Nyerereite

Nyerereite
General
Category Carbonate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Na2Ca(CO3)2
Strunz classification 5.AC.10
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Crystal class Pyramidal (mm2)
H-M symbol: (mm2)
Space group Cmc21
Identification
Color Colorless
Crystal habit Platey, pseudo-hexagonal
Twinning Always polysynthetically twinned parallel to [001]
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 2.541
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 1.511 nβ = 1.533 nγ = 1.535
Birefringence δ = 0.023
2V angle Measured: 29°
References [1][2][3]

Nyerereite is a very rare sodium calcium carbonate mineral with formula Na2Ca(CO3)2. It forms colorless, platey pseudohexagonal orthorhombic crystals that are typically twinned. It has a specific gravity of 2.54 and indices of refraction of nα=1.511, nβ=1.533 and nγ=1.535. Nyerereite is not stable in contact with the atmosphere and rapidly breaks down. Collection specimens must be kept in a sealed argon environment.

It has a Hermann–Mauguin notation of mm2 and the respective space group is Cmc21.[1] In nature Nyerereite is naturally twinned and is pseudohexagonal with triad twinning; meaning that this is a six sided crystal that apparently has a hexagonal shape but is not in the hexagonal system. Triad twinning is the intergrowth of three orthorhombic crystals that turn at their center and form hexagonally shaped crystals. Nyerereite is biaxial negative, and has a 2v of 29 degrees. It shows a center acute bisectrix and a birefringence of approximately 0.023.[4] At high temperatures or just erupted lava nyerereite is uniaxial and shows an interference color of second order blue when twinning is not present, and when twinning is there the interference color of nyerereite is first order grey.[4]

Special characteristics

Since nyerereite is very unstable when it reaches the surface it creates pseudomorphs,[5] which is basically the process by which the rock appearance and dimensions remain constant but the main mineral component is replaced by another.[4] McKie (1976) categorized nyerereite into two different categories, high and low nyerereite. There are two types because the Ol Doinyo Lengai lavas are very soluble and hygroscopic; when they come in contact with water or the atmosphere, the lava changes physically and chemically.[6] Therefore, when nyerereite is at high temperature or warm we have what McKie (1976) calls high nyerereite, but when it cools down and gets hydrated we have pirssonite that has a chemical formula of Na2Ca(CO3)2·2(H2O).[6]

Occurrence and discovery

It was first recognized and described by J.B. Dawson from the Ol Doinyo Lengai carbonatite lavas in 1963 and named in honor of the president of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere (1922-1999).[4] In the carbonatite lava it is associated with the potassium-bearing gregoryite. It has also been reported from the Afrikanda alkaline intrusive complex, in the Kola Peninsula, Russia.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Webmineral data
  2. ↑ http://www.mindat.org/min-2945.html Mindat.org
  3. ↑ http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/nyerereite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy
  4. 1 2 3 4 Mckie, D., Frankis, E.J., (1976) Nyerereite: A new volcanic carbonate mineral from Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania. Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 145, 73-95
  5. ↑ Hay, R.L., (1983) Carbonatite tuffs in the Laetolil Beds of Tanzania and the Kaiserstuhl in Germany. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 82, 403-406
  6. 1 2 Zaitsev, A. N.; Keller, J. (Oct 2006). "Mineralogical and chemical transformation of Oldoinyo Lengai natrocarbonatites, Tanzania". Lithos. 91 (1-4): 191–207. doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2006.03.018.
  7. ↑ http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/mineral/tcm-10340-1.html Anatoly N Zaitsev and Anton R Chakhmouradian, Calcite – amphibole – clinopyroxene rock from the Afrikanda Complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia: mineralogy and a possible link to carbonatites. II. Oxysalt minerals, The Canadian Mineralogist 40 pp 103-120 (Abstract)

Bibliography

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