Chemistry:Magadiite

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Magadiite
Magadiite-696064.jpg
Magadiite. Collected in 1990 from Lake Magadi, Kajiado County, Kenya.
General
CategoryPhyllosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
NaSi7O13(OH)3·4(H2O)
Strunz classification9.EA.20
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Unknown space group
Space groupC2/m (no. 12)
Unit cella = 7.22 Å, b = 15.70 Å,
c = 6.91 Å; β = 97.27°; Z=1
Identification
ColorWhite
Crystal habitMinute platy crystals; spherulitic aggregates; powdery
TenacityPuttylike
Mohs scale hardness2
|re|er}}Vitreous - dull
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTranslucent to opaque
Specific gravity2.25 calculated
Optical propertiesBiaxial
Refractive indexnα = 1.470
Ultraviolet fluorescenceYellow-white under both long and short wave
References[1][2][3][4][5]

Magadiite is a hydrous sodium silicate mineral (NaSi7O13(OH)3·4(H2O)) which precipitates from alkali brines as an evaporite phase. It forms as soft (Mohs hardness of 2) white powdery monoclinic crystal masses.[2][3] The mineral is unstable and decomposes during diagenesis leaving a distinctive variety of chert (Magadi-type chert).[7]

The mineral was first described by Hans P. Eugster in 1967 for an occurrence in Lake Magadi, Kenya, and is also found at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania.[3][7] It is also reported from alkalic intrusive syenites as in Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada .[2]

References

  1. Mineralienatlas
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mineral Handbook
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Webmineral
  4. Mindat.org
  5. Garcés, Juan M. (1988). "Hypothetical Structures of Magadiite and Sodium Octosilicate and Structural Relationships Between the Layered Alkali Metal Silicates and the Mordenite- and Pentasil-Group Zeolites1". Clays and Clay Minerals 36 (5): 409–418. doi:10.1346/CCMN.1988.0360505. Bibcode1988CCM....36..409G. 
  6. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode2021MinM...85..291W. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Encyclopedia of Sediments & Sedimentary Rocks, Springer, 2003, p. 417, ISBN:1-4020-0872-4