Ellingsenite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Ellingsenite
Hans Vidar Ellingsen at Herrebøkasa
Formula:
Na5Ca6Si18O38(OH)13 · 6H2O
Colour:
Colorless, White
Lustre:
Vitreous, Silky
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
2.32
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named after the amateur mineralogist Dr. Ing. Hans Vidar Ellingsen (17 October 1930, Dønna, Nordland, Norway - 30 August 2014) from Oslo, Norway.
Type Locality:
Structurally related to martinite and gyrolite.
Similar to kodamaite.
A F-bearing variety, possibly a new mineral, has been described by Blaß et al. (2020). SEM-EDS analyses gave (neglecting O): Na 11, Ca 17, Si 58, F 14 at.%. The PXRD pattern was affected by preferred orientation, but a shift of the first basal reflection to 15.10 Å was observed (type material has 15.50 Å).
Similar to kodamaite.
A F-bearing variety, possibly a new mineral, has been described by Blaß et al. (2020). SEM-EDS analyses gave (neglecting O): Na 11, Ca 17, Si 58, F 14 at.%. The PXRD pattern was affected by preferred orientation, but a shift of the first basal reflection to 15.10 Å was observed (type material has 15.50 Å).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
39667
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39667:5
IMA Classification of Ellingsenite
Classification of Ellingsenite
9.EE.80
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
E : Single tetrahedral nets of 6-membered rings connected by octahedral nets or octahedral bands
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Elg | 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 Ellingsenite
Vitreous, Silky
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Silky in aggregates
Colour:
Colorless, White
Comment:
Colorless ( Separate crystals); white (aggregates)
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
on (001)
on (001)
Comment:
"Smooth" fracture.
Density:
2.32(5) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.383 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured by float–sink method in methylene iodide. Dcalc is from powder data. Dcalc from single crystal data is 2.363.
Optical Data of Ellingsenite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.520(2) nβ = 1.534(2) nγ = 1.536
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.016
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:
None to Very Low
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (41°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
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.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (41°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Dispersion:
None.
Optical Extinction:
X = c.
Chemistry of Ellingsenite
Mindat Formula:
Na5Ca6Si18O38(OH)13 · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Ellingsenite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.55(3) Å, b = 9.395(8) Å, c = 16.329(3) Å
α = 100.2(1)°, β = 94.9(2)°, γ = 117.8(2)°
α = 100.2(1)°, β = 94.9(2)°, γ = 117.8(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.016 : 1 : 1.738
Unit Cell V:
1,251.52 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Rhomb-like crystals, flattened on [001] and elongated on [100]. Dominate forms: pinacoidal {001} and {hk0}. The crystals forms commonly sheaf-like and radiating spherulite aggregates.
Twinning:
None observed
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 15.50 Å | (100) |
| 4.98 Å | (14) |
| 4.89 Å | (14) |
| 4.22 Å | (16) |
| 3.159 Å | (30) |
| 3.022 Å | (33) |
| 2.792 Å | (24) |
| 1.823 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Hydrothermally altered phonolite .
Type Occurrence of Ellingsenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
In vesicles in the phonolite. Rhomb-like crystals, usually arranged in sheaf-like and radiating aggregates.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical Museum, St. Petersburg State University, Russia (1/19443).
Natural History Museum, Oslo University, Norway (42188).
Natural History Museum, Oslo University, Norway (42188).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A hydrothermally altered phonolite of the Aris alkaline complex.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Ellingsenite
Other Language Names for Ellingsenite
Dutch:Ellingseniet
German:Ellingsenit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 54 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Villiaumite | NaF |
| 38 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 33 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Tuperssuatsiaite | Fe3+Fe3+2(Na◻)◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 2H2O |
| 5 photos of Ellingsenite associated with 'Unnamed (Fe-analogue of Zakharovite)' | Na4Fe5Si10O24(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 3 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Natrolite | Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| 2 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 2 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Apophyllite Group | AB4[Si8O20]X · 8H2O |
| 2 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 2 photos of Ellingsenite associated with Makatite | Na2Si4O8(OH)2 · 4H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.EE. | Cairncrossite | Sr2Ca7-xNa2x(Si4O10)4(OH)2(H2O)15-x |
| 9.EE.05 | Bementite | Mn7Si6O15(OH)8 |
| 9.EE.07 | Innsbruckite | Mn33(Si2O5)14(OH)38 |
| 9.EE.10 | 'Brokenhillite' | Mn8Si6O15(OH)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Mcgillite | (Mn,Fe)8Si6O15(OH)8Cl2 |
| 9.EE.10 | Friedelite | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Pyrosmalite-(Mn) | Mn2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.10 | Pyrosmalite-(Fe) | Fe2+8Si6O15(OH,Cl)10 |
| 9.EE.15 | Nelenite | Mn2+16As3+3Si12O36(OH)17 |
| 9.EE.15 | Schallerite | Mn2+16As3Si12O36(OH)17 |
| 9.EE.20 | Palygorskite | ◻Al2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Yofortierite | Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Windhoekite | Fe3+(Fe3+1.67◻0.33)Ca2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Windmountainite | ◻Fe3+2Mg2◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Ikorskyite | KMn3+(Si4O10) · 3H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | Tuperssuatsiaite | Fe3+Fe3+2(Na◻)◻2Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.20 | 'Unnamed (Na-Ca-Fe-Silicate-Hydrate)' | NaCa(Fe2+,Al,Mn)5[Si8O19(OH)](OH)7 · 5H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Sepiolite | Mg4(Si6O15)(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Loughlinite | Na2Mg3Si6O16 · 8H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Falcondoite | (Ni,Mg)4Si6O15(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.25 | Kalifersite | (K,Na)5Fe3+7Si20O50(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 9.EE.30 | Orlymanite | Ca4Mn3Si8O20(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.30 | Tungusite | Ca4Fe2Si6O15(OH)6 |
| 9.EE.30 | Gyrolite | NaCa16Si23AlO60(OH)8 · 14H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Reyerite | (Na,K)2Ca14(Si,Al)24O58(OH)8 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Kodamaite | Na3(Ca5Na)Si16O36(OH)4F2 · (14-x)H2O |
| 9.EE.35 | Truscottite | (Ca,Mn)14Si24O58(OH)8 · 2H2O |
| 9.EE.40 | Natrosilite | Na2Si2O5 |
| 9.EE.45 | Makatite | Na2Si4O8(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.50 | Varennesite | Na8Mn2Si10O25(OH,Cl)2 · 12H2O |
| 9.EE.55 | Raite | Mn2+Mn2+2Na2(◻1.75Ti0.25)Si8O20(OH)2(H2O)4 · Na(H2O)6 |
| 9.EE.60 | Intersilite | Na6Mn2+Ti[Si10O24(OH)](OH)3 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.65 | Zakharovite | Na4Mn5Si10O24(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.65 | Shafranovskite | Na3K2(Mn,Fe,Na)4[Si9(O,OH)27](OH)2 · nH2O |
| 9.EE.70 | Zeophyllite | Ca13Si10O28(OH)2F8 · 6H2O |
| 9.EE.75 | Minehillite | (K,Na)2-3Ca28Zn4Al4Si40O112(OH)16 |
| 9.EE.80 | Fedorite | (Na,K)2-3(Ca4Na3)Si16O38(OH,F)2 · 3.5H2O |
| 9.EE.80 | Martinite | (Na,◻,Ca)12Ca4(Si,S,B)14B2O38(OH,Cl)2F2 · 4H2O |
| 9.EE.85 | Lalondeite | (Na,Ca)6(Ca,Na)3Si16O38(F,OH)2 · 3H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble 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 Ellingsenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-39667.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Ellingsenite
Reference List:
Yakovenchuk, V. N., Ivanyuk, G. Y., Pakhomovsky, Y. A., Selivanova, E. A., Mikhailova, J. A., Krivovichev, S. V., Zolotarev, A. A., Zalkind, O. A. (2011) Ellingsenite, Na5Ca6Si18O38(OH)13·6H2O, a new martinite-related mineral species from phonolite of the Aris alkaline complex, Namibia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 49 (5) 1165-1173 doi:10.3749/canmin.49.5.1165
Localities for Ellingsenite
Showing 1 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.
Namibia (TL) | |
| Yakovenchuk et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout EllingseniteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Aris Quarries, Aris, Windhoek Rural, Khomas Region, Namibia