Sodalite Mineral Data
General Sodalite Information
Chemical Formula:
Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 969.21 gm
Sodium 18.98 % Na 25.58 % Na2 O
Aluminum 16.70 % Al 31.56 % Al2 O3
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:
Na8 Al6 Si6 O24 Cl2
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:
Il�maussaq Massif, Greenland. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
Named from its chemical composition.
Name Pronunciation:
Sodalite
Synonym:
Hackmanite - Red variety
Sodalite Image
Images:
Images:
Winchite Sodalite
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 - Hextetrahedral H-M Symbol (4 3m) Space Group: P 4 3n
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 3.63(1), 2.1(0.8), 6.3(0.8),
Physical Properties of Sodalite
Cleavage:
{110} Poor
Color:
Azure blue, White, Pink, Gray, Green.
Density:
2.29
Diaphaneity:
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:
Fluorescent, Short UV=yellow white orange, Long UV=yellow white,red orange.
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 Ncalc = 1.49 - 1.5
Optical Data:
Isotropic, n=1.483-1.484.
Calculated Properties of Sodalite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.25 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Sodalite =2.29 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0083097148 Boson Index = 0.9916902852
Photoelectric:
PESodalite = 1.93 barns/electronU=PESodalite x r Electron Density= 4.34 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Sodalite is Not Radioactive
Sodalite Classification
Dana Class:
76.02.03.01 (76) Tectosilicate Al-Si Framework
(76.02) Feldspathoids and related species
(76.02.03) Sodalite group
76.02.03.01 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 4 3n 4 3m
76.02.03.02 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 4 3m 4 3m
76.02.03.03 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 4 3n 4 3m
76.02.03.04 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 4 3n 4 3m
76.02.03.05 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 4 3m 4 3m
76.02.03.06 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra
76.02.03.07 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4
76.02.03.08 Tsaregorodtsevite N(CH3)4AlSi5O12 I 222 2 2 2
Strunz Class:
09.FB.10 09 - SILICATES (Germanates)
09.F - Tektosilicates without Zeolitic H2O
09.FB -Tektosilicates with additional anions
09.FB.10 Bicchulite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I 4 3m 4 3m
09.FB.10 Danalite Fe4Be3(SiO4)3S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Genthelvite Zn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Helvite Mn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra
09.FB.10 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 4 3m 4 3m
09.FB.10 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 4 3n 4 3m
09.FB.10 Tugtupite Na4AlBeSi4O12Cl I 4 4
09.FB.10 Tsaregorodtsevite N(CH3)4AlSi5O12 I 222 2 2 2
Other Sodalite Information
References:
NAME( AntBidBlaNic2) PHYS. PROP.(www.saint-hilaire.ca) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)
See Also:
Links to other databases for Sodalite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - GeoScienceWorld
9 - Glendale Community College
10 - Google Images
11 - Google Scholar
12 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
13 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
14 - MinDAT
15 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
16 - Online Mineral Museum
17 - Philatelic Mineralogy
18 - QUT Mineral Atlas
19 - Ruff.Info
20 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
21 - WWW-MINCRYST
22 - YupRocks
23 - Zeolite Database by Bruno Herreros
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Sodalite
Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2
Dana No: 76.02.03.01 Strunz No: 09.FB.10
Locality:
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