Sodalite Mineral Data

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:

Ilï¿½maussaq 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:

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:

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 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),

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:

PE_Sodalite= 1.93 barns/electron
U=PE_Sodalite x rElectron 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 43n 4 3m

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

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

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

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

09.FB.10 Danalite Fe4Be3(SiO4)3S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Hauyne (Na,Ca)4-8Al6Si6(O,S)24(SO4,Cl)1-2 P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Genthelvite Zn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Helvite Mn4Be3(SiO4)3S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Lazurite Na3Ca(Al3Si3O12)S P 43n 4 3m

09.FB.10 Kamaishilite Ca2Al2SiO6(OH)2 I-lattice Tetra

09.FB.10 Nosean Na8Al6Si6O24(SO4) P 43m 4 3m

09.FB.10 Sodalite Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2 P 43n 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)

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Sodalite

Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2
Dana No: 76.02.03.01 Strunz No: 09.FB.10
Locality:

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