Sodalite Mineral Data

Sodalite Mineral Data +

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General Sodalite Information

Chemical Formula:

Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 969.21 gm

Sodium 18.98 % Na 25.58 % Na₂O

Aluminum 16.70 % Al 31.56 % Al₂O₃

Silicon 17.39 % Si 37.20 % SiO₂

Chlorine 7.32 % Cl 7.32 % Cl

- % Cl -1.65 % -O=Cl₂

Oxygen 39.62 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na₈Al₆Si₆O₂₄Cl₂

Environment:

Formed in nepheline syenites, phonolites, and related rock types. In metasomatized calcareous rocks, and in cavities in ejected volcanic blocks.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1811

Locality:

Ilímaussaq Massif, Greenland. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named from its chemical composition.

Synonym:

Hackmanite-red

Sodalite Image

Images:

Sodalite Perovskite

Comments: Clear crystals of sodalite with hoppered perovskite on matrix.
Location: Udersdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Sodalite Winchite

Comments: Purple sodalite with some crystal faces, supporting a very sharp, transparent winchite crystal, terminated on one end.
Location: Sar-e-Sang, Kokcha Valley, Badakshan Province, Afghanistan. Scale: 11x10x8 mm.
© Richard Dale / Dale Minerals

Sodalite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.85, Z = 1; V = 693.15 Den(Calc)= 2.32

Crystal System:

Isometric - HextetrahedralH-M Symbol (4 3m) Space Group: P 43n

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.63(1), 2.1(0.8), 6.3(0.8),

Crystal Structure:

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Hassan I , Antao S M , Parise J B , American Mineralogist , 89 (2004) p.359-364, Sodalite: High-temperature structures obtained from synchrotron radiation, and Rietveld refinements, Sample: T = 28 C

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Sodalite
[1] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [2] [20] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Physical Properties of Sodalite

Cleavage:

[110] Poor

Color:

Azure blue, White, Pink, Gray, Green.

Density:

2.29

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

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

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

6 - Orthoclase

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Vitreous - Greasy

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Sodalite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.015 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.028 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2084,KPDmeas= 0.2111,KC= 0.2144

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.483-1.484.

Calculated Properties of Sodalite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.25 gm/cc
note: r_Sodalite=2.29 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.0083
Boson Index = 0.9917

Photoelectric:

PE_Sodalite= 1.93 barns/electron
U=PE_Sodalite x r_electron= 4.34 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Sodalite is Not Radioactive

Sodalite Classification

Dana Class:

76.2.3.1 (76)Tectosilicate Al-Si Framework

(76.2)Feldspathoids and related species

(76.2.3)Sodalite group

76.2.3.1 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 43n 4 3m

76.2.3.2 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 43m 4 3m

76.2.3.3 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 43n 4 3m

76.2.3.4 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 43n 4 3m

76.2.3.5 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 43m 4 3m

76.2.3.6 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra

76.2.3.7 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4

76.2.3.8 Tsaregorodtsevite N(CH3)4AlSi5O12 I 222 2 2 2

Strunz Class:

VIII/J.11-10 VIII - Silicates

VIII/J - Tectosilicates (network) with anions unfamiliar to the tetraheders

VIII/J.11 - Sodalite group, Tsaregorodtsevite - Wadalite series

VIII/J.11-05 Tsaregorodtsevite N(CH3)4AlSi5O12 I 222 2 2 2

VIII/J.11-10 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 43n 4 3m

VIII/J.11-20 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 43m 4 3m

VIII/J.11-30 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 43n 4 3m

VIII/J.11-40 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 43n 4 3m

VIII/J.11-50 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4

VIII/J.11-60 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra

VIII/J.11-70 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 43m 4 3m

VIII/J.11-80 Wadalite Ca6Al5Si2O16Cl3 I 43d 4 3m

Other Sodalite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic2) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Sodalite

Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2
Dana No: 76.2.3.1 Strunz No: VIII/J.11-10
Locality:

Notes: