Dawsonite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
About DawsoniteHide
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Colour:
Colourless to white; rarely pink; colourless in transmitted light
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named by B.J. Harrington in 1874 in honor of Sir John William Dawson (13 October 1820, Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada - 19 November 1899, Montreal, Quebec, Canada), Principal of McGill University and geologist, who first collected the mineral.
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1240:5
0d0b23ea-e980-4a0c-a47e-c0ed59bca344
IMA Classification of DawsoniteHide
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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
NaAl(CO3)(OH)2
Classification of DawsoniteHide
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5.BB.10
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
B : With alkalies, etc.
16a.3.8.1
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : (AB)2(XO3)Zq
11.7.3
11 : Carbonates
7 : Carbonates of Al
Mineral SymbolsHide
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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dws | 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 DawsoniteHide
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Colour:
Colourless to white; rarely pink; colourless in transmitted light
Density:
2.436 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.431 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of DawsoniteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 1.466 _n_β = 1.542 _n_γ = 1.596
2V:
Measured: 77° , Calculated: 76°
δ = 0.130
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Dispersion:
relatively weak r < v
Chemistry of DawsoniteHide
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Mindat Formula:
NaAlCO3(OH)2
Crystallography of DawsoniteHide
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Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.759 Å, b = 10.425 Å, c = 5.585 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.648 : 1 : 0.536
Unit Cell V:
393.53 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Bladed to acicular crystals forming incrustations and rosettes; tufts of fine needles. Crystals elongated [001], to 3.5cm.
Crystal StructureHide
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| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005083 | Dawsonite | Frueh A J, Golightly J P (1967) The crystal structure of dawsonite NaAl(CO3)(OH)2 The Canadian Mineralogist 9 51-56 |  |
1967 | McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | 0 | 293 |
| 0018528 | Dawsonite | Corazza E, Sabelli C, Vannucci S (1977) Dawsonite: new mineralogical data and structure refinement Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1977 381-397 | 1977 | Terlano, Bolzano, Italy | 0 | 293 | |
| 0015709 | Dawsonite | Chinh L T, Pobedimskaya E A, Khomyakov A P (1987) Crystal structure of dawsonite, NaAl(CO3)(OH)2 and its first discovery in the Khibiny alkaline massiv Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta Geologiya 42 74-77 | 1987 | Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola peninsula, Russia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.67 Å | (100) |
| 2.784 Å | (90) |
| 2.601 Å | (70) |
| 1.988 Å | (70) |
| 1.728 Å | (70) |
| 3.38 Å | (60) |
| 2.151 Å | (60) |
Comments:
Mont Saint-Bruno, Quebec, Canada. Data from Mandarino and Harris (1965).
Geological EnvironmentHide
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Geological Setting:
Nepheline syenites, authigenic in alkaline shales and coal bearing rocks, saline soils on nepheline tuffs.
Type Occurrence of DawsoniteHide
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General Appearance of Type Material:
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, RMF2381A.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Feldspathic dike cutting Trenton limestone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for DawsoniteHide
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Simplified Chinese:丝钠铝石
Traditional Chinese:絲鈉鋁石
Varieties of DawsoniteHide
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Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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| 5.BB.05 | Barentsite | Na7Al(HCO3)2(CO3)2F4 | Tric. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.BB.15 | Tunisite | NaCa2Al4(CO3)4(OH)8Cl | Tet. 4/m m m _(_4/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : _P_4/n m m |
| 5.BB.20 | Sabinaite | Na4Zr2TiO4(CO3)4 | Mon. 2/m : _B_2/b |
Other InformationHide
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Notes:
Soluble in acids with effervescence.
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 DawsoniteHide
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References for DawsoniteHide
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Reference List:
Localities for DawsoniteHide
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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Locality ListHide
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- 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.