Gwihabaite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species
About GwihabaiteHide
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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 IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6983:6
77d998ab-93d5-41eb-a474-6370e853e803
IMA Classification of GwihabaiteHide
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Type description reference:
Classification of GwihabaiteHide
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5.NA.15
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
N : NITRATES
A : Without OH or H2O
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 GwihabaiteHide
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Density:
1.77 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.80 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured in a mixture of tetrabromoethane and acetone.
Optical Data of GwihabaiteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 1.458 _n_β = 1.527 _n_γ = 1.599
2V:
Measured: 90° , Calculated: 86°
δ = 0.141
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Comments:
X = b, Y = a, Z = c
Chemistry of GwihabaiteHide
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Mindat Formula:
(NH4,K)NO3
Crystallography of GwihabaiteHide
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Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
m m m _(_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)
Morphology:
Slender prismatic crystals, divergent aggregates or "cave flowers".
Enlongated parallel to [001] and the forms are {110}, {100}, and {111}.
Comment:
Space Group: P bnm
Crystal StructureHide
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| 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 DiffractionHide
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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 EnvironmentHide
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Geological Setting:
Caves. In bioremediated soils.
Type Occurrence of GwihabaiteHide
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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 GwihabaiteHide
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Other Language Names for GwihabaiteHide
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Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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| 5.NA.05 | Nitratine | NaNO3 | Trig. 3_m_ _(_32/m ) : R_3_c |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.NA.10 | Niter | KNO3 | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : P m m a |
| 5.NA.20 | Nitrobarite | Ba(NO3)2 | Iso. m_3(2/m_3) : P _a_3 |
| 5.NA.25 | Shilovite | Cu(NH3)4(NO3)2 | Orth. m _m_2 : P n _n_2 |
Other InformationHide
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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 GwihabaiteHide
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References for GwihabaiteHide
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Localities for GwihabaiteHide
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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.