Herschelite Mineral Data

Herschelite Mineral Data +

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General Herschelite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Na,Ca,K)AlSi2O6·3(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 261.30 gm

Potassium 2.99 % K 3.60 % K₂O

Sodium 7.04 % Na 9.49 % Na₂O

Calcium 0.77 % Ca 1.07 % CaO

Aluminum 11.36 % Al 21.46 % Al₂O₃

Silicon 20.42 % Si 43.69 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 2.31 % H 20.68 % H₂O

Oxygen 55.11 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na_0.8K_0.2Ca_0.05Al_1.1Si_1.9O₆·3(H₂O)

Environment:

In cavities in basalts. Species name changed to chabazite-Na by the IMA Commission on zeolites.

IMA Status:

Discredited IMA 1997

Locality:

From Aci Castello and nearby on the flanks of Mt. Etna, Sicily. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named in 1825 for John Frederick William Herschel (1792-1871), British astronomer.

Synonym:

Discredited IMA 1997

Herschelite Image

Images:

Herschelite Chabazite-Na

Comments: Rounded transparent crystals of chabazite-Na (herschelite).
Location: Horseshoe Dam, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Herschelite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.09442

Cell Dimensions:

a = 13.799, c = 15.102, Z = 12; V = 2,490.35 Den(Calc)= 2.09

Crystal System:

Trigonal - Hexagonal ScalenohedralH-M Symbol (3 2/m) Space Group: R 3m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.93(1), 4.32(0.65), 6.36(0.5),5.03(0.4), 2.987(0.3), 3.88(0.25), 6.89(0.2),

Physical Properties of Herschelite

Cleavage:

[1011] Distinct

Color:

Colorless, White.

Density:

2.08 - 2.16, Average = 2.12

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to Translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Uneven - Very brittle fracture producing uneven fragments.

Habit:

Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).

Hardness:

4-5 - Fluorite-Apatite

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Herschelite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.036 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.022 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2279,KPDmeas= 0.2246,KC= 0.233

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), e=1.471-1.479, w=1.474-1.481, bire=0.0020-0.0030.

Calculated Properties of Herschelite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.12 gm/cc
note: r_Herschelite=2.09 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00981
Boson Index = 0.99019

Photoelectric:

PE_Herschelite= 1.66 barns/electron
U=PE_Herschelite x r_electron= 3.52 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 43.80 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Estimated Radioactivity from Herschelite - barely detectable

Herschelite Classification

Dana Class:

77.1.2.2 (77)Tectosilicate Zeolite group

(77.1)true zeolites

(77.1.2)Chabazite and related species

77.1.2.1 Chabazite-Ca (Ca0.5,Na,K)4[Al4Si8O24]·12H2O P1 1

77.1.2.1a Chabazite-Na! (Na2,K2,Ca,Mg)[Al2Si4O12]·6(H2O) R 3m 3 2/m

77.1.2.1b Chabazite-K! (K2,Ca,Na2,Mg)[Al2Si4O12]·6(H2O) R 3m 3 2/m

77.1.2.1c Chabazite-Sr! (Sr,Ca,K2,Na2)[Al2Si4O12]·6(H2O) R 3m 3 2/m

77.1.2.2 Herschelite ? (Na,Ca,K)AlSi2O6·3(H2O) R 3m 3 2/m

77.1.2.3 Willhendersonite KCaAl3Si3O12·5(H2O) P1 1

77.1.2.4 Offretite (K2,Ca,Mg)2.5Al5Si13O36·15(H2O) P 6m2 6 m2

77.1.2.5 Erionite-Na (Na2,K2,Ca)2[Al4Si14O36]·15(H2O) P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.2.5a Erionite-K! (K2,Ca,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36]·15(H2O) P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.2.5b Erionite-Ca! (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36]·15(H2O) P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.2.6 Gmelinite-Na (Na2,Ca)Al2Si4O12·6(H2O) P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.2.6a Gmelinite-Ca! (Ca,Na2)Al2Si4O12·6(H2O) P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.2.6b Gmelinite-K! (K,Na,Ca)6(Al7Si17O48)·22(H2O) P 6₃/mmc 6/m 2/m 2/m

77.1.2.7 Faujasite-Na (Na2,Ca,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48]·32(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

77.1.2.7a Faujasite-Ca! (Ca,Na2,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48]·32(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

77.1.2.7b Faujasite-Mg! (Mg,Na2,Ca)3.5[Al7Si17O48]·32(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

77.1.2.8 Levyne-Ca (Ca,Na2,K2)Al2Si4O12·6(H2O) R 3m 3 2/m

77.1.2.8a Levyne-Na! (Na2,Ca,K2)Al2Si4O12·6(H2O) R 3m 3 2/m

77.1.2.9 Tschortnerite! Ca4(Ca,Sr,K,Ba)3Cu3(OH)8[Si12Al12O48]·x(H2O),x>=20 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

VIII/JX.00-00 VIII - Silicates

VIII/JX - Unclassified Strunz Tectosilicates

VIII/JX.00 - Zeolite

Other Herschelite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic2) PHYS. PROP.(AntBidBlaNic2) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic2)

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Herschelite

(Na,Ca,K)AlSi2O6·3(H2O)
Dana No: 77.1.2.2 Strunz No: VIII/JX.00-00
Locality:

Notes: