Gmelinite-Ca
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Gmelinite-Ca
Christian Gottlob Gmelin
Formula:
Ca2(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white, pink
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
2.11
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
Named by David Brewster in 1825 in honor of the German mineralogist and chemist, Christian Gottlob Gmelin (1792-1860) of University of Tübingen, Germany. The suffix indicates the dominant extra-framework cation. In 1997, the name gmelinite (without suffix) was promoted from species to series and gmelinite-Ca was defined as one of several species.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
6971
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:6971:3
Similar Names
| Gmelinite-K | A valid IMA mineral species | K4(Si8Al4O24) · 11H2O |
| Gmelinite-Na | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Na4(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O |
IMA Classification of Gmelinite-Ca
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca2(Si8Al4)O24·11H2O
Type description reference:
Coombs, Douglas S., Alberti, Alberto, Armbruster, Thomas, Artioli, Gilberto, Colella, Carmine, Galli, Ermanno, Grice, Joel D., Liebau, Friedrich, Mandarino, Joseph A., Minato, Hideo, et al. (1997) Recommended nomenclature for zeolite minerals; report of the Subcommittee on Zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. The Canadian Mineralogist, 35 (6). 1571-1606
Classification of Gmelinite-Ca
9.GD.05
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
G : Tektosilicates with zeolitic H2O; zeolite family
D : Chains of 6-membered rings – tabular zeolites
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Gme-Ca | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Gme | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
Physical Properties of Gmelinite-Ca
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, white, pink
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.11(1) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.095 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Gmelinite-Ca
Type:
Uniaxial (+/-)
RI values:
nω = 1.485(9) nε = 1.477(3)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.008
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 (negative)
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 uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Chemistry of Gmelinite-Ca
Mindat Formula:
Ca2(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Gmelinite-Ca
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/mmc
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.800(5) Å, c = 9.964(5) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.722
Unit Cell V:
1,643.32 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015870 | Gmelinite-Ca | Sacerdoti M, Passaglia E, Carnevali R (1995) Structural refinements of Na-, K-, and Ca-exchanged gmelinites Zeolites 15 276-281 | 1995 | San Giorgio perlena, Fara Vincentina, Vicenza, Italy | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere | >4.45 |
| 16 : Low-? aqueous alteration of Hadean subaerial lithologies (see also #23) | |
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| 26 : Hadean detrital minerals | |
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Gmelinite-Ca
Reference:
Coombs, Douglas S., Alberti, Alberto, Armbruster, Thomas, Artioli, Gilberto, Colella, Carmine, Galli, Ermanno, Grice, Joel D., Liebau, Friedrich, Mandarino, Joseph A., Minato, Hideo, et al. (1997) Recommended nomenclature for zeolite minerals; report of the Subcommittee on Zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. The Canadian Mineralogist, 35 (6). 1571-1606
Other Language Names for Gmelinite-Ca
Relationship of Gmelinite-Ca to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Gmelinite Subgroup:
| Gmelinite-K | K4(Si8Al4O24) · 11H2O | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
| Gmelinite-Na | Na4(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O | Hex. 6/mmm(6/m2/m2/m) : P63/mmc |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 12 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 9 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 8 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| 7 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Chabazite | |
| 7 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Stellerite | Ca4(Si28Al8)O72 · 28H2O |
| 3 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Phillipsite Subgroup | (Ca0.5,K,Na,Ba0.5)4-7[Al4-7Si12-9O32] . 12H2O |
| 3 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Harmotome | Ba2(Si12Al4)O32 · 12H2O |
| 2 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Faujasite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O |
| 2 photos of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 1 photo of Gmelinite-Ca associated with Smectite Group | A0.3D2-3[T4O10]Z2 · nH2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-K | K4(Si8Al4O24) · 11H2O |
| 9.GD.05 | Gmelinite-Na | Na4(Si8Al4)O24 · 11H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Mg | (Mg0.7K0.5Ca0.5Na0.1)[Al3Si9O24] · 10H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Willhendersonite | KCa[Al3Si3O12] · 5H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca,Sr,Mg)2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.10 | Chabazite-Sr | Sr2[Al2Si4O12]2 · 12H2O |
| 9.GD.15 | Lévyne-Ca | (Ca,Na2,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O |
| 9.GD.15 | Lévyne-Na | (Na2,Ca,K2)[Al2Si4O12] · 6H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-Ca | (Ca,K2,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-K | (K2,Ca,Na2)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Erionite-Na | (Na2,K2,Ca)2[Al4Si14O36] · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.20 | Bellbergite | (K,Ba,Sr)2Sr2Ca2(Ca,Na)4[Al3Si3O12]6 · 30H2O |
| 9.GD.25 | Offretite | KCaMg(Si13Al5)O36 · 15H2O |
| 9.GD.25 | Wenkite | (Ba,K)4(Ca,Na)6[(Si,Al)20O39(OH)2](SO4)3 · 0.5H2O |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Mg | (Mg,Na2,Ca)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.30 | Faujasite-Na | (Na2,Ca,Mg)3.5[Al7Si17O48] · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.35 | Maricopaite | Pb7Ca2(Si,Al)48O100 · 32H2O |
| 9.GD.35 | Mordenite | (Na2,Ca,K2)4(Al8Si40)O96 · 28H2O |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-K | K4(Si20Al4O48) · 13H2O |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-Ca | (Ca,Na2,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O |
| 9.GD.40 | Dachiardite-Na | (Na2,Ca,K2)5Al10Si38O96 · 25H2O |
| 9.GD.45 | Epistilbite | CaAl2Si6O16 · 5H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-K | (K,Na)5(Si31Al5)O72 · 18H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-Mg | [Mg2(K,Na)2Ca0.5](Si29Al7)O72 · 18H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-Na | (Na,K)5(Si31Al5)O72 · 18H2O |
| 9.GD.50 | Ferrierite-NH4 | (NH4,Mg0.5)5(Al5Si31O72) · 22H2O |
| 9.GD.55 | Bikitaite | LiAlSi2O6 · H2O |
Other Information
Electrical:
Piezoelectric
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 Gmelinite-Ca
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-6971.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
References for Gmelinite-Ca
Reference List:
Marsh, Othniel Charles (1867) Contributions to the Mineralogy of Nova Scotia, No. 1 - Ledererite identical with Gmelinite. American Journal of Science and Arts, S. 2 Vol. 44. 362-367(wet chemical analysis)
Sacerdoti, M., Passaglia, E., Carnevali, R. (1995) Structural refinements of Na-, K-, and Ca-exchanged gmelinites. Zeolites, 15 (3) 276-281 doi:10.1016/0144-2449(94)00024-m
Coombs, Douglas S., Alberti, Alberto, Armbruster, Thomas, Artioli, Gilberto, Colella, Carmine, Galli, Ermanno, Grice, Joel D., Liebau, Friedrich, Mandarino, Joseph A., Minato, Hideo, et al. (1997) Recommended nomenclature for zeolite minerals; report of the Subcommittee on Zeolites of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. The Canadian Mineralogist, 35 (6). 1571-1606
Localities for Gmelinite-Ca
Showing 26 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.
Australia | |
| Ralph Bottrill |
Canada | |
| Marsh (1867) |
| Tschernich (1992) | |
Cyprus | |
| Prüfer (2010) |
| Prüfer (2012) |
Germany | |
| Klein (2011) |
Hungary | |
| Kónya-MÁFI +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Sicurella et al. (2010) |
| Sicurella et al. (2010) | |
| Mattioli et al. (2008) |
| Martins da Pedra | |
| Mattioli et al. (2008) | |
| Franco Luca Bonino's collection |
| Luppi et al. (2007) +2 other references |
| Neues Jahrb. Mineral. (1982) +1 other reference |
| Correct position of the mines |
Kazakhstan | |
| |
| Joan Rosell - rosellminerals.com | |
Norway | |
| Berntzen (2013) |
| Dalen (2011) |
| Berntzen (2013) | |
Russia | |
| ... |
| Yakovenchuk et al. (2010) |
| Yakovenchuk et al. (2011) | |
UK | |
| S. Moreton |
USA | |
| Staples et al. (1973) |
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Cattignano quarry, San Giovanni Ilarione, Verona Province, Veneto, Italy