Pirssonite Mineral Data

Pirssonite Mineral Data +

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General Pirssonite Information

Chemical Formula:

Na2Ca(CO3)2·2(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 242.11 gm

Sodium 18.99 % Na 25.60 % Na₂O

Calcium 16.55 % Ca 23.16 % CaO

Hydrogen 1.67 % H 14.88 % H₂O

Carbon 9.92 % C 36.36 % CO₂

Oxygen 52.87 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na₂Ca(CO₃)₂·2(H₂O)

Environment:

Continental evaporite deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1896

Locality:

Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Synonym:

ICSD 9012

PDF 22-476

Pirssonite Image

Images:

Pirssonite

Comments: Almost transparent platy pirssonite crystal.
Location: Searles Lake, San Bernardino County, California, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Pirssonite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5643:1:0.2991

Cell Dimensions:

a = 11.32, b = 20.06, c = 6, Z = 8; V = 1,362.48 Den(Calc)= 2.36

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - PyramidalH-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: F dd2

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.51(1), 2.65(0.9), 2.57(0.8),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 0 1 0] [ 1 3 1] [ 1 1 1] [ 1 1 0]

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Crystal Structure:

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Dickens B , Brown W E , Inorganic Chemistry , 8 (1969) p.2093-2103, The crystal structures of CaNa2(CO3)2*5(H2O), synthetic gaylussite,, and CaNa2(CO3)2*2(H2O), synthetic pirssonite, Locality: synthetic

Physical Properties of Pirssonite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Colorless, Grayish, White.

Density:

2.35

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Hardness:

3 - Calcite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Pirssonite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.003 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.001 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2244,KPDmeas= 0.2254,KC= 0.2246

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.5043, b=1.5095, g=1.5751, bire=0.0708, 2V(Calc)=34, 2V(Meas)=31.433. Dispersion relatively weak.

Calculated Properties of Pirssonite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.38 gm/cc
note: r_Pirssonite=2.36 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00157
Boson Index = 0.99843

Photoelectric:

PE_Pirssonite= 2.48 barns/electron
U=PE_Pirssonite x r_electron= 5.90 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Pirssonite is Not Radioactive

Pirssonite Classification

Dana Class:

15.2.1.1 (15)Hydrated Carbonates

(15.2)where A+m B++n (XO3)p · x(H2O), (m+n):p > 1:1

(15.2.1)Dana Group

15.2.1.1 Pirssonite Na2Ca(CO3)2·2(H2O) F dd2 mm2

Strunz Class:

V/D.02-50 V - Nitrates, Carbonates and Borates

V/D - Water-bearing carbonates without unfamiliar anions

V/D.02 - Thermonatrite - Chalconatronite series

V/D.02-10 Thermonatrite Na2CO3·(H2O) P ca2₁ mm2

V/D.02-20 Natron Na2CO3·10(H2O) Cc m

V/D.02-30 Trona Na3(CO3)(HCO3)·2(H2O) I2/a 2/m

V/D.02-40 Baylissite K2Mg(CO3)2·4(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

V/D.02-50 Pirssonite Na2Ca(CO3)2·2(H2O) F dd2 mm2

V/D.02-60 Gaylussite Na2Ca(CO3)2·5(H2O) I2/a 2/m

V/D.02-70 Chalconatronite Na2Cu(CO3)2·3(H2O) P 2₁/n 2/m

Other Pirssonite Information

References:

NAME( MinRec) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Pirssonite

Na2Ca(CO3)2·2(H2O)
Dana No: 15.2.1.1 Strunz No: V/D.02-50
Locality:

Notes: