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Rouvilleite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About RouvilleiteHide

Formula:
Na3CaMn2+(CO3)3F
formerly given as Na3(Ca,Mn,Fe)2(CO3)3F
Colour:
Colorless to pale tan
Lustre:
Vitreous, Waxy
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.67
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after its discovery locality, the Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, in the former Rouville County, Québec, Canada.
Unique combination of elements (as of January 2022).


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
3465
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3465:0

IMA Classification of RouvilleiteHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
Na3Ca2(CO3)3F
Approval year:
1989
First published:
1991
Approval history:
IMA 21-I proposal (accepted)

Classification of RouvilleiteHide

5.BC.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
C : With alkali-earth cations
16a.5.5.1

16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Miscellaneous
12.1.3

12 : Carbonates with other anions
1 : Carbonates with halides

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
RvlIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of RouvilleiteHide

Vitreous, Waxy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless to pale tan
Comment:
Commonly appears reddish-brown due to inclusions of kupletskite.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.67(2) g/cm3 (Measured)    2.69 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of RouvilleiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.472 nβ = 1.562 nγ = 1.569
2V:
Measured: 25° to 30°, Calculated: 28°
Birefringence:
b = Y; c ∧ X = 6°, in the acute β angle.
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.097
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
None. Type description gives weak, r > v.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of RouvilleiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Na3CaMn2+(CO3)3F

formerly given as Na3(Ca,Mn,Fe)2(CO3)3F
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O39.667 %
Na18.999 %
Mn15.134 %
Ca11.041 %
C9.926 %
F5.234 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Crystallography of RouvilleiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.04 Å, b = 15.81 Å, c = 7.03 Å
β = 101.16°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.509 : 1 : 0.445
Unit Cell V:
876.70 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Type material:
Prismatic, elongate along [001], with forms {010}, {110}, {100}, {101}, {023} and {032}. Also simpler crystals showing {010}, {110}, {100}, and {001}.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0015588RouvilleiteYamnova N A, Pushcharovskii D Yu, Khomyakov A P, Vyatkin S V (1991) Crystal structure of the new natural fluorocarbonate Na3Ca(Mn,Ca)(CO3)3F Soviet Physics Crystallography 36 14-161991hydrothermalites, Lovozero alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
7.081 Å(80)
5.433 Å(55)
5.194 Å(50)
2.937 Å(70)
2.895 Å(100)
2.791 Å(50)
2.711 Å(90)
2.637 Å(60)
2.580 Å(55)
2.039 Å(70)
1.869 Å(75)
1.767 Å(55)
1.746 Å(60)
1.716 Å(55)
Comments:
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada. The data are from the type locality.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust>4.50
9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks

Type Occurrence of RouvilleiteHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
Irregular crystalline masses up to 3 mm across, and rarely as euhedral crystals up to 1 mm across within cavities.

Has been found within villiaumite; kupletskite has been found included within rouvilleite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, number CMN 54542 (cotype).
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, number M44157, M44233 (cotype).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In a sodalite syenite inclusion within nepheline syenite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Synonyms of RouvilleiteHide

Other Language Names for RouvilleiteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Rouvilleite associated with VilliaumiteNaF

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

5.BC.05BrenkiteCa2(CO3)F2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn
5.BC.15PodlesnoiteBaCa2(CO3)2F2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Fluorescence of RouvilleiteHide

Not fluorescent.

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Not soluble in water. Strong effervescence when the mineral is placed in 1:1 HCl at room temperature.
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 RouvilleiteHide

References for RouvilleiteHide

Localities for RouvilleiteHide

Showing 3 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada (TL)
 
  • Québec
    • Montérégie
      • La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
McDonald et al. (1991)
Namibia
 
  • Otjozondjupa Region
    • Otjiwarongo Constituency
      • Kalkfeld
Buehn et al. (1999)
Russia
 
  • Murmansk Oblast
    • Lovozersky District
Pekov (1998)
 
and/or  
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