Sauconite Mineral Data

Sauconite Mineral Data +

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General Sauconite Information

Chemical Formula:

Na0,3Zn3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 580.37 gm

Sodium 1.19 % Na 1.60 % Na₂O

Aluminum 4.65 % Al 8.78 % Al₂O₃

Zinc 33.80 % Zn 42.07 % ZnO

Silicon 14.52 % Si 31.06 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 1.74 % H 15.52 % H₂O

Oxygen 44.11 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 99.04 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na_0.3Zn₃Si₃AlO₁₀(OH)₂·4(H₂O)

Environment:

Vugs and seams in oxidized zinc and copper deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1875

Locality:

Ueberroth mine, Saucon Valley, near Friedensville, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Sauconite Image

Images:

Sauconite

Comments: Pale brown earthy sauconite on hemimorphite microcrystals.
Location: Doughty Mine, near Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Sauconite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5729:1:1.6952

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.34, b = 9.32, c = 15.8, Z = 2; beta = 95° V = 783.35 Den(Calc)= 2.46

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 1.54(1), 2.67(1), 15.4(1),

Physical Properties of Sauconite

Cleavage:

[001] Perfect

Color:

Bluish white, Reddish brown.

Density:

2.45

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Habit:

Earthy - Dull, clay-like texture with no visible crystalline affinities, (e.g. howlite).

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

1-2 - Between Talc and Gypsum

Luster:

Earthy (Dull)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Sauconite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.178 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.173 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2405,KPDmeas= 0.2415,KC= 0.2051

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.55-1.58, b=1.59-1.62, g=1.59-1.62, bire=0.0400, 2V(Calc)=0, 2V(Meas)=0-20.

Calculated Properties of Sauconite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.43 gm/cc
note: r_Sauconite=2.46 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.02085
Boson Index = 0.97915

Photoelectric:

PE_Sauconite= 17.15 barns/electron
U=PE_Sauconite x r_electron= 41.63 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Sauconite is Not Radioactive

Sauconite Classification

Dana Class:

71.3.1b.3 (71)Phyllosilicate Sheets of Six-Membered Rings

(71.3)with 2:1 clays

(71.3.1b)Smectite group (Trioctahedral Smectites)

71.3.1b.1 Sobotkite? (K,Ca0.5)0.33(Mg,Al)3(Si3Al)O10(OH)2·1-5(H2O) Unk. Mono

71.3.1b.2 Saponite (Ca/2,Na)0,3(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.2a Ferrosaponite! Ca0.3(Fe,Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C? Mono

71.3.1b.3 Sauconite Na0,3Zn3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.4 Hectorite Na0,3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.5 Pimelite Ni3Si4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) Unk. Hex

71.3.1b.6 Stevensite (Ca0.5,Na)0.33(Mg,Fe)3Si4O10(OH)2·n(H2O) Unk (ORTH ?) Mono

71.3.1b.7 Yakhontovite (Ca,K)0.5(Cu,Fe,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2·3(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

71.3.1b.8 Zincsilite Zn3Si4O10(OH)2·4(H2O)(?) C 2/m ? 2/m

Strunz Class:

VIII/H.20-50 VIII - Silicates

VIII/H - Phyllosilicates (layered) Mica like with [Si4O10]4- and related groups

VIII/H.20 - Hectorite - Zincsilite series

VIII/H.20-10 Hectorite Na0,3(Mg,Li)3Si4O10(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.20-20 Saponite (Ca/2,Na)0,3(Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.20-27 Ferrosaponite! Ca0.3(Fe,Mg,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C? Mono

VIII/H.20-30 Spadaite MgSiO2(OH)2·(H2O)(?) None

VIII/H.20-40 Stevensite (Ca0.5,Na)0.33(Mg,Fe)3Si4O10(OH)2·n(H2O) Unk (ORTH ?) Mono

VIII/H.20-50 Sauconite Na0,3Zn3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VIII/H.20-60 Zincsilite Zn3Si4O10(OH)2·4(H2O)(?) C 2/m ? 2/m

Other Sauconite Information

References:

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

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Sauconite

Na0,3Zn3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2·4(H2O)
Dana No: 71.3.1b.3 Strunz No: VIII/H.20-50
Locality:

Notes: