Thomsenolite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered

About ThomsenoliteHide

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Colour:

Colourless, white, pale lilac; brownish or reddish tinted due to staining; colourless in transmitted light.

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

Named after Hans Peter Jørgen Julius Thomsen (16 February 1826, Copenhagen, Denmark - 13 February 1909, Copenhagen, Denmark), Professor of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen (Denmark), and founder of the Greenland cryolite industry.

This page provides mineralogical data about Thomsenolite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3940:2

4eee34b9-6a4d-4268-917e-ce03abbb1a5a

IMA Classification of ThomsenoliteHide

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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

IMA Formula:

NaCaAlF6 · H2O

Type description reference:

Classification of ThomsenoliteHide

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3.CB.40

3 : HALIDES
C : Complex halides
B : Neso-aluminofluorides

11.6.6.1

11 : HALIDE COMPLEXES
6 : Aluminofluorides - Isolated Octahedra

8.6.17

8 : Halides - Fluorides, Chlorides, Bromides and Iodides; also Fluoborates and Fluosilicates
6 : Halides 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.

Physical Properties of ThomsenoliteHide

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Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Comment:

Pearly on cleavages

Colour:

Colourless, white, pale lilac; brownish or reddish tinted due to staining; colourless in transmitted light.

Hardness:

VHN25=220 - 320 kg/mm2 - Vickers

Comment:

Typically given as Mohs 2. Modern measurement and discussion by Pauly (1985).

Cleavage:

Perfect
On {001}; {110} distinct.

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Density:

2.981 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.986(3) g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of ThomsenoliteHide

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RI values:

_n_α = 1.407 _n_β = 1.414 _n_γ = 1.415

δ = 0.008

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Optical Extinction:

X ∧ c = –52°; Z = b.

Chemistry of ThomsenoliteHide

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Mindat Formula:

NaCa[AlF6] · H2O

Crystallography of ThomsenoliteHide

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Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Cell Parameters:

a = 5.563(2) Å, b = 5.541(2) Å, c = 16.115(1) Å
β = 96.35(3)°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.004 : 1 : 2.908

Unit Cell V:

493.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Crystals commonly prismatic [001]; cubic in aspect with equal development of {001} and {110}. Grouped in parallel aggregates. Also tabular {001}. {110} and terminal prisms strongly striated parallel to the intersection with {001}. {h0l} often curved. Opaline or chalcedony-like crusts and stalactitic masses.

Crystallographic forms of ThomsenoliteHide

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Crystal Atlas:

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3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided bywww.smorf.nl.

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Crystal StructureHide

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ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0009312	Thomsenolite	Cocco G, Castiglione P C, Vagliasindi G (1967) The crystal structure of thomsenolite Acta Crystallographica 23 162-166		1967	Ivigtut, Greenland	0	293
0012167	Thomsenolite	Adhikesavalu D, Cameron T S, Knop O (1985) Thomsenolite, NaCaAlF6*H2O: hydrogen bonding and comparison with pachnolite Canadian Journal of Chemistry 63 3322-3327	1985	0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

Epitaxial Relationships of ThomsenoliteHide

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Epitaxy Comments:

Oriented growths of thomsenolite on pachnolite, with thomsenolite (001) and (110) quasi-parallel to pachnolite (110) and (001). Also with thomsenolite (110) and (110) quasi-parallel to pachnolite (110) and (001).

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:

Comments:

Ivigtut, Greenland.

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Geological Setting:

Granitic pegmatites

Type Occurrence of ThomsenoliteHide

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Place of Conservation of Type Material:

University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1868.1499.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Hagemann, G. (1866) On some minerals associated with the Cryolite in Greenland. American Journal of Science: 42: 93-94 (as Dimetric Pachnolite).

Synonyms of ThomsenoliteHide

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Other Language Names for ThomsenoliteHide

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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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Other InformationHide

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Thermal Behaviour:

Heated in a closed tube it yields water with an acid reaction that etches the glass. At a higher temperature it melts to a clear glass, fusing even more easily than cryolite.

Notes:

Readily soluble in H2SO4.

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 ThomsenoliteHide

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References for ThomsenoliteHide

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Reference List:

**Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.**pp.116-118

Localities for ThomsenoliteHide

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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.