Pirssonite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Pirssonite
Louis Valentine Pirsson
Formula:
Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Colour:
Colourless, white, pale gray; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
2.352
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Louis Valentine Pirsson (3 November 1860, Fordham, New York, USA — 8 December 1919, New Haven, Connecticut, USA), petrographer and mineralogist, Professor of Physical Geology at Yale University. He developed the CIPW classification system for igneous rocks and wrote a couple important textbooks.
Type Locality:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3220
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3220:5
Similar Names
| Prasinite | A rock subtype |
IMA Classification of Pirssonite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Na2Ca(CO3)2·2H2O
First published:
1896
Classification of Pirssonite
5.CB.30
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
C : Carbonates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With large cations (alkali and alkali-earth carbonates)
15.2.1.1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p > 1:1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p > 1:1
11.1.13
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pss | 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 Pirssonite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, white, pale gray; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.352 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.37 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Pirssonite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.5043 nβ = 1.5095 nγ = 1.5751
2V:
Measured: 31° , Calculated: 34°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.071
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
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Chemistry of Pirssonite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 2H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Pirssonite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Fdd2
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.32 Å, b = 20.06 Å, c = 6 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.564 : 1 : 0.299
Unit Cell V:
1,362.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic [001] with variable upper termination; also tabular {010}, or pyramidal with e and p¯. Forms include {010}, {111}, {131}, {110}, {111}, {311}.
Crystallographic forms of Pirssonite
Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
Click on an icon to view
Pirssonite no.2 - {010} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Pirssonite no.6 - {110} - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
Toggle
Edge Lines | Miller Indices | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
Edge Lines | Miller Indices | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012678 | Pirssonite | Dickens B, Brown W E (1969) The crystal structures of CaNa2(CO3)2*5(H2O), synthetic gaylussite, and CaNa2(CO3)2*2(H2O), synthetic pirssonite Inorganic Chemistry 8 2093-2103 | 1969 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.506 Å | (100) |
| 2.654 Å | (90) |
| 2.565 Å | (80) |
| 5.133 Å | (71) |
| 2.020 Å | (71) |
| 4.928 Å | (60) |
| 3.153 Å | (50) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Geological Setting:
In oil shales; in sediments of a salt pan.
Type Occurrence of Pirssonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Isolated crystals, hemimorphic in habit, equant to prismatic and 5 to 15 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Lacustrine clay beds.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Pirssonite
Other Language Names for Pirssonite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 5.CB. | Piilonenite-(Nd) | NaNd(CO3)2(H2O)3 |
| 5.CB. | Paulišite | Ca2Zn(CO3)3 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.05 | Thermonatrite | Na2CO3 · H2O |
| 5.CB.10 | Natron | Na2CO3 · 10H2O |
| 5.CB.15 | Trona | Na3H(CO3)2 · 2H2O |
| 5.CB.20 | Monohydrocalcite | CaCO3 · H2O |
| 5.CB.25 | Ikaite | CaCO3 · 6H2O |
| 5.CB.35 | Gaylussite | Na2Ca(CO3)2 · 5H2O |
| 5.CB.40 | Chalconatronite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 · 3H2O |
| 5.CB.45 | Baylissite | K2Mg(CO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 5.CB.50 | Tuliokite | Na6BaTh(CO3)6 · 6H2O |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Pyroelectric with the end of the [001] axis terminated by {131} becoming negatively electrified on cooling.
When heated before the blowpipe, it decrepitates and fuses about 2-2.5, coloring the flame intensely yellow. In the closed tube it decrepitates and gives off water at a low temperature.
When heated before the blowpipe, it decrepitates and fuses about 2-2.5, coloring the flame intensely yellow. In the closed tube it decrepitates and gives off water at a low temperature.
Notes:
Soluble in cold dilute acids with effervescence.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
None.
Internet Links for Pirssonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3220.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Pirssonite
Reference List:
Foshag, William F. (1933) Sulfohalite and other minerals from the Otjiwalundo salt pan, South West Africa. American Mineralogist, 18 (10) 431-434
Evans, Howard T. (1948) Unit cell and space group of pirssonite. American Mineralogist, 33 (3-4). 261-262
Corazza, E., Sabelli, C. (1967) The crystal structure of pirssonite, CaNa2(CO3)2.2H2O. Acta Crystallographica, 23 (5) 763-766 doi:10.1107/s0365110x67003676
Dickens, Brian, Brown, Walter Eric (1969) Crystal structures of CaNa2(CO3)2.5H2O, synthetic gaylussite, and CaNa2(CO3)2.2H2O, synthetic pirssonite. Inorganic Chemistry, 8 (10) 2093-2103 doi:10.1021/ic50080a012
Frost, Ray L., Dickfos, Marilla (2007) Hydrated double carbonates – A Raman and infrared spectroscopic study. Polyhedron, 26 (15). 4503-4508 doi:10.1016/j.poly.2007.06.003
Localities for Pirssonite
Showing 31 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.
Quick NavTopAbout PirssoniteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystallographic forms Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Wadi El-Natrun depression, Beheira Governorate, Egypt