Natrite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Natrite
Formula:
Na2CO3
Colour:
Colourless, grey-white, yellowish, rose to yellow-orange
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.54
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1982 by Alexander Petrovich Khomyakov for the chemical composition.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2849
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2849:9
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Natrite
Approved
Approval year:
1981
First published:
1982
Classification of Natrite
5.AA.10
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
A : Alkali carbonates
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
A : Alkali carbonates
11.1.2
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Nat | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Natrite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Natrite
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Becoming dull on exposure
Colour:
Colourless, grey-white, yellowish, rose to yellow-orange
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=133 - 175 - Vickers
Cleavage:
Perfect
(001) perfect, (100), (110) less perfect
(001) perfect, (100), (110) less perfect
Density:
2.54 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.55 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Natrite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.41 nβ = 1.535 nγ = 1.543
2V:
Measured: 28° , Calculated: 26°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.133
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v
Optical Extinction:
Y ≃ b.
Chemistry of Natrite
Mindat Formula:
Na2CO3
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Natrite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.905(4) Å, b = 5.237(3) Å, c = 6.045(2) Å
β = 101.35°
β = 101.35°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.7 : 1 : 1.154
Unit Cell V:
276.40 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Twinning:
Fine polysynthetic twins
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009928 | Natrite | Dusek M, Chapuis G, Meyer M, Petricek V (2003) Sodium carbonate revisited Acta Crystallographica B59 337-352 |  | 2003 | synthetic | 0 | 295 |
| 0005044 | Natrite | Arakcheeva A, Bindi L, Pattison P, Meisser N, Chapuis G, Pekov I (2010) The incommensurately modulated structures of natural natrite at 120 and 293 K from synchrotron X-ray data American Mineralogist 95 574-581 | 2010 | Mt. Koashva, Lovozero massif, Kola peninsula, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005043 | Natrite | Arakcheeva A, Bindi L, Pattison P, Meisser N, Chapuis G, Pekov I (2010) The incommensurately modulated structures of natural natrite at 120 and 293 K from synchrotron X-ray data American Mineralogist 95 574-581 | 2010 | Mt. Koashva, Khibiny massif, Kola peninsula, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0014917 | Natrite | Zubkova N V, Pushcharovsky D Y, Ivaldi G, Ferraris G, Pekov I V, Chukanov N V (2002) Crystal structure of natrite, gamma-Na2CO3 Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 2002 85-96 | 2002 | Mt Koashva, Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005042 | Natrite | Arakcheeva A, Bindi L, Pattison P, Meisser N, Chapuis G, Pekov I (2010) The incommensurately modulated structures of natural natrite at 120 and 293 K from synchrotron X-ray data American Mineralogist 95 574-581 | 2010 | Mt. Koashva, Khibiny massif, Kola peninsula, Russia | 0 | 120 | |
| 0009929 | Natrite | Dusek M, Chapuis G, Meyer M, Petricek V (2003) Sodium carbonate revisited Acta Crystallographica B59 337-352 | | 2003 | synthetic | 0 | 110 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.962 Å | (100) |
| 2.366 Å | (70) |
| 2.545 Å | (60) |
| 2.602 Å | (40) |
| 2.254 Å | (35) |
| 2.175 Å | (35) |
| 2.621 Å | (30) |
Comments:
Mt. Karnasurt, Kola Peninsula, Russia. Data from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Natrite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Grains and granular masses.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Geology Museum, Kola Branch, Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia, 5710/1.
Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1200/1.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 82761.
Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1200/1.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 82761.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Alkaline massifs.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Natrite
Other Language Names for Natrite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Natrite associated with Villiaumite | NaF |
| 1 photo of Natrite associated with Lorenzenite | Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3 |
| 1 photo of Natrite associated with Alexkhomyakovite | K6(Ca2Na)(CO3)5Cl · 6H2O |
| 1 photo of Natrite associated with Thermonatrite | Na2CO3 · H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.AA.05 | Zabuyelite | Li2CO3 |
| 5.AA.10 | Gregoryite | (Na2,K2,Ca)CO3 |
| 5.AA.15 | Nahcolite | NaHCO3 |
| 5.AA.20 | Kalicinite | KHCO3 |
| 5.AA.25 | Teschemacherite | (NH4)HCO3 |
| 5.AA.30 | Wegscheiderite | Na5H3(CO3)4 |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
The infrared spectrum of freshest material showed no bands of molecular water.
Thermal Behaviour:
Thermal analysis of carefully selected material showed a loss in weight over 20-900°C of about 1%.
Notes:
Soluble in H2O, yielding a strongly alkaline solution; surficially alters rapidly in air to thermonatrite.
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 Natrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2849.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Natrite
Reference List:
Zubkova, N. V., Pushcharovsky, D. Yu., Ivaldi, G., Ferraris, G., Pekov, I. V., Chukanov, N. V. (2002) Crystal structure of natrite, γ-Na2CO3. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte, 2002 (2) 85-96 doi:10.1127/0028-3649/2002/2002-0085
Localities for Natrite
Showing 23 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| Liu et al. (2015) |
Austria | |
| Niedermayr et al. (1995) |
| Exel (1993) |
| Strasser (1989) |
| Spötl (1989) |
| Exel (1993) |
Canada | |
| Horváth et al. (1990) |
China | |
| Fang et al. (2024) |
Italy | |
| Russo +1 other reference |
| |
Russia | |
| Golovin et al. (2023) |
| |
| Mandarino (1997) +2 other references |
| Can Min (2002) +2 other references |
| Pekov et al. (2004) | |
| [World of Stones 95:5-6 |
| Khomyakov (1982) +2 other references |
| Khomyakov (1982) +3 other references |
| Pekov (1998) | |
South Africa | |
| Giuliani et al. (2012) +1 other reference |
| Abersteiner et al. (2024) |
USA | |
| - (2005) |
| Feth et al. (1961) |
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Lovozero Massif, Murmansk Oblast, Russia