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Zemkorite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Na2Ca(CO3)2
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.46
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named after the acronym for the Russian "Zemnoy Kory", the Institute of Earth's Crust, Academy of Science, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk (Russia).
Dimorph of:
Nyerereite
The Na analogue of fairchildite. There is likely a solid solution between the two species, as suggested by the empirical formula of the current species.

There are a few synthetic HP chemically close compounds, e.g., 'Unnamed (Na-Ca Carbonate I)'.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
4393
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4393:5

IMA Classification of ZemkoriteHide

Classification of ZemkoriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
5.AC.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
C : Alkali and alkali-earth carbonates
Dana 8th ed.:
14.3.3.2

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : A2B(XO3)2
Hey's CIM Ref.:
11.1.12

11 : Carbonates
1 : Carbonates of the alkali metals and ammonium

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

Pronunciation of ZemkoriteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of ZemkoriteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
lamellar
Density:
2.46(2) g/cm3 (Measured)    2.47(2) g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of ZemkoriteHide

Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.535 nε = 1.513
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.022
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate

Chemistry of ZemkoriteHide

Mindat Formula:
Na2Ca(CO3)2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O46.583 %
Na22.312 %
Ca19.448 %
C11.657 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
C, Ca, Na, O - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
K

Crystallography of ZemkoriteHide

Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.06(2) Å, c = 12.72(1) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.264
Unit Cell V:
1,114.84 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Comment:
Space group P63/mmc, P-62c or P63mc

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
4.36 Å(100)
3.04 Å(100)
2.52 Å(100)
2.06 Å(100)
6.36 Å(90)
1.797 Å(80)
2.18 Å(70)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust>4.50
8 : Mafic igneous rocks

Type Occurrence of ZemkoriteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Udachnaya open-pit mine (Udachnaya-Vostochnaya pipe; Udachnaya pipe), Daldyn, Mirninsky District, Sakha, Russia
General Appearance of Type Material:
granular massive in veinlets and fracture fillings; rarely as fan-like aggregates of anhedral crystals, up to 0.5 mm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (registration no. 87573)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
kimberlites
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
HaliteShortite
Reference:
Yegorov, N.K., Ushchapovskaya, Z.F., Kashayev, A.A., Bogdanov, G.V., Sizykh, Y.I. (1988) Zemkorite – a new carbonate from kimberlites of Yakutia [Sakha]. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 301: 188-193.

Synonyms of ZemkoriteHide

Other Language Names for ZemkoriteHide

Dutch:Zemkoriet
German:Zemkorit
Spanish:Zemkorita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

5.AC.05EiteliteNa2Mg(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AC.10NyerereiteNa2Ca(CO3)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
5.AC.15BütschliiteK2Ca(CO3)2Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
5.AC.20FairchilditeK2Ca(CO3)2Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc
5.AC.25ShortiteNa2Ca2(CO3)3Orth. mm2 : Amm2
5.AC.30Burbankite(Na,Ca)3(Sr,Ba,Ce)3(CO3)5Hex. 6mm : P63mc
5.AC.30CalcioburbankiteNa3(Ca,REE,Sr)3(CO3)5Hex. 6mm : P63mc
5.AC.30SanromániteNa2CaPb3[CO3]5Hex. 6mm : P63mc
5.AC.30Khanneshite(Na,Ca)3(Ba,Sr,Ce,Ca)3(CO3)5Hex. 6mm : P63mc
5.AC.30Lishiite(Ca2◻)Sr3(CO3)5Hex. 6mm : P63mc

Other InformationHide

Notes:
soluble in water
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 ZemkoriteHide

References for ZemkoriteHide

Localities for ZemkoriteHide

Showing 8 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
 
  • Northwest Territories
    • Lac de Gras
      • Ekati Mine
Kamenetsky et al. (2013)
Abersteiner et al. (2018)
  • Saskatchewan
Shang (2000)
India
 
  • Andhra Pradesh
    • Anantapur District
Parthasarathy et al. (2002)
Russia (TL)
 
  • Sakha
    • Mirninsky District
      • Daldyn
M. Kamenetsky et al. +2 other references
Golovin (2025)
South Africa
 
  • Free State
    • Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality
      • Setsoto Local Municipality
        • Clocolan
Kamenetsky et al. (2014)
  • Northern Cape
    • Frances Baard District Municipality
      • Sol Plaatje Local Municipality
        • Kimberley
          • KEM JV Mine (Kimberley Ekapa Mining Joint Venture mine; Kimberley Underground mine)
Giuliani et al. (2012) +1 other reference
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