Chemistry:Lecontite
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| Lecontite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (NH4,K)NaSO4·2H2O |
| Strunz classification | 7.CD.15 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless |
| Cleavage | {011} Distinct [1] |
| Mohs scale hardness | 2–2.5 |
| |re|er}} | Vitreous to dull |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent to translucent |
| Specific gravity | 1.745 g/cc[2] |
| Density | 1.745 g/cc |
| Refractive index | nα = 1.440 nβ = 1.454 nγ = 1.455[2] |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.015[2] |
Lecontite (sodium ammonium sulfate dihydrate, with potassium substituting for some ammonium, typically about a fourth[1]) is a sulfate mineral with the formula (NH4,K)NaSO4·2H2O. It was found by John Lawrence LeConte in Las Piedras Cave in Honduras as a breakdown product of bat guano, including crystals up to an inch long[2] and identified as a separate mineral by W.J. Taylor in 1858.[4] As of 1963 most natural specimens came from the same cave.[5]
Lecontite can easily be synthesized by reacting ammonium sulfate with sodium sulfate in aqueous solution and crystallized.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lecontite Mineral Data". Webmineral. http://webmineral.com/data/Lecontite.shtml. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Lecontite". Mindat. https://www.mindat.org/min-2364.html.
- ↑ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode: 2021MinM...85..291W.
- ↑ Taylor, W.J. (1858). "Lecontite, a new mineral". American Journal of Science and Arts 76: 273–274.
- ↑ Faust, Robert J.; Bloss, F. Donald (1963). "X-ray study of lecontite". American Mineralogist 48 (January–February): 180–188. https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/msa/ammin/article-abstract/48/1-2/180/542037/X-ray-study-of-lecontite.
- ↑ Shintyakov, Dmitry. "Sodium ammonium sulfate". DmiShin home, crystal growing collection. https://dmishin.github.io/crystals/sodium-ammonium-sulfate.html. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
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