Mineralogy Database

Cryolite Mineral Data

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General Cryolite Information

Help on Chemical  Formula: Chemical Formula: Na3AlF6
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 209.94 gm
   Sodium    32.85 %  Na   44.28 % Na2O
   Aluminum  12.85 %  Al   24.28 % Al2O3
   Fluorine  54.30 %  F    54.30 % F
               -   %   F   -22.86 % -O=F2    
            ______        ______ 
            100.00 %      100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Na3AlF6
Help on Environment: Environment: Large bed in a granitic vein in gray gneiss.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1799
Help on Locality: Locality: Ivigtut and Arksukfiord, West Greenland. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named from the Greek, kryos "frost" and lithos "stone."
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Cryolite Say CRYOLITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: ICSD 4029
  PDF 23-772
 

Cryolite Image

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  Ralstonite   Cryolite

Comments: Massive cryolite with solution cavities lined with octahedral ralstonite crystals.
Location: Ivigtut, Greenland. Scale: Picture size 0.5 cm.
© John Veevaert

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  Thomsenolite   Cryolite

Comments: Massive, white cryolite with solution cavities lined with prismatic Thomsenolite crystals.
Location: Ivigtut, Greenland. Scale: .
© John Veevaert

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  Cryolite

Comments: Massive cryolite with one section of lustrous crystal faces.
Location: Ivigtut, Greenland. Scale: Picture size 4 cm.
© John Veevaert

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  Cryolithionite   Cryolite

Comments: White translucent crystalline cryolithionite in brown cryolite.
Location: Ivigtut, Greenland. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

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  Cryolite

Comments: Red-brown crystalline massive cryolite.
Location: Katugin River, Siberia, Russia. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

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  Weberite   Cryolite

Comments: Gray weberite masses in white cryolite.
Location: Ivigtut, Greenland. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Cryolite Crystallography

Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:b:c =0.9642:1:1.3892
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 5.4, b = 5.6, c = 7.78, Z = 2; beta = 90.183° V = 235.27 Den(Calc)= 2.96
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Monoclinic - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 21/n
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 1.941(1), 2.747(0.95), 3.883(0.6),
Help on Forms: Forms:

Mouse
Dbl Clk - Start-Stop Rotation
RMB - Cycle Display Modes
Drag1 - Manipulate Crystal
Drag2 - Resize

Keyboard
S - Stereo
I - Indicies
<space> - Start-Stop Rotation
F - Fit to Screen
M - Menu

Help on Above

Forms: ( 1 0 1) ( 1 1 0) ( 1 1 0) ( 0 1 1) ( 0 0 1)

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Physical Properties of Cryolite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: None
Help on Color: Color: Brownish black, Colorless, Gray, White, Reddish brown.
Help on Density: Density: 2.95 - 3, Average = 2.97
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Help on Habit: Habit: Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.
Help on Habit: Habit: Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 2.5-3 - Finger Nail-Calcite
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Fluorescent, Short UV=bluish white.
Help on Luster: Luster: Vitreous - Greasy
Help on Streak: Streak: white
 

Optical Properties of Cryolite

Help on Optical Data: Optical Data: Biaxial (+), a=1.3385-1.339, b=1.3389-1.339, g=1.3396-1.34, bire=0.0010-0.0011, 2V(Calc)=0-76, 2V(Meas)=43. Dispersion none.
Help on Pleochroism (x): Pleochroism (x): colorless.
Help on Pleochroism (y): Pleochroism (y): colorless.
 

Calculated Properties of Cryolite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.82 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Cryolite =2.96 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0
Boson Index = 1
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PECryolite = 1.16 barns/electron
U=PECryolite x rElectron Density= 3.28 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Cryolite is Not Radioactive
 

Cryolite Classification

Help on  Dana Class: Dana Class: 11.06.01.01 (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
Help on  Strunz Class: 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 Cryolite Information

Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Cryolite :
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 - Google Images
10 - Google Scholar
11 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
12 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
13 - MinDAT
14 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
15 - Online Mineral Museum
16 - QUT Mineral Atlas
17 - Ruff.Info
18 - WWW-MINCRYST

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

Cryolite

Na3AlF6
Dana No: 11.06.01.01 Strunz No: 03.CB.15
Locality:

 

Notes:

 

 


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