Natronambulite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Natronambulite
Formula:
(Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)4Si5O14OH
Colour:
Pinkish orange
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5½ - 6
Specific Gravity:
3.51
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named for its relation to nambulite, with dominant sodium, NATRium in Latin.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2859
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2859:8
IMA Classification of Natronambulite
Approved
IMA Formula:
NaMn2+4Si5O14(OH)
Approval year:
1981
First published:
1985
Classification of Natronambulite
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
65.4.1.5
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
14.18.2
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nnbl | 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 Natronambulite
Vitreous
Colour:
Pinkish orange
Comment:
Very faintly yellowish color in thin section, distinguishing it from rhodonite, pyroxmangite and johannsenite, which are colorless.
Streak:
White with very faint orange tint
Hardness:
5½ - 6 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
[100] and [100] perfect
[100] and [100] perfect
Density:
3.51 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.50 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Natronambulite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.706 nβ = 1.71 nγ = 1.73
2V:
Measured: 45° , Calculated: 50°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.024
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
Comments:
Absorption: Z > Y = X.
Chemistry of Natronambulite
Mindat Formula:
(Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)4Si5O14OH
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Mg,Ca,H2O
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 48.92 % |
| MnO | 45.39 % |
| MgO | 0.01 % |
| CaO | 1.04 % |
| SrO | 0.02 % |
| Na2O | 4.10 % |
| Li2O (by stoichiometry) | 0.37 % |
| H2O (by stoichiometry) | 1.47 % |
| Total: | 101.32 % |
Empirical formulas:
| Sample ID | Empirical Formula |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Na0.81Li0.15Ca0.04)(Mn2+0.93Ca0.07)Mn2+1.00Mn2+1.00Mn2+1.00[Si5.00O14](OH) |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woods Mine, Inglis Co., New South Wales, Australia | Presumed natronambulite associated with serandite, in a matrix of abundant quartz, braunite and mangano-mangani-ungarettiite. Li content is estimated from stoichiometry only (hence the unconfirmed nature of the ID, although the Li-dominant end-member nambulite is reported from the locality); H2O is also calculated from stoichiometry. |
Crystallography of Natronambulite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.62 Å, b = 11.76 Å, c = 6.73 Å
α = 92.81°, β = 94.55°, γ = 106.87°
α = 92.81°, β = 94.55°, γ = 106.87°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.648 : 1 : 0.572
Unit Cell V:
573.67 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
Nagashima et al. (2014) give 7.6115(1), 11.7340(2), 6.7324(1) Å, 92.876(1), 94.846(1), 106.650(1)°, V = 572.28(2) Å3, for a sample from the Gozaisho mine.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020224 | Natronambulite | 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 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.559 Å | (100) |
| 7.13 Å | (47) |
| 3.078 Å | (45) |
| 6.70 Å | (44) |
| 3.348 Å | (40) |
| 2.506 Å | (38) |
| 2.972 Å | (34) |
Comments:
Tanohata 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 Natronambulite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Bands of grains to 7 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Department of Geology, National Science Museum, Tokyo, Japan.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Contact metamorphosed bedded manganese ore deposits.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Natronambulite
Other Language Names for Natronambulite
Relationship of Natronambulite to other Species
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
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 | Nambulite | LiMn2+4Si5O14(OH) |
| 9.DK.05 | Marsturite | NaCaMn3Si5O14(OH) |
| 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 Natronambulite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2859.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Natronambulite
Reference List:
MATSUBARA, Satoshi, KATO, Akira, TIBA, Tokiko (1985) Natronambulite, (Na,Li)(Mn,Ca)4Si5O14OH, a new mineral from the Tanohata mine, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Mineralogical Journal, 12 (7) 332-340 doi:10.2465/minerj.12.332
Localities for Natronambulite
Showing 11 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 | |
| Frank K. Mazdab collection |
Japan | |
| Nagashima et al. (2014) |
| MATSUBARA et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
| Nagase et al. (2012) | |
| Minakawa et al. (2008) |
| Matsubara et al. (2007) |
Namibia | |
| Von Knorring et al. (1978) |
Romania | |
| Hîrtopanu et al. (2003) +1 other reference | |
| minerals-of-the-carpathians.eu (2008) |
| Hîrtopanu (1997) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Joan Abella i Creus (2008) |
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Tanohata mine, Tanohata, Shimohei District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan