Simmonsite Mineral Data

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General Simmonsite Information

Chemical Formula:

Na2LiAlF6

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 193.89 gm

Sodium 23.71 % Na 31.97 % Na₂O

Lithium 3.58 % Li 7.71 % Li₂O

Aluminum 13.92 % Al 26.29 % Al₂O₃

Fluorine 58.79 % F 58.79 % F

- % F -24.76 % -O=F₂

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na₂LiAlF₆

Environment:

Found in a late-stage breccia pipe that cuts the Zapot amazonitic microcline - topaz - zinnwaldite granitic pegmatite.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1998 (Dana # Added)

Locality:

Gillis Range, Mineral County, Nevada, U.S.A. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after William B. "Skip" Simmons (b. 1943), University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A., specialist in the mineralogy and petrology of granitic pegmatites, especi ally those of Colorado and of NYF type

Name Pronunciation:

Simmonsite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

IMA1997-045

Simmonsite Image

Images:

Simmonsite

Comments: Backscattered electron images of primary assemblage of cryolite-cryolithionite (cl) simmonsite (sm) and trace elpasolite (ep). (AmMin, v 84, p 770).
Location: Zapot amazonite-topaz-zinnwaldite pegmatite located in the Gillis Range, Mineral Co., Nevada, USA. Scale: See Image.
© American Mineralogist

Simmonsite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.984:1:1.3978

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.2842, b = 5.3698, c = 7.5063, Z = 2; beta = 89.98° V = 212.99 Den(Calc)= 3.02

Crystal System:

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

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 4.33(1), 1.877(0.9), 2.25(0.7),

Crystal Structure:

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Ross K C , Mitchell R H , Chakhmouradian A R , Journal of Solid State Chemistry , 172 (2003) p.95-101, The crystal structure of synthetic simmonsite, Na2LiAlF6, Locality: synthetic

Physical Properties of Simmonsite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Pale buff cream.

Density:

3.05

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.

Habit:

Inclusions - Generally found as inclusions in other minerals.

Habit:

Microscopic Crystals - Crystals visible only with microscopes.

Hardness:

2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite

Luster:

Greasy (Oily)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Simmonsite

Optical Data:

Biaxial (?), a=1.359, b=1.359, g=1.359, bire=0.0000

Calculated Properties of Simmonsite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.87 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Simmonsite =3.02 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0026848641
Boson Index = 0.9973151359

Photoelectric:

PE_Simmonsite= 1.10 barns/electron
U=PE_Simmonsite x rElectron Density= 3.14 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Simmonsite is Not Radioactive

Simmonsite Classification

Dana Class:

11.06.01.02 (11)Halide Complexes; Alumino-fluorides

(11.06)with miscellaneous formulae

(11.06.01)Cryolite Group

11.06.01.01 Cryolite Na3AlF6 P 2₁/n 2/m

11.06.01.02 Simmonsite! Na2LiAlF6 P 2₁/n 2/m

Strunz Class:

03.CB.15 03 - HALIDES

03.C - Complex Halides

03.CB -Neso-aluminofluorides

03.CB.15 Cryolite Na3AlF6 P 2₁/n 2/m

03.CB.15 Elpasolite K2NaAlF6 F m3m 4/m 3 2/m

03.CB.15 Simmonsite! Na2LiAlF6 P 2₁/n 2/m

Other Simmonsite Information

References:

NAME( CanMin, 8/99) PHYS. PROP.(MinRec, V 31, No. 2, AmMin, v 89, p 252) OPTIC PROP.(Eur. J. Min.,Vol.10,1998)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Simmonsite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - GeoScienceWorld
4 - Google Images
5 - Google Scholar
6 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
7 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
8 - MinDAT
9 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
10 - Online Mineral Museum
11 - QUT Mineral Atlas
12 - Ruff.Info

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

Simmonsite

Na2LiAlF6
Dana No: 11.06.01.02 Strunz No: 03.CB.15
Locality:

Notes: