLOSILICATES Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings
3 : Two-Dimensional Infinite Sheets with Other Than Six-Membered Rings with 3-, 4-, or 5-membered rings and 8-membered rings
17.4.8
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
4 : Silicates with carbonates
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Cto | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Carletonite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Carletonite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, light blue, dark blue, or pink
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 - 4½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
[001] Perfect, [110] Distinct
[001] Perfect, [110] Distinct
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.45 g/cm3 (Measured)
Comment:
Measured with a Berman balance and toluene
Optical Data of Carletonite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.521 nε = 1.517
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.004
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
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
The blue variety shows a weak pleochroism, with O: very pale blue, E: very pale pinkish brown.
Chemistry of Carletonite
Mindat Formula:
KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F) · H2O
Common Impurities:
Ti,Al,Mg
Crystallography of Carletonite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P4/mbm
Setting:
P4/mbm
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.178 Å, c = 16.695 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.267
Unit Cell V:
2,899.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000287 | Carletonite | Chao G Y (1972) The crystal structure of carletonite, KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH).H2O, a double-sheet silicate American Mineralogist 57 765-778 | 1972 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
8.353 Å | (100) |
4.171 Å | (100) |
2.903 Å | (90) |
2.384 Å | (60) |
4.053 Å | (50) |
16.705 Å | (40) |
4.816 Å | (40) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Carletonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive core, about 8 inches in diameter, of a xenolith
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature CMNMC 37135 HT specimen
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In an alkaline complex in marble xenoliths in nepheline syenite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Chao, G.Y. (1971) Carletonite, KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH)·H2O a new mineral from Mount St. Hilaire, Quebec. American Mineralogist: 56: 1855-1866.
Synonyms of Carletonite
Other Language Names for Carletonite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
16 photos of Carletonite associated with Pectolite | NaCa2Si3O8(OH) |
15 photos of Carletonite associated with Arfvedsonite | [Na][Na2][Fe2+4Fe3+]Si8O22(OH)2 |
14 photos of Carletonite associated with Feldspar Group | |
11 photos of Carletonite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
9 photos of Carletonite associated with Magnesio-arfvedsonite | {Na}{Na2}{Mg4Fe3+}(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
7 photos of Carletonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
6 photos of Carletonite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
3 photos of Carletonite associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
2 photos of Carletonite associated with Raite | Mn2+Mn2+2Na2(◻1.75Ti0.25)Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · Na(H2O)6 |
1 photo of Carletonite associated with Fluoro-richterite | {Na}{CaNa}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(F,OH)2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
9.EB. | Natromelansonite | Na3Zr[Si7AlO19] · 4H2O |
9.EB.05 | Macdonaldite | BaCa4Si16O36(OH)2 · 10H2O |
9.EB.05 | Rhodesite | KHCa2Si8O19 · 5H2O |
9.EB.05 | Melansonite | Na◻KZrSi8O19 · 5H2O |
9.EB.10 | Delhayelite | (Na,K)10Ca5Al6Si32O80(Cl2,F2,SO4)3 · 18H2O |
9.EB.10 | Hydrodelhayelite | KCa2AlSi7O17(OH)2 · 6H2O |
9.EB.15 | Monteregianite-(Y) | (Na,K)6(Y,Ca)2Si16O38 · 10H2O |
9.EB.20 | Fluorcarletonite | KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4F · H2O |
9.EB.25 | Günterblassite | (K,Ca,Ba)2(Fe,Ca,Mg,Na)[(Si,Al)13O25(OH)4] · 7H2O · |
9.EB.25 | Umbrianite | K7Na2Ca2[Al3Si10O29]F2Cl2 |
9.EB.25 | Hillesheimite | (K,Ca,Ba,◻)2(Mg,Fe,Ca,◻)2[(Si,Al )13O23(OH)6](OH) · 8H2O |
9.EB.30 | Fivegite | K4Ca2[AlSi7O17(O2-xOHx)][(H2O)2-xOHx]Cl |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
A very weak endothermic peak at 300 C, a very strong endothermic peak at 692 C, a weak exothermic peak at 736 C, and a very weak endothermic peak at 915 C.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Carletonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-898.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Carletonite
Reference List:
forum.amiminerals.it (n.d.) http://forum.amiminerals.it/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18534&sid=0c8e47a390c9fb3a1dc418248c2c193f
Chao, George Y. (1971) Carletonite, KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH)·H2O, a new mineral from, Mount St. Hilaire, Quebec. American Mineralogist, 56 (11-12) 1855-1866
Chao, George Y. (1972) The crystal structure of carletonite, KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(F,OH)·H2O. American Mineralogist, 57 (5-6) 765-778
Frost, Ray L., Xi, Yunfei, Scholz, Ricardo, López, Andrés, Belotti, Fernanda Maria (2013) Infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of the silicate–carbonate mineral carletonite – KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F)·H2O. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1042. 1-7 doi:10.1016/j.molstruc.2013.03.036
Pohwat, Paul W., Cook, Robert B. (2016) Conniosseur's Choice: Carletonite, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada. Rocks & Minerals, 91 (1) 48-53 doi:10.1080/00357529.2016.1099133
Localities for Carletonite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| Ottawa meeting +5 other references |
Russia | |
| Kaneva et al. (2018) |
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Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada