Norsethite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Norsethite
Formula:
BaMg(CO3)2
Colour:
Colorless, cloudy white
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Pearly
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
3.84
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1959 by Mary Emma Mrose, E. C. T. Chao, Joseph James Fahey, and Charles Milton in honor of Keith Norseth (1927–1991), geologist for the Westvaco Mine, west of Green River, Wyoming, USA.
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2934
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2934:2
IMA Classification of Norsethite
Approved
First published:
1961
Classification of Norsethite
5.AB.30
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
14.2.2.1
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AB(XO3)2
11.5.3
11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
11 : Carbonates
5 : Carbonates of Sr and Ba
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Nst | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Nst | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Norsethite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, cloudy white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Very Good
{1011}
{1011}
Fracture:
Hackly
Density:
3.84 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.84 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Norsethite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.694 nε = 1.519
Birefringence:
0.025
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.175
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:
Moderate
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Norsethite
Mindat Formula:
BaMg(CO3)2
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| BaO | 53.11 % |
| MgO | 11.28 % |
| MnO | 4.68 % |
| Total: | 69.07 % |
Sample references:
Crystallography of Norsethite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
32 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
R32
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.02 Å, c = 16.75 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 3.337
Unit Cell V:
365.56 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Usually tabular plates with large (0001), rarely rhombohedral with (0001), {1011}, {1010}, and {1120}.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010926 | Norsethite | Effenberger H, Zemann J (1985) Single crystal X-Ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 275-280 |  | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0010925 | Norsethite | Effenberger H, Zemann J (1985) Single crystal X-Ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 275-280 | | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0010924 | Norsethite | Effenberger H, Zemann J (1985) Single crystal X-Ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 171 275-280 | | 1985 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
| 0014695 | Norsethite | Lippmann F (1967) Die kristallstruktur des norsethit, BaMg(CO3)2, im vergleich zum dolomit, CaMg(CO3)2 Naturwissenschaften 54 514-514 | 1967 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.584 Å | (25) |
| 4.21 Å | (30) |
| 3.86 Å | (35) |
| 3.02 Å | (100) |
| 2.66 Å | (35) |
| 2.51 Å | (35) |
| 2.10 Å | (35) |
| 1.931 Å | (35) |
| 1.864 Å | (35) |
Comments:
ICDD 12-530
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 21 : Chemically precipitated carbonate, phosphate, iron formations | |
| 24 : Authigenic minerals in terrestrial sediments (see also #17) | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Type Occurrence of Norsethite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Flat tablets to 0.2-2.0 mm, rarely rhombohedra
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Black shale in Bentonite-hosted alkali mineral deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Norsethite
Dutch:Norsethiet
German:Norsethit
Russian:Норсетит
Simplified Chinese:菱钡镁石
Spanish:Norsethita
Traditional Chinese:菱鋇鎂石
Relationship of Norsethite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Dolomite Group:
| Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| Škáchaite | CaCo(CO3)2 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
| 'Unnamed (Pb analogue of Dolomite)' | PbMg(CO3)2 |
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.AB.05 | Siderite | FeCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Smithsonite | ZnCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Gaspéite | NiCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Spherocobaltite | CoCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Magnesite | MgCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 | Otavite | CdCO3 |
| 5.AB.05 va | 'Parakutnohorite' | |
| 5.AB.10 | Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Minrecordite | CaZn(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Škáchaite | CaCo(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.10 | Kutnohorite | CaMn2+(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.15 | Aragonite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Witherite | BaCO3 |
| 5.AB.15 | Strontianite | SrCO3 |
| 5.AB.20 | Vaterite | CaCO3 |
| 5.AB.25 | Huntite | CaMg3(CO3)4 |
| 5.AB.35 | Alstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Paralstonite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.40 | Olekminskite | Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.45 | Barytocalcite | BaCa(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.50 | Carbocernaite | (Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO3)2 |
| 5.AB.55 | Benstonite | Ba6Ca6Mg(CO3)13 |
| 5.AB.60 | Juangodoyite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 |
Fluorescence of Norsethite
Not fluorescent
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 Norsethite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2934.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Norsethite
Reference List:
Mrose, M. E., Chao, E. C. T., Fahey, J. J., Milton, C. (1961) Norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2, a new mineral from the Green River Formation, Wyoming. American Mineralogist, 46 (3-4) 420-429
Lippmann, F. (1967) Die Kristallstruktur des Norsethit, BaMg(CO3)2, im Vergleich zum Dolomit, CaMg(CO3)2. Die Naturwissenschaften, 54 (19). 514 doi:10.1007/bf01129367
Steyn, J. G. D., Watson, M. D. (1967) Notes on a new occurrence of norsethite BaMg(CO3)2. American Mineralogist, 52 (11-12) 1770-1775
Lippmann, Friedrieh (1968) Die Kristallstruktur des Norsethit, BaMg(CO3)2. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 12 (2) 299-318 doi:10.1007/bf01130264
Hood, William C., Steidl, Peter F., Tschopp, and David G. (1974) Precipitation of norsethite at room temperature. American Mineralogist, 59 (5-6) 471-474
Effenberger, H., Zemann, J. (1985) Single crystal X-ray investigation of norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: one more mineral with an aplanar carbonate group. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 171 (14) 275-280 doi:10.1524/zkri.1985.171.14.275
Böttcher, Michael E., Gehlken, Peer-Lennart, Skogby, Henrik, Reutel, Christian (1997) The vibrational spectra of BaMg(CO3)2 (norsethite) Mineralogical Magazine, 61 (405) 249-256 doi:10.1180/minmag.1997.061.405.08
Königsberger, Erich, Tran-Ho, Lan-Chi, Gamsjäger, Heinz (1998) Solid-Solute Phase Equilibria in Aqueous Solutions X. Solubility Constant and Stability of Norsethite. Monatshefte für Chemie / Chemical Monthly, 129 (10). 1061-1066 doi:10.1007/pl00010117
Zidarov, Nikola, Petrov, Ognyan, Tarassov, Mihail, Damyanov, Zhelyazko, Tarassova, Eugenia, Petkova, Vilma, Kalvachev, Yuri, Zlatev, Zlati (2009) Mn-rich norsethite from the Kremikovtsi ore deposit, Bulgaria. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen, 186 (3) 321-331 doi:10.1127/0077-7757/2009/0152
Effenberger, H., Pippinger, T., Libowitzky, E., Lengauer, C. L., Miletich, R. (2014) Synthetic norsethite, BaMg(CO3)2: revised crystal structure, thermal behaviour and displacive phase transition. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (7) 1589-1611 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.7.05
Pimentel, Carlos, Pina, Carlos M. (2016) Reaction pathways towards the formation of dolomite-analogues at ambient conditions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 178. 259-267 doi:10.1016/j.gca.2015.12.040
Zhang, Yi-Fan, Yao, Qi-Zhi, Qian, Fei-Jin, Li, Han, Zhou, Gen-Tao, Fu, Sheng-Quan (2021) Formation pathway of norsethite dominated by solution chemistry under ambient conditions. American Mineralogist, 106 (8) 1306-1318 doi:10.2138/am-2021-7348
Pimentel, Carlos, Pina, Carlos M., Sainz-Díaz, C. Ignacio (2022) New Insights into Dolomite and Dolomite-Analogue Structures from First Principles Calculations. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 6 (10) 2360-2367 doi:10.1021/acsearthspacechem.2c00100
Jiang, Ting, Wang, Chao, Chen, Min, Hu, Huimin, Huang, Junwei, Chen, Xiaofang, Zhang, Qiwu (2023) Mechanochemical Synthesis of Dolomite-Related Carbonates—Insight into the Effects of Various Parameters. Minerals, 13 (11) 1359 doi:10.3390/min13111359
Localities for Norsethite
Showing 47 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.
Brazil | |
| Silva et al. (2019) |
| Guarino (2010) | |
| Traversa et al. (2001) +2 other references |
| Traversa et al. (2001) +1 other reference | |
| Secco et al. (1999) +1 other reference |
| COSTANZO et al. (2006) +1 other reference |
| |
Bulgaria | |
| Zidarov et al. (2009) |
Canada | |
| Scott et al. (1986) |
| Dominion Diamond Mines |
| Platt et al. (1990) |
| Edahbi et al. (2022, October) |
| Gardner et al. (1985) |
| Ansdell et al. (1989) | |
China | |
| Miyawaki et al. (2011) |
| Xie et al. (2026) | |
| Youbin Liang et al. (1981) | |
| Zhao |
| Zhongcheng Wang (1996) |
Czech Republic | |
| Zimák (1998) |
| Naemura +3 other references |
Europe | |
| Zelinková et al. (2022) |
Germany | |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Schnorrer et al. (2001) |
India | |
| Middlemost et al. (1988) +1 other reference |
Namibia | |
| Steyn et al. (1967) +1 other reference |
New Zealand | |
| Cooper et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
| Cooper (1996) |
| Cooper (1971) +1 other reference | |
| Cooper (1996) | |
| Cooper (1996) |
Romania | |
| Onac (2002) +1 other reference |
| Onac (2002) |
Russia | |
| Koneva A.A. et al. (2010) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) | |
| Ivanyuk et al. (2017) |
| maurice.strahlen.org (2003) +2 other references | |
| Kapustin (1965) +1 other reference |
| Kozlov +6 other references | |
| Sharygin et al. (2014) |
| Doroshkevich et al. (2016) |
South Africa | |
| Abersteiner et al. (2024) |
Sweden | |
| Sundius et al. (1966) +1 other reference |
UK | |
| Moles et al. (2024) |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Tank (1972) +1 other reference | |
| Mrose et al. (1961) |
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Kremikovtsi mine, Kremikovtsi, Stolichna Municipality, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria