Nambulite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Nambulite
Matsuo Nambu
Formula:
LiMn2+4Si5O14(OH)
Often contains minor Na replacing Li.
Colour:
Reddish-brown to orange, orange-yellow
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous
Hardness:
6½
Specific Gravity:
3.53
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in 1972 by M. Yoshii, Y. Aoki, and K. Maeda in honor of Matsuo Nambu (南部 松夫) (19 November 1917, Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture - 21 August 2009), economic geologist, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, who is known for his research in manganese minerals.
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2835
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2835:2
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Nambulite
Classification of Nambulite
9.DK.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
K : Inosilicates with 5-periodic single chains
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
K : Inosilicates with 5-periodic single chains
65.4.1.4
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
4 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=5
65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
4 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=5
14.18.1
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
18 : Silicates of Mn and Na, K, Mg, Ca or Fe
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
18 : Silicates of Mn and Na, K, Mg, Ca or Fe
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Nbl | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Nambulite
Sub-Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Reddish-brown to orange, orange-yellow
Streak:
Pale yellow
Hardness:
6½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001} perfect; {010}, {100} distinct
{001} perfect; {010}, {100} distinct
Density:
3.53 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.55 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Nambulite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.707 nβ = 1.71 nγ = 1.73
2V:
Measured: 30° , Calculated: 44°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.023
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
r > v weak
Optical Extinction:
X' ∧ c = 19° on (010).
Chemistry of Nambulite
Mindat Formula:
LiMn2+4Si5O14(OH)
Often contains minor Na replacing Li.
Often contains minor Na replacing Li.
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Ti,Al,Fe,Mg,Ca,K,H2O,C,P
Crystallography of Nambulite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.5391(2) Å, b = 11.7475(3) Å, c = 6.7137(2) Å
α = 93.024(2)°, β = 95.147(2)°, γ = 106.266(2)°
α = 93.024(2)°, β = 95.147(2)°, γ = 106.266(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.642 : 1 : 0.572
Unit Cell V:
566.61 ų
Comment:
Data from Nagashima et al. (2014) for a sample from the Fianel mine; for a sample from the Gozaisho mine, they give: 7.5372(1), 11.7267(1), 6.7078(1) Å, 93.057(1), 95.147(1), 106.240(1)°, V = 565.02(2) Å3. Original data: 7.62, 11.76, 6.73 Å, 92.77, 95.08, 106.87°.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020223 | Nambulite | Nagashima M, Armbruster T, Kolitsch U, Pettke T (2014) The relation between Li <-> Na substitution and hydrogen bonding in five-periodic single-chain silicates nambulite and marsturite: A single-crystal X-ray study American Mineralogist 99 1462-1470 | 2014 | Gozaisho mine, Iwaki, Japan | 0 | 293 | |
| 0020222 | Nambulite | Nagashima M, Armbruster T, Kolitsch U, Pettke T (2014) The relation between Li <-> Na substitution and hydrogen bonding in five-periodic single-chain silicates nambulite and marsturite: A single-crystal X-ray study American Mineralogist 99 1462-1470 | 2014 | Fianel mine, Grisons, Switzerland | 0 | 293 | |
| 0009545 | Nambulite | Narita H, Koto K, Morimoto N, Yoshii M (1975) The crystal structure of nambulite (Li,Na)Mn4Si5O14(OH) Acta Crystallographica B31 2422-2426 |  | 1975 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.96 Å | (100) |
| 2.97 Å | (80) |
| 2.92 Å | (70) |
| 3.17 Å | (65) |
| 3.07 Å | (60) |
| 3.09 Å | (55) |
| 3.14 Å | (45) |
Comments:
Funakozawa mine, Japan. Data from the type description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Nambulite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan, M18829.
Synonyms of Nambulite
Other Language Names for Nambulite
Relationship of Nambulite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Nambulite associated with Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| 3 photos of Nambulite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Nambulite associated with Braunite | Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8 |
| 2 photos of Nambulite associated with Palenzonaite | (NaCa2)Mn2+2(VO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Nambulite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Nambulite associated with Tephroite | Mn2+2(SiO4) |
| 1 photo of Nambulite associated with Hausmannite | Mn2+Mn3+2O4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.DK. | Ferrorhodonite | CaMn3Fe[Si5O15] |
| 9.DK. | Vittinkiite | MnMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| 9.DK. | Ferri-hellandite-(Ce) | (Ca3Ce)Ce2Fe3+◻2B4Si4O22(OH)2 |
| 9.DK. | Shijiangshanite | Pb3CaAl(Si5O14)(OH)3 · 3H2O |
| 9.DK.05 | Marsturite | NaCaMn3Si5O14(OH) |
| 9.DK.05 | Natronambulite | (Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)4Si5O14OH |
| 9.DK.05 | Rhodonite | CaMn3Mn[Si5O15] |
| 9.DK.05 | Scandiobabingtonite | (Ca,Na)2(Fe2+,Mn)(Sc,Fe3+)Si5O14(OH) |
| 9.DK.05 | Lithiomarsturite | LiCaMn3Si5O14(OH) |
| 9.DK.05 | Manganbabingtonite | Ca2Mn2+Fe3+Si5O14(OH) |
| 9.DK.05 | Fowlerite | (Mn2+,Zn,Ca)SiO3 |
| 9.DK.05 | Babingtonite | Ca2Fe2+Fe3+Si5O14(OH) |
| 9.DK.10 | Santaclaraite | CaMn4[Si5O14OH](OH) · H2O |
| 9.DK.15 | Saneroite | NaMn2+5[Si5O14(OH)](VO3)(OH) |
| 9.DK.20 | Ferri-mottanaite-(Ce) | Ca4Ce2Fe3+(Be1.5◻0.5)[Si4B4O22]O2 |
| 9.DK.20 | Tadzhikite-(Ce) | Ca4Ce3+2Ti◻2(B4Si4O22)(OH)2 |
| 9.DK.20 | 'Hellandite-(Yb)' | (Ca,Y)4(Yb,Y)2(Al,Fe3+,Ti4+)(Be,Li)2[B4Si4O22](O,F,OH)2 |
| 9.DK.20 | Mottanaite-(Ce) | Ca4(Ce,REE)Σ2Al(Be1.5◻0.5)Σ2[B4Si4O22]O2 |
| 9.DK.20 | Ciprianiite | Ca4[(Th,U),Ca]Σ2Al(Be0.5◻1.5)Σ2[B4Si4O22](OH)2 |
| 9.DK.20 | Hellandite-(Y) | (Ca,REE)4Y2Al◻2(B4Si4O22) (OH)2 |
| 9.DK.20 | Hellandite-(Ce) | (Ca,REE)4Ce2Al◻2(B4Si4O22) (OH)2 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Nambulite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2835.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Nambulite
Reference List:
YOSHII, M., AOKI, Y., MAEDA, K. (1972) Nambulite, a new lithium- and sodium-bearing manganese silicate from the Funakozawa mine, northeastern Japan. Mineralogical Journal, 7 (1) 29-44 doi:10.2465/minerj1953.7.29
Localities for Nambulite
Showing 18 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Coombs et al. (2009) |
Austria | |
| Kolitsch et al. (2018) |
Brazil | |
| Schneider et al. (1983) +2 other references |
India | |
| Mukhopadhyay et al. (2005) |
Italy | |
| Balestra et al. (2009) |
Japan | |
| Matsubara (1977) +3 other references |
| YOSHII et al. (1972) |
| Nagase et al. (2012) |
| - (n.d.) |
Namibia | |
| Von Knorring et al. (1978) +1 other reference |
Romania | |
| Hîrtopanu et al. (2003) +1 other reference | |
| minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu (2008) |
| Hîrtopanu (1997) +1 other reference |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
| Martin Števko & Pavol Myšľan +1 other reference |
Sweden | |
| Otter (2004) |
Switzerland | |
| Nagashima et al. (2014) |
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Gozaisho Mine, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan