Gwihabaite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gwihabaite
Formula:
(NH4,K)NO3
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
1.77
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after its type locality at the Gcwihaba Cave (Drotsky's Caverns), Maun, North-West District, Botswana (NOTE: The name was altered slightly to aid pronounciation - c in name stands for click sound ! of San people).
This page provides mineralogical data about Gwihabaite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
6983
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6983:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
77d998ab-93d5-41eb-a474-6370e853e803
IMA Classification of Gwihabaite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(NH4)(NO3)
First published:
1996
Classification of Gwihabaite
5.NA.15
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
A : Without OH or H2O
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
A : Without OH or H2O
Dana 7th ed.:
18.1.3.1
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 |
---|---|---|
Gwi | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Gwihabaite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
1.77 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.80 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured in a mixture of tetrabromoethane and acetone.
Optical Data of Gwihabaite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.458 nβ = 1.527 nγ = 1.599
2V:
Measured: 90° , Calculated: 86°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.141
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:
none
Comments:
X = b, Y = a, Z = c
Chemistry of Gwihabaite
Mindat Formula:
(NH4,K)NO3
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Gwihabaite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.075 Å, b = 7.647 Å, c = 5.779 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.925 : 1 : 0.756
Unit Cell V:
312.66 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Slender prismatic crystals, divergent aggregates or "cave flowers".
Enlongated parallel to [001] and the forms are {110}, {100}, and {111}.
Enlongated parallel to [001] and the forms are {110}, {100}, and {111}.
Comment:
Space Group: P bnm
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0010592 | Gwihabaite | Amoros J L, Arrese F, Canut M (1962) The crystal structure of the low-temperature phase of NH4NO3(V) at -150 deg C Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 117 92-107 | 1962 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.194 Å | (100) |
3.212 Å | (95) |
2.595 Å | (90) |
3.364 Å | (85) |
3.863 Å | (75) |
2.400 Å | (50) |
3.805 Å | (35) |
2.905 Å | (30) |
2.305 Å | (20) |
2.236 Å | (20) |
2.250 Å | (15) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44) | <0.54 |
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Geological Setting:
Caves. In bioremediated soils.
Type Occurrence of Gwihabaite
General Appearance of Type Material:
slender needles and oulopholites, up to 5 mm. long, forming efflorescences on the walls, boulders, bat guano and earthy floor of the cave
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History (formerly Transvaal Museum in Pretoria).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Caves. Bacterial decay of bat guano.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Martini, J.E.J. (1996) Gwihabaite - (NH4,K)NO3, orthorhombic, a new mineral from the Gcwihaba Cave, Botswana. Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association: 36: 19-21.
Synonyms of Gwihabaite
Other Language Names for Gwihabaite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
5.NA.05 | Nitratine | NaNO3 |
5.NA.10 | Niter | KNO3 |
5.NA.20 | Nitrobarite | Ba(NO3)2 |
5.NA.25 | Shilovite | Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2 |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water, deliquescent
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 Gwihabaite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-6983.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Gwihabaite
Reference List:
Localities for Gwihabaite
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.
Botswana (TL) | |
| Martini (1996) +1 other reference |
Czech Republic | |
| Varilová et al. (2011) |
Namibia | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Russia | |
| Anatoly Kasatkin collection and photo |
South Africa | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +1 other reference |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Martini (1978) | |
Spain | |
| Martínez-Arkarazo et al. (2007) |
Tajikistan | |
| D.I.Belakovskiy data |
Belakovski et al. (1988) | |
USA | |
| American Journal Science (1857) |
Venezuela | |
| BOLETÍN INFORMATIVO DE LA COMISIÓN DE GEOESPELEOLOGÍA (Federación Espeleológica de América Latina y el Caribe -FEALC-) |
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Koashva Open Pit, Koashva Mt, Khibiny Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia