Simmonsite Mineral Data
General Simmonsite Information
Chemical Formula:
Na2LiAlF6
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 193.89 gm
Sodium 23.71 % Na 31.97 % Na2 O
Lithium 3.58 % Li 7.71 % Li2 O
Aluminum 13.92 % Al 26.29 % Al2 O3
Fluorine 58.79 % F 58.79 % F
- %
F -24.76 % -O=F2
______ ______
100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:
Na2 LiAlF6
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 - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 21 /n
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 4.33(1), 1.877(0.9), 2.25(0.7),
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:
PESimmonsite = 1.10 barns/electronU=PESimmonsite x r Electron 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:
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