Makatite Mineral Data

Makatite Mineral Data +

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General Makatite Information

Chemical Formula:

Na2Si4O8(OH)2·4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 392.39 gm

Sodium 11.72 % Na 15.80 % Na₂O

Silicon 28.63 % Si 61.25 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 2.57 % H 22.96 % H₂O

Oxygen 57.08 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na₂Si₄O₈(OH)₂·4(H₂O)

Environment:

Continental evaporite deposits. Forms pseudomorphs after trona.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1970

Locality:

Lake Magadi, Kenya. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named from the Masai "emakat," soda, in allusion to the high sodium content.

Synonym:

ICSD 17057

PDF 23-703

Makatite Image

Images:

Makatite

Comments: Thin white bladed crystals of makatite.
Location: Aris Phonolite, S. of Windhoek, Namibia. Scale: 5.5 x 3 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Makatite

Comments: White acicular sprays of makatite crystals in a vug with pink villiaumite.
Location: Aris Phonolite, Namibia. Scale: Picture size 2 cm.
© Minernet

Makatite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.4083:1:0.5263

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.3881, b = 18.094, c = 9.5234, Z = 4; beta = 90.64° V = 1,273.01 Den(Calc)= 2.05

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/c

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 5.09(1), 2.97(0.57), 9.04(0.53),

Crystal Structure:

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Annehed H , Faelth L , Lincoln F J , Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie , 159 (1982) p.203-210, Crystal structure of synthetic makatite Na2Si4O8(OH)2(H2O)4

Physical Properties of Makatite

Cleavage:

[010] Distinct

Color:

Colorless, White.

Density:

2.072

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Luster:

Vitreous - Dull

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Makatite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.015 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.004 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2345,KPDmeas= 0.232,KC= 0.2355

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.472-1.475, b=1.48, g=1.487-1.49, bire=0.0150

Calculated Properties of Makatite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.09 gm/cc
note: r_Makatite=2.05 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.01364
Boson Index = 0.98636

Photoelectric:

PE_Makatite= 1.34 barns/electron
U=PE_Makatite x r_electron= 2.80 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Makatite is Not Radioactive

Makatite Classification

Dana Class:

74.3.5.2 (74)Phyllosilicate Modulated Layers

(74.3)with joined strips

(74.3.5)Na phyllosilicates

74.3.5.1 Natrosilite Na2Si2O5 P 2₁/a 2/m

74.3.5.2 Makatite Na2Si4O8(OH)2·4(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

74.3.5.3 Silinaite NaLiSi2O5·2(H2O) A2/n 2/m

74.3.5.4 Searlesite NaBSi2O5(OH)2 P 2₁ 2

Strunz Class:

VIII/G.05-20 VIII - Silicates

VIII/G - Intermediate between chain- and layered silicates

VIII/G.05 - Silinaite - Makatite series

VIII/G.05-05 Silinaite NaLiSi2O5·2(H2O) A2/n 2/m

VIII/G.05-10 Searlesite NaBSi2O5(OH)2 P 2₁ 2

VIII/G.05-20 Makatite Na2Si4O8(OH)2·4(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

Other Makatite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Makatite Specimen Label here :

Makatite

Na2Si4O8(OH)2·4(H2O)
Dana No: 74.3.5.2 Strunz No: VIII/G.05-20
Locality:

Notes: