Named in honor of David Christopher Smith (b. 1946), mineralogist, petrologist, and Emeritus Professor at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), Paris, France. He co-authored descriptions of the minerals nyböite, lisetite, taramite and ferro-taramite. As a petrologist, he pioneered the recognition of the new sub-discipline of UHPM (Ultra High Pressure Metamorphism). He also created the COSEM collection (Collection David Smith des Eclogites du Monde) at the MNHN.

Type Locality:

ⓘ Liset eclogite pod, Liset, Selje, Stad, Vestland, Norway

Ca-analogue of nepheline, to which it is related by the heterovalent substitution of 2K⁺ by [Ca²⁺☐]. Davidsmithite completes the compositional space of the nepheline-structure group by providing a new root-composition, (Ca☐)₂Na₆Al₈Si₈O₃₂.

Refered to as a "new K-poor, Ca-rich nepheline structure mineral" from the Liset eclogite, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway by Smith et al. (1986). Found in thin sections as a corona around anhedral crystals of lisetite. (Smith et al. 1986). At the type locality, it commonly overgrows lisetite.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

50778

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:50778:5

IMA Classification of DavidsmithiteHide

IMA status:

Approved

Approval year:

2016

First published:

2017

Type description reference:

Kechid, Sid-Ali, Parodi, Gian Carlo, Pont, Sylvain, Oberti, Roberta (2017) Davidsmithite, (Ca,□)₂Na₆Al₈Si₈O₃₂: a new, Ca-bearing nepheline-group mineral from the Western Gneiss Region, Norway. European Journal of Mineralogy, 29 (6) 1005-1013 doi:10.1127/ejm/2017/0029-2667

Classification of DavidsmithiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

9.FA.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H₂O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions

Mineral SymbolsHide

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
Dsm	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 DavidsmithiteHide

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colourless

Cleavage:

None Observed

Density:

2.597 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of DavidsmithiteHide

Type:

Uniaxial (-)

RI values:

n_ω = 1.538(2) n_ε = 1.535(2)

Max. Birefringence:

δ = 0.003
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.

Thickness: 30 µm

Rotation:

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Chemistry of DavidsmithiteHide

Mindat Formula:

(Ca,◻)₂Na₆Al₈Si₈O₃₂

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
O	43.736 %
Si	19.194 %
Al	18.439 %
Na	11.784 %
Ca	6.847 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Al, Ca, Na, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of DavidsmithiteHide

Crystal System:

Hexagonal

Class (H-M):

6 - Pyramidal

Space Group:

P6₃

Cell Parameters:

a = 9.982(1) Å, c = 8.364(2) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 0.838

Unit Cell V:

721.74 Å³

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0006340	Davidsmithite	Rossi G, Oberti R, Smith D C (1989) The crystal structure of a K-poor Ca-rich silicate with the nepheline framework, and crystal-chemical relationships in the compositional space (K,Na,Ca,_)8(Al,Si)16O32 European Journal of Mineralogy 1 59-70		1989		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Davidsmithite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Rossi G'
'Oberti R'
'Smith D C'
_journal_name_full 'European Journal of Mineralogy'
_journal_volume 1 
_journal_year 1989
_journal_page_first 59
_journal_page_last 70
_publ_section_title
;
 The crystal structure of a K-poor Ca-rich silicate with the nepheline
 framework, and crystal-chemical relationships in the compositional
 space (K,Na,Ca,_)8(Al,Si)16O32
 Sample: G201b7
;
_database_code_amcsd 0006340
_chemical_formula_sum 'Na3.33 Ca.285 K.1 Al4 Si4 O16'
_cell_length_a 9.982
_cell_length_b 9.982
_cell_length_c 8.364
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 721.738
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.614
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 63'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x-y,x,1/2+z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  '-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  'y,-x+y,1/2+z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_occupancy
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Na   0.99450   0.44230   0.99020   0.98000   0.02153
Ca   0.00000   0.00000   0.98540   0.03500   0.05953
Na   0.00000   0.00000   0.98540   0.38000   0.05953
K   0.00000   0.00000   0.98540   0.10000   0.05953
Ca*   0.00000   0.00000   0.83580   0.25000   0.12918
Na*   0.00000   0.00000   0.83580   0.01000   0.12918
AlT1   0.33333   0.66667   0.18050   1.00000   0.02533
SiT2   0.33333   0.66667   0.79510   1.00000   0.01140
SiT3   0.09260   0.33250   0.30280   1.00000   0.01646
AlT4   0.09550   0.33430   0.67680   1.00000   0.01900
O1   0.33240   0.71280   0.97270   0.33333   0.04939
O2   0.02980   0.32000   0.48860   1.00000   0.04813
O3   0.17550   0.52560   0.71960   1.00000   0.03673
O4   0.16200   0.50670   0.22970   1.00000   0.04053
O5   0.22810   0.28680   0.29900   1.00000   0.02786
O6   0.22330   0.26860   0.68250   1.00000   0.03166
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Na 0.02385 0.01893 0.01737 0.00757 0.00110 -0.01392
Ca 0.06020 0.06020 0.05741 0.02991 0.00000 0.00000
Na 0.06020 0.06020 0.05741 0.02991 0.00000 0.00000
K 0.06020 0.06020 0.05741 0.02991 0.00000 0.00000
Ca' 0.01969 0.01969 0.34767 0.00984 0.00000 0.00000
Na' 0.01969 0.01969 0.34767 0.00984 0.00000 0.00000
AlT1 0.02877 0.02877 0.02020 0.01439 0.00000 0.00000
SiT2 0.01060 0.01060 0.01347 0.00568 0.00000 0.00000
SiT3 0.01514 0.00151 0.02800 0.00076 0.00806 0.00586
AlT4 0.01022 0.04051 0.01382 0.01666 0.00549 0.00769
O1 0.08897 0.05830 0.01347 0.04543 -0.00110 -0.01868
O2 0.03294 0.11168 0.02020 0.05225 -0.00220 -0.00623
O3 0.01174 0.01590 0.08258 0.00644 -0.00256 0.01172
O4 0.02612 0.00719 0.08187 0.00416 -0.01429 0.00073
O5 0.01211 0.02612 0.03863 0.00379 -0.00916 -0.01099
O6 0.04884 0.05717 0.01878 0.04732 -0.01172 -0.01538

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
4.322 Å	(27)
4.182 Å	(66)
3.840 Å	(93)
3.267 Å	(71)
3.006 Å	(100)
2.882 Å	(41)
2.343 Å	(54)
2.305 Å	(31)

Locality:

Liset eclogite pod, Liset, Selje, Stad, Vestland, Norway

Reference:

Geological EnvironmentHide

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

Type Occurrence of DavidsmithiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Liset eclogite pod, Liset, Selje, Stad, Vestland, Norway

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Collections of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (thin section MNHN215-001)

Empirical Formula of Type Material:

([Ca_0.636□_0.636]□_0.414K0_.165Na_0.149)Σ_2.000Na_6.000(Al_7.863Fe³⁺_0.019)Σ_7.882Si_8.192O₃₂

Chemical Analysis of Type Material:

CaO	3.16 %
K₂O	0.69 %
Na₂O	16.89 %
Al₂O₃	35.52 %
Fe₂O₃	0.13 %
SiO₂	43.63 %
MgO	0.02 %
MnO	0.04 %
NiO	0.01 %
TiO₂	0.04 %
Total:	100.13 %

Geological Setting of Type Material:

In strongly retrograded layers in formerly jadeite-rich zones in a kyanite eclogite pod.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Synonyms of DavidsmithiteHide

IMA2016-070

UM1986-//-SiO:AlCa

Other Language Names for DavidsmithiteHide

Dutch:Davidsmithiet

German:Davidsmithit

Relationship of Davidsmithite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Feldspathoid Group

Other Members of Feldspathoid:

Cancrinite Group	A large, structurally complex group of alumosilicates.
'Carnegieite'	NaAlSiO₄	Tric.
Kalsilite	KAlSiO₄	Hex. 622 : P6₃22
'Metaleucite'	A name for isometric leucite that is stable above 625 degrees C.
Nepheline	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)	Hex. 6 : P6₃
Sodalite Group	The Sodalite Group is characterised by sodalite-type stacking of alumosilicate building units that produces Cubo ...
Trikalsilite	K₂NaAl₃(SiO₄)₃	Hex. 6 : P6₃
Trinepheline	NaAlSiO₄	Hex. 6 : P6₁
Yoshiokaite	(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O₄]	Trig. 3 : P3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

9.FA.	Bonaccorsiite	KK₂Na₃(Al₆Si₃₆)O₈₄	Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc
9.FA.	Hexacelsian	BaAl₂Si₂O₈	Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6₃/mcm
9.FA.	Wodegongjieite	KCa₃(Al₇Si₉)O₃₂	Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc
9.FA.05	Panunzite	(K,Na)AlSiO₄	Hex. 6 : P6₃
9.FA.05	Yoshiokaite	(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O₄]	Trig. 3 : P3
9.FA.05	Nepheline	Na₃K(Al₄Si₄O₁₆)	Hex. 6 : P6₃
9.FA.05	Trinepheline	NaAlSiO₄	Hex. 6 : P6₁
9.FA.05	Kaliophilite	KAlSiO₄	Trig. 3 : P3
9.FA.05	Kalsilite	KAlSiO₄	Hex. 622 : P6₃22
9.FA.05	'Carnegieite'	NaAlSiO₄	Tric.
9.FA.05	Megakalsilite	KAlSiO₄	Hex. 6 : P6₃
9.FA.05	Trikalsilite	K₂NaAl₃(SiO₄)₃	Hex. 6 : P6₃
9.FA.10	Malinkoite	NaBSiO₄	Hex. 6 : P6₃
9.FA.15	Virgilite	LiAlSi₂O₆	Hex. 622 : P6₂22
9.FA.25	Lisitsynite	KBSi₂O₆	Orth. 222 : P222
9.FA.30	Ferrisanidine	K[Fe³⁺Si₃O₈]	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30	Buddingtonite	(NH₄)(AlSi₃O₈)	Mon. 2 : P2₁
9.FA.30	Rubicline	Rb(AlSi₃O₈)	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30	'Monalbite'	NaAlSi₃O₈	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30	Microcline	K(AlSi₃O₈)	Tric. 1
9.FA.30 va	'Germanate-celsian'	BaAl₂Ge₂O₈
9.FA.30	Celsian	Ba(Al₂Si₂O₈)	Mon. 2/m
9.FA.30	Sanidine	K(AlSi₃O₈)	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.30	Orthoclase	K(AlSi₃O₈)	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
9.FA.35	Reedmergnerite	NaBSi₃O₈	Tric. 1 : P1
9.FA.35	Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)	Tric. 1
9.FA.35	Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)	Tric. 1 : P1
9.FA.40	Paracelsian	Ba(Al₂Si₂O₈)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.FA.45	Svyatoslavite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)	Mon. 2 : P2₁
9.FA.45	Kumdykolite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnnm
9.FA.50	Slawsonite	Sr(Al₂Si₂O₈)	Mon. 2/m : P2₁/b
9.FA.55	Lisetite	CaNa₂Al₄Si₄O₁₆	Orth. mm2
9.FA.60	Stronalsite	Na₂SrAl₄Si₄O₁₆	Orth.
9.FA.60	Banalsite	Na₂BaAl₄Si₄O₁₆	Orth. mm2 : Iba2
9.FA.65	Maleevite	BaB₂Si₂O₈	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.FA.65	Pekovite	SrB₂Si₂O₈	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
9.FA.65	Danburite	CaB₂Si₂O₈	Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
9.FA.70	Liebermannite	KAlSi₃O₈	Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FA.70	Lingunite	NaAlSi₃O₈	Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FA.70	Stöfflerite	CaAl₂Si₂O₈	Tet. 4/m : I4/m
9.FA.75	Pfaffenbergite	KNa₃(Al₄Si₁₂)O₃₂	Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc
9.FA.75	Kokchetavite	K(AlSi₃O₈)	Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P6/mcc

Other InformationHide

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 DavidsmithiteHide

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https://www.mindat.org/min-50778.html
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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

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References for DavidsmithiteHide

Reference List:

Smith, David C., Kechid, Sid-Ali, Rossi, Giuseppe (1986) Occurrence and properties of lisetite, CaNa2Al4Si4O16, a new tectosilicate in the system Ca-Na-Al-Si-O. American Mineralogist, 71 (11-12) 1372-1377 as K-poor, Ca-rich nepheline structure mineral

Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2016) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2016, CNMNC Newsletter No 34. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (7) 1315-1321 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.086

(2020) Davidsmithite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for DavidsmithiteHide

Showing 2 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.


Mongolia
Dornogovi Province Erdene District ⓘ Khamaryn– Khural–Khiid combustion metamorphic complex	Savina et al. (2020) +1 other reference

Norway (TL)
Vestland Stad Selje Liset ⓘ Liset eclogite pod (TL)	Hålenius et al. (2016) +2 other references

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Davidsmithite

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of DavidsmithiteHide

Classification of DavidsmithiteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of DavidsmithiteHide

Optical Data of DavidsmithiteHide

Chemistry of DavidsmithiteHide

Crystallography of DavidsmithiteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of DavidsmithiteHide

Synonyms of DavidsmithiteHide

Other Language Names for DavidsmithiteHide

Relationship of Davidsmithite to other SpeciesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for DavidsmithiteHide

References for DavidsmithiteHide

Localities for DavidsmithiteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide